2025 Internships in the Peruvian Amazon
An overview of our internships:
Our internships are designed to provide individuals – students, early-career or aspiring scientists, and others with a deep interest in the Amazon, the tropics more generally, or Latin America – with the chance to learn through direct, hands-on engagement with our three focal areas: research, reforestation, and education.
Each of our three internship programs share a common academic structure that includes an exploration of topics in tropical biology, conservation, and sustainable development through lectures, readings in the primary literature, guided discussions and, of course, in-depth independent study. Scroll down to learn more about these exciting opportunities!
What Our Interns are Saying
"I expected to learn a lot about the Amazon—and I did—but I also learned about myself, people, and the world. Coming here has altered my world view in a positive way."
-Maddy Stauder
Academic Quarter Internship, Summer 2017, posing with one of her experimental artificial nest boxes
"I learned to be creative in many ways. Manual work, constructing traps to catch a tiny fraction of the rich wildlife. Scientific knowledge, putting together information from the literature. All surrounded by—submerged into—this exotic diversity."
-Tobias Süess
Academic Quarter Internship, Summer 2017, shown with a drift fence used to sample herps (reptiles and amphibians)
"Even though there was a fair share of struggles when I realized my limitations, the last three months has been a great experience for me. I mean, how can you cross the line if you don’t know where it is?"
-Zephyr Dang
Academic Quarter Internship, Summer 2017, gathering data in one of the ASA's agroforestry plots at Finca Las Piedras
3. Academic
Quarter Internship
2. Advanced
Sustainability Internship
1. Introduction to Sustainability Internship
2025 Dates, Deadlines, & Fees
Internship Program
Introduction to
Sustainability
Advanced
Sustainability
Academic
Quarter
Duration
4 weeks
$500
Fee/week
Total Fees
$2,000
8 weeks
$430
$3,440
12 weeks
$400
$4,800
Session Dates
Session I
Jun 2 - 27
Jun 2 - Jul 25
Jun 2 - Aug 22
Session II
Jun 30 - Jul 25
Jun 30 - Aug 22
Jun 30 - Sept 19
Session III
Session IV
Jul 28 - Aug 22
Aug 25 - Sept 19
Jul 28 - Sept 19
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Application & Payment Deadlines
Session I
May 2
May 2
May 2
Session II
May 30
May 30
May 30
Session III
Session IV
Jun 27
Jul 25
Jun 27
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Why are there fees for the Internship Program?
We're a medium-size non-profit organization trying to do big work with a small budget. The Internship Program fees mostly cover the cost of housing interns at our field site in Peru, with some also going to cover the cost of the support staff that facilitates the program. This allows us to dedicate our limited resources entirely to our research, education, and conservation projects in Peru.
What's covered, and what's not?
Program fees include full room & board, 7 days per week, for the duration of the program at Finca Las Piedras (although interns are only required to work Monday through Friday). Transportation between Finca Las Piedras and the Puerto Maldonado airport (PEM) at the beginning and end of the program is also included, as is full-time supervision by ASA faculty and staff.
Fees DO NOT cover international or local flights, or travel & health insurance. Materials related to intern independent research projects are also not covered.
An application fee of $150 is due after registering for the Internship Program, this fee is refundable. Please read our Cancellation Policy, as well as our Terms and Conditions for more information before making a payment. You will be given payment options upon completion of the Application Form (available here).
General Program Details
Overview
Program Location: Finca Las Piedras, Madre de Dios, Peru
Accommodations: Shared room/dormitory
Work Schedule: Monday thru Friaday, 8 hrs/day
Meeting Location: Puerto Maldonado, Peru
Requirements
An academic background or strong interest in biology, conservation, or sustainable development is highly recommended for all interns. We do not offer academic credit through our organization, but we are happy to sign documents for credit from your home institution. All instruction at the field site is in English. Although Spanish is not required, basic skills will be very useful.
Faculty and Staff
The internship program is overseen by our expert faculty and staff. Dr. Geoff Gallice, who has 15+ years of experience working as a research scientist and conservationist in the Neotropics, is the Science Director at Finca Las Piedras. Interns' primary supervisor and main point of contact is the Academic Programs Coordinator, and support is also provided by our various project managers and team of resident naturalists.
