Careers
Forest Protection and Safety Coordinator
We are hiring a Forest Protection and Safety Coordinator, a new, part-time position that offers a unique opportunity to work alongside the Duke Forest field team. This new role will help ensure a safe and productive environment for the diverse community of teachers, researchers, students, staff, and recreational users (among others) that use the Duke Forest Teaching and Research Laboratory while embodying the University’s commitments to diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging.
For a complete position description and directions for applying, please read the position description. We plan to begin reviewing applications on 10/9/23.
Internships & Assistantships
Summer Internship
2022-2023 POSITION HAS BEEN FILLED
Duke Forest summer interns are exposed to all aspects of managing a multi-use forest. Summer interns work closely with the Forest Supervisor, Technician, and Maintenance and Infrastructure Manager and may be assigned special projects, depending on current needs. Otherwise, typical duties include:
- Assisting in forest management activities such as timber sales, invasive species control, continuous forest inventory sampling; and boundary line maintenance.
- Assisting in recreation management activities such as trail maintenance, blazing, and trimming.
- Assisting in operations such as road maintenance, vehicle maintenance, and research project set-up and tear-down.
- Assisting with infrastructure maintenance and improvements, including painting forest gates, cleaning forest signs, and maintaining picnic shelters.
- Assisting with ongoing projects or annual events such as monitoring Natural Heritage and High Conservation Value areas and facilitating the ongoing “Good Leashes Make Good Neighbors’ campaign.
- Assisting with communications, outreach, and engagement including but not limited to supporting work on the Duke Forest Facebook page and offering tours and volunteer events.
- Maintaining and improving infrastructure, including forest gates, signs, and picnic shelters
This is a 13-week paid summer internship. Positions run from June to August; exact start and end dates are negotiable.
Student Assistantships
During the academic year, graduate students awarded an assistantship from Duke’s Nicholas School of the Environment may work with Forest Staff on a variety of projects related to forest management, including:
| Natural area monitoring | Education and outreach |
| Road and trail maintenance | Timber inventory and harvest prep |
| Gate and sign improvement | Boundary line marking |
| Data and records organization | GPS data collection |
| GIS data entry | Data analysis |
| Communications / PR | Recreation management |
Some perspectives from our students:
| My time spent working in the Duke Forest this year was truly invaluable. I’ve always found nature to be somewhat of an escape from tiresome or stressful days. Having the opportunity to work in the forest every week helped me stay on track with my studies not only by providing the mental healing I needed but also because it reminded me why I am here pursuing a graduate degree in Environmental Management. – Kelly Horvath |
| The forest’s proximity and ease of accessibility has enriched the coursework available at the Duke’s Nicholas School of the Environment, with clear examples of active forest management for wildlife conservation and timber harvesting. The Duke Forest acts as a resource to provide examples of the theory learned in class, with the added bonus of fresh air and outdoor atmosphere. – Emily Leung |
| I truly believe that Duke Forest is the most valuable asset the Duke Forestry program has, and that not only includes the physical forest, but the staff that goes out of their way on a daily basis to better our (students) experiences, whether that be academically, through professional development, or simply building meaningful personal relationships. – Matt Brantley |