Starting in the summer of 2022, Colby is significantly expanding programming on Allen and Benner Islands. We are hiring four Colby students as research and programming docents for the summer of 2022. Students will work a minimum of 350 hours over the summer at a wage of $13.75/hour. Students will live on the islands while conducting independent research half time. The other half of the job is to support college island programming by greeting island visitors, serving as an educational resource, and helping to maintain the islands.
Students must identify a specific research project in collaboration with a Colby faculty or staff mentor. Research must centrally incorporate elements of the islands’ place, history, or community. For example, research on island intertidal ecology, ornithology, climate, the lobster fishery, marine trash, sustainable gardening, photography, sculpture, architecture, creative writing, and Native American history would all be considered.
Support of island programming will require working with the islands’ professional staff. Support tasks will include greeting and guiding island visitors, painting, mowing, trail maintenance, and other jobs as assigned. Summer docents must be comfortable working on and near the water and a clean driving record is strongly preferred.
Students will live on the islands rent-free in comfortable accommodations and will be responsible for purchasing and cooking their own meals. Student transport by boat to and from the islands is included in living expenses. Students will be able to work with island staff to access the mainland as needed (within reason) for personal appointments, grocery shopping, and time off travel. Applicants should submit here (in pdf format) a cover letter, resume, one page description of their proposed research project, and endorsement letter by their research mentor. The cover letter should address your ability to do independent research work with low (or mostly remote) supervision, experience and/or willingness to perform physically demanding work, and ability to work collaboratively in small groups and/or in remote locations. Review of applications will begin on 2/28/22.
Students interested in learning more about this opportunity are encouraged to contact Whitney King, [email protected], in advance of the application deadline. Current students will have priority in the hiring process, although graduating seniors with particularly strong research proposals will be considered.