Skills Developed by Interns
All programs:
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Training in basic field research skills, including off-trail navigation and use of GPS and GIS, techniques used in studies of tropical biodiversity, ecology, and conservation (e.g., experimental design, data collection and management, forest inventory plots, wildlife and insect survey methods, camera trapping, etc.)
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Identification of major Amazonian plant and animal groups (e.g., trees, mammals, birds, reptiles and amphibians, insects and other invertebrates)
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Tropical reforestation and sustainable agroforestry methods and practices
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Weekly assigned readings on topics covering tropical biology, sustainable development, and conservation
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Guided reading discussions from the primary literature
Advanced & Academic Quarter programs:
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Advanced field research methodology through in-depth Independent Research Project
Example Intern Activities
Biological research & monitoring
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Butterfly ecology, evolution, & natural history – participate in an ongoing, long-term study to understand butterfly diversity and biology, including butterfly collecting and rearing for host plant records
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Biological inventories – insects, birds, mammals, trees/plants
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Plant phenology (fruiting and flowering of select trees and plants) – to monitor changes over time in a changing climate
Reforestation & sustainable agroforestry
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Reforestation with native species to provide friendly alternatives to unsustainable agriculture in our region
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Experimental agroforestry plots (e.g., to test effects of composting, biochar, & other organic fertilizers, intercropping, integrated pest management, etc.
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Shade house and tree nursery management practices
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Native food forest monitoring – a future forest of native species with food, building, and/or medicinal uses
Independent Research Project
Overview
As well as the activities listed above, all interns will have the added opportunity to develop an independent research project on a topic of their choosing, under the supervision of our academic faculty. This will allow interns to build upon what they have learned at the beginning of the program and apply it to a project in an area that is novel or interesting to them. Topics may also be assigned in an area of our faculty’s academic expertise, including wildlife biology and ecology, entomology, botany, natural history, sustainable agroforestry, and community development. This optional project will provide participants with a more thorough insight into the process of scientific discovery and conservation in the tropics.
Successful past projects
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Assessing the Impact of Timber Extraction on the Habitats of Southeast Peruvian Amazon Primates - Cassie Rodrique, July 2024
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Qualifying primate range and activity in a disturbed forest - Daniel Schmidt, August 2023
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Community perspectives in drought and water management in Madre de Dios, Peru - Julia Swain, August 2023
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Distributions of Galipea trifoliata and Pausandra trinae in a disturbed region of the Peruvian Amazon: Testing the Janzen-Connell explanation for rarity with two common Amazonian Trees – Gabriela Jeliazkov, July 2021.
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An analysis of constraints and opportunities for sustainable inclusion of Madre de Dios farmers in cacao value chains – Mitch Theisen, August 2019.
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Comparing butterfly diversity in different tropical habitats – Allison Stoiser, August 2018
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A case study of arboreal termite (Insecta: Isoptera) tree selection at Finca Las Piedras, Madre de Dios, Peru – Declan Cronin, September 2018
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Wild cacao (Theobroma cacao) survey and mapping at Finca Las Piedras, Madre de Dios, Peru – Zephyr Dang, September 2017
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Assessing the sustainability of local farming practices in the vicinity of Finca Las Piedras, Madre de Dios, Peru – Joao Vilca, October 2017
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Discerning diurnal roost preferences of cavity roosting Neotropical bats for the purpose of designing successful artificial bat roosts – Angela Brierly, August 2017
Click here to view published past intern research reports.
Read more about the Independent Research Project, including possible future projects, here.
Aerial view of Finca Las Piedras. Photo: Geoff Gallice
We have identified almost 100 species of reptiles and amphibians at Finca Las Piedras, just one group that we're working to study and monitor at the site. Interns have provided valuable help in these inventories.
