Natural Reserve System

University of California Santa Barbara

Henry W. Offen Internship

Henry W. Offen NRS Undergraduate Internship for UCSB Students

UCSB Natural Reserve System

Spring 2025

Carpinteria Salt Marsh Reserve

The Henry W. Offen NRS Undergraduate Internship celebrates the life of Dr. Offen, Chemistry Professor and Emeritus Professor at UCSB for more than 45 years. Dr. Offen served as the first Director of the UCSB Natural Reserve System (NRS), a position he held for 16 years. He understood the value of the UC Natural Reserves for research and teaching that contribute to the wise management of the earth.  He was particularly interested in fostering students’ interests in conservation and management of the earth’s natural resources by providing opportunities for undergraduates to participate in research and management activities at the Reserves. 

The Henry W. Offen UCSB Undergraduate Research Endowment was set up to honor his memory and legacy through the generous donations of family and friends.  The Endowment provides an annual stipend to support the Internship.  To be eligible applicants must be registered undergraduates at with sophomore, junior or senior standing when they apply.

This year’s Intern will work on management-related projects at the Carpinteria Salt Marsh Reserve (https://csmr.nrs.ucsb.edu/). The Carpinteria Salt Marsh Reserve (CSMR) is located approximately 20 miles east of the UCSB campus.  One of the seven reserves managed by the University of California Santa Barbara Natural Reserve System, CSMR offers a variety of research and education opportunities for students seeking to gain hands on experience. 

Internship Details

  • The Internship stipend is $1,500.  Most of the work can be done remotely from home or on campus using a laptop computer.
  • Hours are flexible but the student should be prepared to work a total of 75-80 hours during Spring Quarter (approximately 7-8 hours per week).
  • The Intern will be supervised by Dr. Andrew Brooks, the Carpinteria Salt Marsh Reserve Director.
  • The internship will focus primarily on the collection, analysis, and presentation of data on bird distribution and abundance collected over the past 50 years. Additional duties will include assisting the Reserve Director with Conservation and Restoration activities on the Reserve. Required qualifications for the internship include:
  1. Access to a computer (Mac or PC) running Microsoft Excel or other comparable software, e.g., Google sheets.
  2. General experience working with Microsoft Excel.
  3. The ability to meet with the Reserve Director on campus or via Zoom for up to one hour each week during the internship.
  4. The ability to occasionally travel to the Carpinteria Salt Marsh Reserve to assist with restoration and conservation activities (transportation to the Reserve will be provided).
  5. The ability to work outside for up to 4-5 hours a day.
  6. Curiosity about nature.

In addition, the following qualifications are desired, but are NOT required:

  1. Some knowledge of local bird species.
  2. Some experience using GIS software such as ArcGIS or Google Earth
  3. Some experience using statistical analysis software such as SAS, SigmaStat, or R
  4. Some experience graphing/presenting data using software such as Microsoft Excel, SigmaPlot, etc.

This internship is open to all UCSB students regardless of major. The selected student will gain experience organizing, analyzing, and presenting data as well as experience in conducting restoration and conservation projects.

APPLICATION PROCEDURE

All applicants must submit an application form, which can be accessed HERE and includes:

  • A 300-word essay explaining your career goals over the next 10 years and how you see participation in the UCSB NRS Internship Program furthering those goals.
  • A copy of your resume/CV, including a list of classes you have completed or are currently taking and your GPA.
  • In your emailed application, please also include the name and email address of a recommendation we could contact (e.g., faculty member, mentor, advocate, post-doctoral fellow or graduate student you have either had as an instructor or T.A. or have worked with during your undergraduate career)

A brief final report to summarize the student’s accomplishments and experience is required at the conclusion of the internship.

The completed application and accompanying letter of recommendation are due by 11:59 pm, March 21, 2025.  Late applications will not be accepted. The internship will begin March 31, 2025 and continue through June 6, 2025. Please submit your application materials via email to: Dr. Andrew Brooks

If you have any questions, please contact Dr. Andrew Brooks, Reserve Director, email: ajbrooks@ucsb.edu, or Dr. Conner Philson, Executive Director, UCSB Natural Reserve System, email: philson@ucsb.edu

Carpinteria Salt Marsh Reserve