The Nature Research Centre of the Westfjords offers internships for university students interested in gaining practical experience in ecology and environmental research. The internship forms part of the institute’s academic and professional activities and provides students with insight into research and projects related to the natural environment of the Westfjords.
The Westfjords offer a unique and remote natural setting where diverse ecosystems are within easy reach. The area also has an active and vibrant student community, and interns gain access to an extensive network of professionals that may create future academic and career opportunities.
The student will get the opportunity to go conduct fieldwork with an experienced team of professionals, collecting both ecological as well as environmental data in the marine environment. In the laboratory, the student will receive hands-on training and supervision, with the focus being mainly on identifying and classifying organisms collected out in the field. The student will also have the opportunity to experience a wide range of other natural science-related fieldwork.
Interns gain insight into and participate in a variety of natural science projects, depending on the season and ongoing research priorities, including:
- Bird monitoring
- Terrestrial vegetation studies
- Freshwater ecosystems assessments
- Marine and aquaculture related monitoring
- Fieldwork, sampling, and data processing
- Laboratory work
Internships are offered during one of the following semesters:
- Spring
- Summer
- Autumn
The internship typically lasts 3–4 months; however, start dates may be flexible depending on availability and the applicant’s needs.
The institute can arrange accommodation in the area for interns, but interns are responsible for covering part of the rental costs.
We particularly encourage individuals who are already based in the Westfjords to apply.
The internship is suitable for students in the fields of:
- Biology
- Ecology
- Marine Biology
- Conservation ecology
- Environmental Studies
- Life Sciences
- Animal Science
Applicants are requested to submit a CV and a short statement of interest outlining their academic background, research interests, and preferred internship period. Further information and applications should be sent to nave@nave.is