Traps allow us to sample butterflies and other rain forest insects that are otherwise hard to find. With more than 1,300 known butterfly species, Peru's Madre de Dios region offers a limitless variety of possibilities for the study of biodiversity. Photo: Geoff Gallice
Morpho menalaus, one of more than a thousand butterfly species found in our region. Photo: Aaron Pomerantz
Map of the field site in southeastern Peru.
1. Introduction to Sustainability
Internship - 4 weeks
Objectives
This 4-week program offers participants a broad introduction to biological research and conservation in the tropics. Our teaching and learning approach is both academic and hands-on. After receiving training in basic field skills, interns will participate directly in scientific research and applied conservation projects that span our three focal areas: research, reforestation, and education. With the help of our academic faculty, interns will also navigate tropical biology and conservation science through lectures and weekly reading discussions covering articles drawn from the primary scientific literature. This is an excellent opportunity to explore an exciting variety of potential career paths in biology and conservation under the guidance of experts in those fields. Finally, this program offers the chance to conduct a small independent project, with careful consideration given to the constraints of time and resources.
Details
Length: 4 weeks
Dates (2025):
Session I: Jun 2 - Jun 27
Session II: Jun 30 - Jul 25
Session III: Jul 28 - Aug 22
Session IV: Aug 25 - Sept 19
Application Deadlines:
Session I: May 2
Session II: May 30
Session III: Jun 27
Session IV: Jul 25
Program Fees:
Per week: $500
Total fees: $2,000 (4 weeks)
2. Advanced Sustainability
Internship - 8 weeks
Details
Length: 8 weeks
Dates (2025):
Session I: Jun 2 - Jul 25
Session II: Jun 30 - Aug 22
Session III: Jul 28 - Sept 19
Application Deadlines:
Session I: May 2
Session II: May 30
Session III: Jun 27
Program Fees:
Per week: $430
Total fees: $3,440 (8 weeks)
Objectives
This 8-week program offers participants a more in-depth survey of biological research and conservation in the tropics. Interns will learn by participating directly in scientific research and applied conservation projects that span our three focal areas: research, reforestation, and education. With the guidance of our academic faculty, interns will also navigate tropical biology and conservation science through lectures and weekly reading discussions covering articles drawn from the primary scientific literature.
Independent Research Project
As well as the activities listed above, participants in the Advanced Sustainability Internship Program will have the added opportunity to develop an in-depth Independent Research Project on a topic of their choosing, under the supervision of our academic faculty. Topics may also be assigned in an area of our faculty’s academic expertise, including wildlife biology and ecology, entomology, botany, natural history, sustainable agroforestry, and community development. This optional project will provide participants with a more thorough insight into the process of scientific discovery and conservation in the tropics.
Read more about the Independent Research Project, including past intern projects and possible future internship research topics here.
3. Academic Quarter
Internship - 12 weeks
Details
Length: 12 weeks
Dates (2025):
Session I: Jun 2 - Aug 22
Session II: Jun 30 - Sept 19
Application Deadlines:
Session I: May 2
Session II: May 30
Program Fees:
Per week: $400
Total fees: $4,800 (12 weeks)
Objectives
This 12-week program offers participants the most thorough exploration of biological research and conservation in the tropics. Interns will learn by participating directly in scientific research and applied conservation projects that span our three focal areas: research, reforestation, and education. With the guidance of our academic faculty, interns will also explore topics tropical biology and conservation science through lectures and weekly reading discussions covering articles drawn from the primary scientific literature.
Independent Research Project
As well as the activities listed above, participants in the Academic Quarter Internship Program will have the added opportunity to develop a detailed Independent Research Project on a topic of their choosing, under the supervision of our academic faculty. Topics may also be assigned in an area of our faculty’s academic expertise, including wildlife biology and ecology, entomology, botany, natural history, sustainable agroforestry, and community development. This optional project will provide participants with a more thorough insight into the process of scientific discovery and conservation in the tropics. The Academic Quarter Internship Program is ideal for those wishing to maximize their learning experience in the rainforest or intending to complete an academic thesis, particularly at the undergraduate level (i.e., capstone).
Read more about the Independent Research Project, including past intern projects and possible future internship research topics here.
