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Carbon Silviculture Intern

Chapel Hill, NC

General Summary: Aurora Sustainable Lands (Aurora) is seeking a Carbon Silviculture Intern to support the company’s Operations team. The intern will contribute to the advancement of Aurora’s harvest operations and adaptive management as Aurora continues to strategically develop its carbon stewardship practices. Projects will emphasize sustainable forest practices and innovative modeling approaches.
A successful candidate will have a unique mix of technical and practical skills, including familiarity with growth modeling, climate-smart forestry, reforestation principles, wildlife-friendly silviculture, and wood products markets. Success will require strong project management and interpersonal skills. This is an excellent opportunity for a graduate student seeking hands-on experience in large-tract forest management and exposure to advanced silvicultural strategies that support ecological integrity and carbon objectives.

Primary Responsibilities and Competencies:

  • Assist in growth modeling to support sustainable harvest planning and reviewing prior harvests for ecological and operational performance.
  • Contribute to resilience planning initiatives aimed at mitigating climate and disturbance risks.
  • Support reforestation mapping and tracking of regeneration success across large tracts.
  • Participate in designing and implementing wildlife-friendly silvicultural practices.
  • Support the development of data governance policies related to data integration, tracking, naming standards, and documentation.
  • Other projects associated with the Operations Team as needed.
  • Producing a capstone memo and corresponding presentation to be shared with the executive team detailing internship experience.

Required Education, Experience and Certification:

  • In pursuit of or having completed a bachelor's program or in a master's program with studies focused on forestry, environmental sciences, geospatial sciences, natural resource management, and/or a closely related subject.
  • Experience with the USFS’s Forest Vegetation Simulator (FVS).
  • Strong geospatial, inventory, and statistical skills.
  • Experience in independent research and analysis.
  • An enthusiasm for using environmental markets to address critical climate challenges.
  • Demonstrated communication and organization skills.

Preferred Education, Qualifications & Experience:

  • In pursuit of or having completed a graduate degree relevant to forestry and/or natural resources (e.g., Master of Forestry, Master of Environmental Management, or Master of Science with a Forestry or Geospatial focus).
  • Awareness of trends and developments in the timberland investment space.
  • Familiarity with general forestry concepts and terms.
  • A demonstrated strong background, keen interest, or past work experience in forest inventory, silvicultural systems, and forest ecology.
  • Proficiency in task automation and managing geospatial datasets.

The successful candidate must report to Aurora’s Chapel Hill, NC office with an expectation for hybrid-style work (predominantly Central and Eastern time zones for any remote interfacing). The position is expected to work 40 hours per week over a 10–12-week period starting in late May. Start and end dates are semi-flexible. The position will receive a $10,000 stipend, and any required travel will be covered by Aurora.

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