Job Details

Agency
Dept of Administration

Division
Youth Advocacy , Involvement Office

Job Classification Title
S-Education & Training (S)

Position Number
60013988

Grade
TS

About Us

The NC Department of Administration is the business manager for North Carolina state government. The department oversees Government Operations such as building construction, purchasing and contracting for goods and services, maintaining facilities, managing state vehicles, acquiring and disposing of real property, and operating auxiliary services such as courier mail delivery and the sale of state and federal surplus property. Additionally, the department manages many of the state's advocacy programs that provide assistance and services to diverse segments of the state's population that have been traditionally underserved.

Description of Work

Knowledge Skills and Abilities/Management Preferences

Agency: Environmental Quality

Division: Water Resources

Job Duties: To advance the understanding of the correlations between cyanobacteria and microcystins, and the
effects of environmental conditions in NC freshwater systems based on the existing data.

Major Task to be Performed: 1) collect and organize (e.g. waterbodies) the existing data collected from the NC freshwater lakes, rivers or reservoirs, including chlorophyll a, phytoplankton and algae composition, cyanobacteria, phycocyanin, cyanotoxins (Microcystins and/or Cylindrospermopsin), and associated physical and chemical data; 2) data analysis on correlations among the biological data with focus on cyanobacteria and cyanotoxins; 3) statistical analysis to compare the physical and chemical conditions affecting cyanotoxin production.

Final Product or Outcome Anticipated: 1) a complete and organized dataset that includes up-to-date existing data of algae, cyanobacteria, cyanotoxins and associated physical and chemical parameters from NC rivers, lakes and reservoirs; 2) a report that summarizes the data analysis methods and findings, and potentially recommendations on algae and cyanotoxin monitoring in NC freshwater systems.

Academic Majors Desired: Biology; Phycology; Ecology;
Environmental Sciences; Biogeochemistry; Biological Oceanography

2026 State of North Carolina Internship Period: Monday, May 18 - Friday, July 24, 2026

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities / Competencies:

Aquatic ecology background with a strong interest to understand water quality, harmful algal blooms, cyanobacteria and cyanotoxins; Experience in data management and data analysis, using R or software (e.g. JMP); Skilled in Microsoft Office Suite. Someone who is pursuing a M.Sc. or has 1-2 years of experience post B.Sc. in ecology, environmental Sciences, or Biology is preferred.

Minimum Education and Experience Requirements:

• An applicant must be a permanent North Carolina resident attending a college, university, law school, community college or technical institute in North Carolina or a North Carolina resident attending an equivalent institution out of state.
• Applicants must carry a 2.5 or greater overall grade point average on a 4.0 scale.
• Applicant must be a high school graduate and at least 18 years old by January 1, 2026.
• Applicants must be continuing their education in the fall following their participation in the program.
• To qualify for a law internship, applicants must have completed at least one year of law school before the beginning of the internship, unless other majors are listed.
• Students having previously held paid internships with this program are not eligible to apply.
• Applicants must be willing and able to work full-time for the entire 10-week internship. Applicants must be able to provide legal proof of identity and work authorization within three working days of employment.

This position will close at 11:59 p.m. the night before the end date.

Minimum Education and Experience

Some state job postings say you can qualify by an "equivalent combination of education and experience." If that language appears below, then you may qualify through EITHER years of education OR years of directly related experience, OR a combination of both. See the Education and Experience Equivalency Guide for details.

EEO Statement

The State of North Carolina is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer and dedicated to providing employees with a work environment free from all forms of unlawful employment discrimination, harassment, or retaliation. The state provides reasonable accommodation to employees and applicants with disabilities; known limitations related to pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions; and for religious beliefs, observances, and practices.

Recruiter:
Jeanene McBride

Recruiter Email:
...@DOA.NC.GOV