When will the program begin?

August 2025

How long will the program last? 

One year

When are applications to the program due?

Application Deadline: April 15th 2025 at 11:59 p.m.​

How recently must I have graduated?

Participants must have received their degree between August 2021 and August 2025, with extensions allowed for family and medical

Do I need research experience?

No! One of our program goals is to offer research experience to those with little to no research experiences in college

Is this program like continuing on in school?

Yes and no. This program has elements of graduate school, like weekly classroom sessions that are meant to further your professional development (e.g., career days, scientific technologies, data analysis, etc.). And you will have a year-long project supervised by a mentor, which will give you a glimpse of what a Masters project might involve. However, this is also a job, with colleagues that will count on you responsibilities that are part of employment.  You are going to be paid for your work and thus there are expectations for you that are well beyond those of a student.

What is a typical day/week like?

Most weeks, you will spend 3-4 days doing field work, and the remainder of your time doing office or lab work. Some days you will be wading in a stream or river or lake supporting aquatic research. Some days you will be working in a forest, measuring vegetation. Some days may be very long, as travel times to the sites can be long and efficiency may require a >8 hour work day. However, every effort is made to ensure that your weekly hours do not exceed a normal 40-hour work week on balance. Regardless, you should expect to spend a lot of time outside doing hands-on activities in the field.

Are international students eligible?

No. Applicants must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents of the U.S.

Housing and transportation?

​Housing costs are provided by the program. Although it is not mandatory to have a personal vehicle, mentees will spend one half of program at The Jones Center at Icahauway which is located in rural Georgia without public transportation

How often and when will I be paid?

Mentees will be paid monthly by direct deposit on or around the 1st of the month 

What are the salary and benefits of program?

​$32,500 + $200 gear allowance. Housing is provided at no cost to the mentee