Water Quality Research Intern

Riverkeeper Inc • Kingston, NY

20h • $17 • Hybrid

About The Position

Riverkeeper’s Science Team is looking for a Water Quality Intern for the 2026 sampling season from April 1st through October 31st, 2026. The Intern will receive training in lab techniques and be expected to work independently to support Riverkeeper’s water quality monitoring projects. Office work can often be done remotely. Field work will take place in the Mid-Hudson region, and lab work will take place at Riverkeeper’s Lab in Kingston, New York (located in the Hudson River Maritime Museum). Be a part of Riverkeeper’s Water Quality program and work with community science volunteers throughout the Hudson River watershed. This is a internship and the person who is chosen will be trained and accompanied during the start of the season to ensure they have the necessary support to accomplish their responsibilities. You do not need to meet all of the qualifications, just be willing to learn!

Requirements

• Ability to commit to being in Riverkeeper’s Kingston lab on specific days throughout the sampling season from May to October
• Experience in scientific laboratories, demonstrated by prior research experience or successful completion of multiple undergraduate biology, chemistry, or earth sciences courses with laboratories
• Exceptional attention to detail and the ability to reliably follow instructions in order to produce reliable data in our laboratory
• Excellent organizational skills and experience with data entry, including Google Sheets and Microsoft Excel
• After sufficient training, ability to work independently to meet program goals
• Willingness and ability to communicate about challenges they may experience with tasks, responsibilities, and deadlines
• Ability to collaborate and work with members of the water quality team to ensure their tasks are accomplished
• Ability to connect with, value, and coordinate volunteers
• Access to reliable transportation for travel within the mid-Hudson region
• Commitment to the values and mission of Riverkeeper
• Cell phone required

Nice To Haves

• Experience with IDEXX FIB recreational water quality monitoring
• Experience with microbiology, analytical chemistry, or comparable lab techniques
• Experience with field ecology or aquatic environmental sampling procedures

Responsibilities

• Coordinate the collection and ensure the accurate processing of water quality samples according to Riverkeeper’s Standard Operating Procedures and Quality Assurance protocols, working under the guidance of Riverkeeper’s Water Quality Scientist and Community Science Manager.
• Assist in coordinating a core group of approximately 40-50 experienced volunteers, who are trained in water sample collection protocols and will bring samples to be analyzed in Riverkeeper’s Kingston lab.
• Communicate and distribute sampling supplies to volunteers via established internal protocols.
• Process water samples using the IDEXX Colilert and Enterolert systems.
• Data entry tasks, including but not limited to scanning of data sheets and entry in Google Sheets.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Part-time
• Career Level: Intern
• Education Level: No Education Listed