OSPREY: Organic Seed Production Research and Education on Yield

The OSPREY research team is in year two of a four year project comparing yield of organic vegetable seed production across six sites nationally. The work to be completed on this project involves supervised trial installation and maintenance, and involvement in designing and implementing project outreach including a regional field day. This internship consists of primarily outdoor work, and trains interns in conducting field research. Local projects may also include monitoring part of a sweet corn pest trapping network and helping teach sessions of a 4-H vegetable marketing project. 

Roles and responsibilities 

The student intern will need to be able to travel to sites in multiple counties (drive) and have some desire to work independently once goals and techniques are understood. Work will include lifting up to 40 lbs and will take place in a variety of weather. Attention to detail and personal accountability are traits that will lead to success in this internship. 

Qualifications and previous coursework

This opportunity is available to non-graduating students in Cornell University's College of Agriculture and Life Sciences.

• Any horticulture or botany courses are helpful but not required.
• The selected intern will be required to have a valid drivers license as driving n behalf of the summer project is a requirement

Learning outcomes 

• Ability to conduct guided field research
• Public speaking, if desired
• Development of outreach materials
• Horticultural/farming applied skills