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From the Field

Learning the ropes of field research: An ACRC intern experience

Hi, my name is Jasmine! I am in my third year of studying environmental science at the University of Alaska Southeast. During the summer of 2026, I had the wonderful opportunity to work at the Alaska Coastal Rainforest Center as an intern. Before this summer, I had no experience with outdoor research in the field and in a lab. Throughout the summer, I was able to learn methods for ongoing research that ACRC performs, assist graduate students with their data collection, and even take on a small individual project where I was able to put the skills and knowledge I had gained into action.

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Jasmine Louwagie stands in a stream with a device to measure stream flow

Getting to know the streams: An ACRC Scrapbook

When I first applied for the ACRC, I was super excited about the idea of getting to work in environmental sciences. I was excited to spend time outside doing field work as part of my job. Although there were many things about this job that I was expecting to enjoy, there were also things that I appreciated unexpectedly. 

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Understanding Glacial Stream Systems - An ACRC intern experience

The Juneau icefield melts into the major watersheds of Juneau, Alaska. These glacial rivers are essential for salmon, whales and all other aquatic wildlife. This summer I worked on research understanding the linked ecosystems within the glacial watersheds with projects that ranged from methane sources to juvenile salmon behavior. The organization I worked with, Alaska Coastal Rainforest Center, is based at the University of Alaska Southeast and is closely connected to the USDA Forest Service to complete research projects.

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Art Meets Science: An Intern’s Reflection at ACRC

Hello my name is Lelehua Fujimoto Vertido and I’m an intern at ACRC through Sealaska Heritage Institute. I'm Alaska Native, grew up in Juneau, and I’m going into my second year at UAS as an Environmental Science major. Through this internship I gained valuable experiences and insight that I will carry with me wherever I go. 

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Bikes, Bugs, and Baby Salmon: A summer of field science with ACRC

Hi! I’m Jake Watkins and I'm a soon to be senior at UAS studying fisheries and ocean science. This summer at ACRC, I’ve been working alongside Blake Toney as a research technician looking at juvenile salmonid responses to extreme flow events. I’ve known about ACRC and some of the rad fisheries ecology work that they’ve been doing since I started studying at UAS. I was definitely most intrigued by all the extensive hands-on work they were doing. When I heard about a potential position being available I knew it would be a great opportunity to learn some invaluable field and lab skills. Additionally, thoughts surrounding graduate school have also been lingering in my head and I thought this position would help me better understand the grad school process.

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In the Field with Finn: Summer as an ACRC Intern

My name is Finn Finnegan, and I am going into my fourth year at UAS pursuing a BA in environmental studies. Working with ACRC over the summer has been a great opportunity to expand my experience in environmental research and gain a deeper understanding of our local environment here in Juneau. 

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Tracking Salmon at Davies Creek: A summer internship experience

Hello, my name is Corban. I am entering my second year at UAS. When I started this internship, I was pursuing a major in environmental science; however, after my time with ACRC, I am switching my focus to Biology. I first learned about this internship from a professor of mine. It seemed like a very good opportunity to me, and I was tired of working in retail, so it felt like a necessary change. I was originally interested due to the more humane ways Lindsey captured and handled the fish. Additionally, being outside and hiking most days was very appealing to me.

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Cryoconite Holes, Clam Surveys, and Fish Studies: My Summer Internship Experience

My name is Mia Bramante, and I am an intern at ACRC through Sealaska Heritage Institute. Over the course of my internship, I have gained a variety of skills and experiences in fieldwork, lab processing, and data entry. These experiences will benefit me in my future as I begin Marine Biology and Environmental Science courses at UCLA. The skills I have learned will be applicable in many of my classes and will allow me to enter with a solid background knowledge. 

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Mia note taking during cryoconite field work

Photo Essay: Searching for clams at Auke Rec

I joined ACRC researcher John Harley at Auke Rec to prepare for an upcoming shellfish biomass survey along with ACRC intern Mia, ACRC volunteer Andrea, and John’s dog, Buck. The main objective of the day was to determine the upper clam boundary of the intertidal zone - in other words, the highest tide level where we could find clams. This boundary is used to inform the bi-annual biomass surveys for one of John’s research projects on paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP).

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Meet USFS Postdoc Marie Gutgesell

Join us in welcoming Marie Gutgesell! Marie joins the ACRC network as a postdoctoral fellow at the Juneau Forestry Sciences Laboratory. Learn more about her work and background in this short Q&A.

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