The Queen City Pollinator Project is seeking 2–3 undergraduate Field Research Assistants to support two simultaneous community science projects this summer, led by Cornell University graduate researcher Sylvana Ross. Running June 22 through August 10, both projects explore how urban environments shape wildlife communities across Cincinnati neighborhoods. The first project tracks pollinator biodiversity using iNaturalist and timed transect observations, the other project evaluates how ant communities shift their diet preferences across urban microclimates. Field Assistants will work as part of small teams alongside high school community researchers at sites including Lick Run Greenway, Wyoming High School, and additional greenspaces throughout Clifton and Wyoming. Data collection per site visit takes 1.5–2 hours, field windows run between 9 am and 2 pm, and the weekly time commitment is no more than 6 hours, making this an ideal opportunity for students balancing other summer commitments.
This role is a genuine research experience: the data you help collect will contribute directly to peer-reviewed publications, and strong contributors will be eligible for acknowledgment in resulting papers as well as a letter of recommendation. Ideal candidates are undergraduate students with a background or interest in ecology, biology, or environmental science who are comfortable working outdoors in summer conditions, detail-oriented with field data, and enthusiastic about working with high school students from diverse Cincinnati communities. Familiarity with iNaturalist is a plus but not required. All assistants will receive a full online and in-person orientation before the field season begins.
