Overview

Join our team at Un poco del Chocó for a hands-on biology internship in one of the world’s most biodiverse and endangered ecosystems. Interns contribute directly to real-world conservation and ecological research in the tropical rainforest of the Andean Chocó. Through fieldwork, data analysis, and active involvement in reserve management, you’ll gain both theoretical and practical knowledge in tropical biology and conservation science.

Whether you're building experience for a future in biology, environmental sciences, or conservation, this internship offers a unique opportunity to develop field skills, deepen your ecological understanding, and make a meaningful impact.

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What You'll Do

Research projects

IInterns assist with field data collection, management, and analysis across our long-term monitoring and research initiatives:

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• Avian Research and Bird Monitoring
  Assist with mist-netting, bird banding, morphological measurements, and bird surveys. You’ll be trained by NABC-certified bird banders.

• Lepidopteran Project
  Set up bait traps, collect and identify butterflies to monitor species diversity in the reserve.

• Camera Trap Project
  Help document mammals and ground-dwelling birds using camera traps. Tasks include setup, maintenance, and species identification from footage.

• Flower and Fruit Phenology
  Conduct monthly surveys to track fruiting and flowering patterns and resource availability in the forest.

• Bat Monitoring (January–March)
  Interns set up composite insect traps and analyze captured insects to measure fluctuations in monthly insect abundance

• Herpetofauna Monitoring (January–March)
  Participate in night surveys to document amphibians and reptiles, assisting in data collection on species diversity and physical traits.

• Support for Visiting Researchers
  Assist other researchers and students with fieldwork and data processing.

• Data management (data entry and analysis)

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Reserve management and conservation

In addition to research, interns engage in monthly conservation efforts that directly support the reserve’s ecological mission:

• Trail maintenance
  Maintain and improve the reserve’s nature trails and signage.

• Reforestation project
  Collect seeds from native tree species for our tree nursery, care for saplings and lend a hand in our reforestation project.

• Forest school project
  Help develop and deliver workshops for local students to raise environmental awareness.

• Outreach
  Create content for our blog and social media to share updates from the field.