Student Jobs During Academic Year
Collaborative Conservation Program (3 positions)
Work on real-world conservation projects with western clients
Our collaborative conservation program (formerly called research assistant program) matches students with western leaders in need of conservation assistance in order to develop practical solutions. Students work solo or in pairs to tackle interdisciplinary projects that span and intersect biophysical, social, economic, cultural, and policy topics. Students typically work 5-10 hours/week and are paid ($17.50/hour) while completing projects during September-May from New Haven. Students meet regularly with UHPSI staff and remotely with western partners.
Please see the projects below to see if you might like to apply to work on one of these projects with us! Applications are accepted through the central Yale Student Employment website.
– Learn about past research projects
– Visit our student FAQ about Research Assistants Positions
HIRING STUDENT RESEARCH FELLOW (1 position)
Assessing the Economic Benefits of Public-Private Conservation Investments in the Blackfoot Watershed, Montana
Western partner: The Blackfoot Challenge
Apply to job listing # 36563 on Yale Student Employment
HIRING STUDENT RESEARCH FELLOW (1-2 positions)
Western partner: The Xerces Society
Details coming in August!
Western Connections and Community Event Series (2 positions)
Help plan community-building events with our team
HIRING COORDINATORS- Western Connections and Community Coordinator
Ucross High Plains Stewardship Initiative has an event series called Western Connections and Community which offers 1-2 events per semester during September-May. Events organized in the past include breakfasts, education seminars, trivia, happy hour, career chats, etc. We are seeking two students to join out team to build connections and community among students, staff, and faculty at Yale that are interested in the western United States.
Apply to listing # 36519 on Yale Student Employment
Other Job Opportunities (2 positions)
Process soil and plant samples in a lab
HIRING LAB ASSISTANTS – Partnership in Forestry and Rangeland Research
We are seeking two lab research assistants to help our team with processing soil and plant samples in a laboratory that were collected in the field.
Apply to listing # 36573 on Yale Student Employment
Summer Opportunitites
Western Resources Fellowship
Applications due March 2026
A student-driven query involving research, an internship, or management project during the summer.
Ucross High Plains Stewardship Initiative at YSE provides fellows with a financial award, logistical assistance, and mentorship to aid with a summer experience that will have a high impact on conservation, stewardship, or management of natural resources in the Rocky Mountain or High Plains regions. This program supports Yale graduate and undergraduate students completing a summer work that will provide them with practical experience, leadership skills, and/or research experience that will prepare fellows for their future careers. A financial award of up to $9,000 will be granted to each fellow. Fellows will actively participate in peer mentoring with other fellows and will receive guidance from UHPSI staff during the summer.
Read more about past fellows work: Past fellowships.
How to Apply
Please apply using the Yale Student Grant Database (search ‘Ucross’) by 11:59 pm on March 16, 2025.More information about applications materials can be found in the PDF below, along with general fellowship expectations.
View 10-minute presentations by past Western Resources Fellows by clicking here.
Land Stewardship and Management Immersion Field Trip
Trip is offered ad hoc.
UHPSI at Yale School of the Environment partners with Noble Research Institute in Ardmore, Oklahoma to offer Yale students participation in a 4- day field-based, land management trip. Noble’s Land Stewardship team is skilled in regenerative ranching, prescribed burn implementation, landowner engagement, range and wildlife management.
Activities:
– Ranch Tours
– Prescribed burns
– Plan and implement grazing strategies and assess impact
– Learn about ranch ecosystem processes and soil health indicators
See photos below
Land Management Field Practicum
Trip is offered ad hoc.
A 2-week field practicum during early June designed to engage Yale students with students from 3 other universities (University of Wyoming, Sheridan College, and Texas A&M University- Kingsville) in a collaborative, decision-making process to address a western, natural-resource issue. Practicum involves lectures, field data collection, and communication with diverse stakeholders to produce a conservation deliverable. This experiential, service-learning practicum engages students in applied problem solving with people of different backgrounds, skillsets, and perspectives. Each year the team addresses a issue that a group of western organizations are seeking more information on. Student then spend the fall summarizing data and authoring a report to guide land management decisions.