Siegele Conservation Science Internship

Interested in applying for the Siegele Internship? Learn more about the program by exploring projects from the 2019 Summer Field Session.

Landscape of the Physaria pulvinata survey site in southwestern Colorado. Two women stand on the hillside against the blue sky.

Mission Statement of the Colorado Natural Heritage Program

We advance the conservation of Colorado's native species and ecosystems through science, planning, and education for the benefit of current and future generations

Story Map Tour

What to Expect as a Siegele Conservation Science Intern

Expectations as a Siegele Intern

In order to apply for the Siegele Conservation Science Internship, you must be a current Colorado State University undergraduate student who is passionate about natural resource conservation. Applicants should be enthusiastic about biological field work and conservation. Applicants should be aware that the internship may require long hours in the field, often including hiking and camping. Previous camping experience is helpful, but not required. Many projects require hiking through rugged terrain in all weather conditions, so physical stamina should be considered when applying.

Skills Gained through the Siegele Internship

Interns receive professional training and gain experience in natural resource conservation. Throughout the summer, interns are assigned to a variety of different projects—providing students with a well-rounded variety of interdisciplinary field skills. Examples of skills gained include: native plant identification, vegetation sampling, use of GPS and GIS, monitoring protocols, small mammal identification and field survey techniques.

Networking and career development is also an integral part of the Siegele Conservation Science Internship! Students have the opportunity to work with professional biologists and conservationists directly in the field. Professional mentorship is given throughout the internship process, and is incredibly useful for students exploring their post-graduate plans.

Wondering what the overall experience will be like? Hear from some past interns!

"One of my favorite parts of the Siegele Internship was working with passionate, enthusiastic, and hard working students and staff over the summer. Learning about how research is applied in the field was also one of my favorite parts as well.... I also enjoyed working with different CNHP staff each week to learn from them...Through talking to people this summer about their paths and through everything I learned from the internship, [being a Siegele Conservation Science Intern] has helped me refine my career goals." - Emma Balunek (Siegele Conservation Science Intern, 2019)

"My favorite part of the internship was getting to work outside with experianced professionals that could help guide and teach me about plant ID, sampling, and everything else you need to be successful in field work." - Kyle Jackson (Siegele Conservation Science Intern, 2019)

"The Siegele Conservation Internship was the highlight of my undergraduate career at CSU! I had the privilege of traveling across Colorado to work with rare plant and animal conservation. I gained an incredible amount of field technician experience and feel a lot more confident with my post-graduate career plans because of the professional guidance I received." - Renee Lile (Siegele Conservation Science Intern, 2019)

"I absolutely loved this internship and learned so much. Every one of my mentors was patient, passionate and willing to answer every question. I look forward to continuing to work with CNHP in the future!” - (Siegele Conservation Science Intern, 2018)


Looking to Apply for the Siegele Conservation Science Internship for the Upcoming Summer Field Session?

Check out the link below to access the newest application.


Descriptions of Siegele Conservation Science Internship Projects

Learn more about the 2019 field projects from the interactive map tour below. Slide through project descriptions to gain gather insight on the work completed by Siegele Conservation Science Interns.

Tin container filled with plastic sample tubes. Plastic tubes are filled with arthropod samples. Photo taken by Emma Balunek, 2019.
Three people hiking in a wetland in Rocky Mountain National Park. Mountains in background. Photo taken by Renee Lile, 2019.
Group of students at a mountain overlook in Colorado State University's Mountain Campus. Tress and shrubs in middle ground. Photo taken by Daivd Anderson, 2019.

Referenced and Supporting Materials

This StoryMap would not have been possible without the help from the following individuals and resources.

Anderson, David. 2018. Hallam Lake Bioblitz. Colorado Natural Heritage Program unpublished proposal for the Aspen Center for Environmental Studies.

“Background.” 2019. GLORIA, GLobal Observation Research Initiative in Alpine Environments , https://gloria.ac.at/scope/background.

Binkley, Alex. Personal Interview. 15 Oct. 2019.

City of Longmont. “Request for Proposals for Button Rock Preserve Management Plan. September 18, 2018.

Culver Denise. 2019. Survey and Assessment of Critical Wetlands in the Roaring Fork Watershed, Colorado. Colorado Natural Heritage Program unpublished project abstract/summary.

Culver, D.R and S. Marshall. In progress. Survey and Assessment of Critical Wetlands in the Roaring Fork Watershed, CO. Colorado Natural Heritage Program.

Davidson, Ana. “Available Work Study or (Paid) Internship Position” flyer. Spring 2019.

Fen Mapping. http://cnhp.colostate.edu/cwic/wetlandtypes/fen-mapping/ (accessed Nov 13,2019).

Handwerk, Jill. Pilot Monitoring of Physaria pulvinata at Miramonte State Wildlife Area. Colorado Natural Heritage Program unpublished project report.

Jackson, Kyle. Personal Interview. 14 Oct. 2019.

Lambert, Brad. 2019. Boreal Toad Monitoring and Survey Project FY19-FY20. Colorado Natural Heritage Program unpublished project summary prepared for the Colorado Parks and Wildlife’s Native Aquatic Species Coordinator.

Marshall, Sarah. Personal Interview. 30 Sept. 2019.

The Nature Conservancy. 2019. Biodiversity Survey of the Crazy French/Fisher’s Peak Conservation Area. Colorado Natural Heritage Program unpublished task order to the Board of Governors of the Colorado State University System.

“Objectives and Aims”. GLORIA, GLobal Observation Research Initiative in Alpine Environments, 2019, https://gloria.ac.at/scope/aims.

Schorr, R.A. 2003. Meadow jumping mice (Zapus hudsonius preblei) on the U.S. Air Force Academy, El Paso County, Colorado: Populations, Movement and Habitat from 2000-2002. Colorado Natural Heritage Program unpublished report to the Natural Resources Branch, U.S. Air Force Academy. 25 pp.

Schorr, R.A. and B.S. Mihlbachler. “Understanding Habitat Quality for Preble’s Meadow Jumping Mouse: How Survival Responds to Vegetation Structure and Composition”. Journal of Fish and Wildlife Management. Volume 9, Issue 2, 2018, 545-553.

Schorr, Robert. Personal Interview. 15 July. 2019.

Schuhmann, Andrea. Personal Interview. 14 June 2019.

Schulz, Keith. Personal Interview. 2 Oct. 2019.

Siemers, Jeremy. 2019. Disease and population monitoring for white-nose syndrome at Rocky Mountain National Park. Colorado Natural Heritage Program unpublished project summary for the Rocky Mounatin National Park.

Sovell, John. Personal Interview. 22 Sept. 2019.

“Terrestrial Reptile Baseline Surveys for Fort Carson and Pinon Canyon Maneuver Site, Colorado”. Performance Work Statement. 2019.

Smith, Pam and Lisa Tasker. Personal Interview. 8 July 2019.

Tasker, Lisa. Personal Interview. 6 June 2019.

Zwick-Tapley, Sarah. Personal Interview. 16 Oct. 2019.