Summer 2020 Internships

Paid internships are available at each of the seven MAES Research Centers for MSU, MSU-N or MSU-B students. Each intern will serve eight weeks or more during the summer semester. Tuition credits will not be covered but can be discussed with Internship leader. *On-site housing is available at some of the centers. Interns will assist with various research projects, farm and ranch related tasks, data analysis and more. Should internship credits be desired, credit approval through the students’ academic department will be led by the student requesting the credits.

The following opportunities are available:

The internship program is designed to give students a broad experience at an applied agronomic research facility. The focus of the research center is on cropping systems and soil health.  That said, student interns will be given hands-on training across the varied research and associated responsibilities that exist at the center. An important component of the internship will involve students and faculty jointly agreeing on their (i.e., the student’s) greater involvement in one, and occasionally two, field experiments where the students will have a particularly active role in contributing to the research, from establishment (i.e., planting) through post-harvest processing and analyses (if occurring within the internship period). Potential projects include those focused on conventional or organic cropping systems. Student interns will meet regularly with faculty and professional staff to discuss ongoing research as well as applied agronomic research more generally. Our objective and expected outcome is that student interns will leave CARC with a good understanding of the operation of a research center and the demands and rewards of conducting applied research at CARC and comparable research facilities. While the focus of the internship is research, student interns will occasionally participate in other non-research activities that are common at off-campus research facilities so that they better appreciate the expectations placed on faculty and staff at centers like CARC. 

Contact: Dr. Patrick Carr, email patrick.carr@montana.edu

The Plant Pathology Program at the Eastern Ag Research Center in Sidney, MT is seeking a highly motivated student with an interest in agricultural research and plant disease management to join us for a summer internship focused on diseases of both irrigated and dryland crops. This internship will incorporate both field and laboratory based learning opportunities and an individual research project will be developed based on the student's interests. Field responsibilities will include assisting with field trials, data collection, plot maintenance, rating for disease, and collecting plant samples for disease identification.

The student may also receive laboratory training in isolation of plant pathogenic bacteria and fungi from tissue, preparation of growth media, preparation of chemicals and/or inoculum for lab or field use, maintenance of cultures, and using molecular techniques involving DNA. 

Additionally, there will be several opportunities to interact with local farmers and industry. If needed, funding has been obtained to extend past the advertised 8 weeks and on-site housing may be available.

Contact:  Dr. Frankie Crutcher, email frankie.crutcher@montana.edu

MSU-Eastern Agricultural Research Center has Agronomy and Plant Pathology Research Programs. The Agronomy Research Program studies Genotype x Environment x Management interactions for pulse (pea, lentil, and chickpea, Cereal wheat and barley) and Sugar beet.  We select varieties for difference environments for high yield and quality.  We also use difference techniques, including remote sensing, to screen drought tolerant traits.  The Agronomy Research Program is also developing different management strategies, such as sensor-based fertilization and irrigation techniques, for farmers to produce better yield, quality, and resource use efficiency.  The summer intern is expected to participate in pulse, sugar beet, or cereal research projects.     

Contact:  Dr. Chengci Chen, email cchen@montana.edu 

At the end of the internship, a highly motivated intern will learn:

  1. Crop growth and development of selected legumes and come up with crop phenology characterization as influenced by planting date or irrigation,
  2. Daily soil water balance calculation using crop, soil, and weather data.
  3. How to schedule irrigation in alfalfa and other crops, and

       4.    Various research experiences such as plot management, pre-harvest planning to harvest, seed processing, data management, and necessary safety protocols.

Contact: Dr. Jessica Torrion, email jessica.torrion@montana.edu

Western Ag Research Center, Corvallis, MT, is seeking a highly motivated summer intern with interest and experience in plant pathology.  The intern will focus on a lab-based research project on postharvest pathogens of haskap fruit under the direction of Rachel Leisso and Bridgid Jarrett, with the goal of lead-authoring and submitting a “first report” manuscript to Plant Disease.  Laboratory experience, especially with sterile technique, making media, microbial culture, and knowledge of Koch’s postulates would be helpful. The ability to work independently, maintain organization, think critically, and summarize results in written form is essential.

Contact: Dr. Rachel Leisso, email rachel.leisso@montana.edu  

TO APPLY: Submit a letter of interest including your full name, major, year in school and contact information. Please include a <300 word essay on why you are interested in a Research Center internship and which Research Center internship program you would like to apply for within your application. You can apply for the specific internship by clicking the email link of your desired internship program and location. You may apply for more than one internship, but you must do so by applying for each program you are interested in. The same application material can by uploaded multiple times by separate emails sent to the specific program leaders.

Deadline: March 15, 2020 or until a suitable applicant is found.

For more information regarding the research centers, please visit our Departmental Website: http://agresearch.montana.edu/researchcenters.html, and click the internship link or contact the Research Center Superintendent:

Research Center Superintendent Email Phone Housing Details
CARC - Moccasin Pat Carr patrick.carr@montana.edu 406.423.5421 *Housing available
EARC – Sidney Chen Chengci cchen@montana.edu 406.433.2208 *Housing available
NARC - Havre Darrin Boss dboss@montana.edu 406.265.6115 Housing may be available
NWARC – Kalispell Jessica Torrion jessica.torrion@montana.edu 406.755.4303 Housing not available
SARC – Huntley Ken Kephart kephart@montana.edu 406.348.3400 Housing may be available
WARC – Corvallis Zach Miller zachariah.miller@montana.edu 406.961.3025 *Housing available
WTARC – Conrad Darrin Boss dboss@montana.edu 406.265.6115 Housing not available