Wildlife Conservation and Management Internship
The Wildlife Diversity Conservation Section offers internship opportunities to undergraduate and graduate students interested in species conservation. The Wildlife Conservation and Management Internship is a great opportunity for students to gain valuable experience working as part of a state wildlife conservation agency. Each intern is assigned projects that directly address conservation actions of the Gopher Tortoise Management Plan, Imperiled Species Management Plan or the State Wildlife Action Plan.
Below is a list of previous interns, their corresponding projects, and links to their final projects (if available online). In addition to obtaining professional experience, the internship has also helped many interns graduate with jobs through FWC or other environmental agencies.
Upperclassman, graduate students, and recent graduates in the Tallahassee area are encouraged to apply. The WCM internship program runs fall, spring, and summer semesters. To apply, submit a completed application, resume and cover letter to Sara Drake. Applications are due three weeks prior to the start of each semester.
Recent Intern(s)
Jazmin Lopez (Spring 2025)
Jazmin recently graduated from Florida State University in Spring 2025 with a B.S. in Environmental Science along with a minor in Biology. Jazmin transformed her passion for wildlife conservation and management into three impactful projects. She created the detailed species profiles for the long-tailed weasel and Wilson’s Plover, demonstrating her commitment to bridging the gap between the public’s knowledge and wildlife conservation. These species profiles will be published on the FWC Species Profiles webpage for public viewing. Reviewing submissions on the Gopher Tortoise Sightings Web App showcased Jazmin’s technological skills. She analyzed gopher tortoise sightings from across Florida submitted by community scientists. In addition, her role in outreach and volunteer coordination showed her enthusiasm for environmental/wildlife awareness. Lastly, she would occasionally help care for Scooter, our program’s educational-use gopher tortoise. Jazmin aspires to have a career dedicated to protecting and serving the environment, and is greatly interested in conservation research as well as conservation videography.