Archived Wisconsin Geospatial Jobs

Summer Intern – Remote Sensing/GIS/Ecology

State Cartographer's Office

This is an EXPIRED job listing. Do not apply for this position!

Location: Superior, WI
Type: Internship
Posted: 03/09/2023
Deadline to Apply: 04/07/2023
Payrate: $15-$20/hr
More Information: Employment application page

The Wisconsin State Cartographer’s Office at UW-Madison is hiring two undergraduate student interns for the summer of 2023. The interns will help produce a habitat map of the Lake Superior National Estuarine Research Reserve. This map will show land cover and dominant species and be produced
from high-resolution remote sensing imagery.

About the Lake Superior Reserve: The Lake Superior Reserve (lakesuperiornerr.org), designated in 2010 by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, is one of a system of 30 Research Reserves nationwide committed to long‐term research, education, outreach, and stewardship to improve the understanding of coastal systems and the practice of coastal management. The Reserve has a conference room, exhibit hall, offices, and laboratory on the waterfront in Superior, and is a fun and dynamic place to work.

About the State Cartographer’s Office: The State Cartographer’s Office (SCO) is a statewide outreach and research program in the Geography Department at UW-Madison (www.sco.wisc.edu). The SCO collaborates with partners across the state to help them achieve their geospatial-related goals.

Student Role: Through the summer internship, students will participate in field work at the Reserve. The students will collaborate with a graduate student from UW-Madison, Reserve and SCO staff, and project consultants. Student field work will be vital to create an accurate habitat map while also providing important learning and professional development opportunities in GIS and remote sensing technologies, and ecology of Great Lakes estuaries, all skills that will be taught to the students hired.

Duties and Skills Developed:
● Learn to identify plant species and use a field guide to identify habitat types in a variety of aquatic, wetland, and forested habitats.
● Use handheld GPS and geospatial technology in the field.
● Learn about how field data collection is used in creating land classification maps, and other remote sensing and field geospatial techniques.
● Work collaboratively with staff from the State Cartographer’s Office, Lake Superior Reserve, and graduate students to identify field sampling areas.
● Travel on an expenses-paid trip to Madison for a mid-summer project meeting.
● Hike and canoe in rugged terrain to reach field sites.

Eligibility and Qualifications:
● Student status at an accredited college or university (actively enrolled Fall 2023). This includes but is not limited to Fond du Lac Tribal and Community College, UW-Superior and other UW System schools, UMD and CSS. Open to all majors and international students.
● Able to independently reach the Reserve office where fieldwork will commence.
● Able to work collaboratively in an office environment and in the field.
● Reliable work ethic. Capable of completing tasks independently. Comfortable working outdoors.
● An ideal candidate would have knowledge of one or more of the following topics:
o Hands-on experience including coursework in digital remote sensing and/or GIS.
o Some knowledge of local plants or ecology, aquatic environments, and the Great Lakes region.
o Experience/comfort in canoeing and walking on difficult terrain.

Dates: June-Aug. 2023 (average of 20-24 hrs/wk but can be flexible)