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Placer Mosquito’s Intern Program

Within the Placer Mosquito Learning Lab umbrella, the Placer Mosquito and Vector Control District offers paid summer internships and can work with your educational institution to meet college credit requirements. Our District’s internship program strives to inspire, develop, and recruit young talent to the scientific, public health and vector control fields. Internship opportunities at the District provide on-the-job experience in field operations, research, lab activities, public outreach and social media. Each internship works closely with a District staff member and requires the completion of a final project or report.

Depending on the internship opportunity, daily/weekly stipends or hourly rates may be used for compensation. Each internship has different working hours and may be in office, in the field, remote or a hybrid work schedule. Internship opportunities are open to students ages 18 and over.

Internships Offered

Intern Stories

Social Media Internship

The social media internship is a seasonal part-time position to develop and create engaging and creative social media and digital media content for the District. This position offers the opportunity to use communications skills while experiencing what it’s like to work at a special district and in the public health field while having fun during summer! You will learn the ins and outs of public outreach, how to manage social media communities and how to develop consistent and engaging social media campaigns that adhere to brand standards and educate the public. This role is active and will require some outside work when capturing photos and videos of fieldwork or filming content.

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Alexa T., Whitney High School/Sierra College, Former Social Media Intern

My time at Placer Mosquito has taught me foundational workplace skills, such as communication, leadership, collaboration and professionalism, that I will carry with me throughout my career. This internship has brought me one step closer to my career goals through the valuable public relations and social media tools I have learned. I was able to be creative, work independently, observe a professional workplace, and immerse myself into a local government organization’s operations.

Alexa T.
Whitney High School/Sierra College

Applied Research Internship

The Applied Research internship offers students an opportunity to use scientific investigation to improve efficacy and efficiency of District operations. The internship seeks to match student skills and interests with District needs, and may include data analytics, GIS mapping, integrated vector management research, and technical innovation. Example topics include relating West Nile Virus incidence and mosquito abundance to habitat characteristics, quantifying seasonality of operational activities, comparing efficiency of surveillance techniques, or documenting control efficacy. Experience with data analysis, statistics, GIS, database programming, experimental design, public health, or vector control is desirable but not required. Applied Research Internships may be up to 100% remote work, depending on the needs of the project.

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Esmeralda M., UC Berkeley, Former Applied Research Intern

My time at Placer Mosquito and Vector Control District enabled me to acquire new strengths that will follow me throughout my career. This position enabled me to apply my techniques in data analysis and use them in a real-world setting. This opportunity gave me an excellent learning experience where I found a new interest in entomology. With the help and support of everyone at Placer Mosquito, I was given the opportunity to enroll my summer project for the Mosquito and Vector Control Association of California’s Reeves New Investigator competition where I presented my paper and research findings to colleagues and other control districts.

Esmeralda M.
UC Berkeley

Vector Control Assistant Internships

Vector Control Assistant internships offer a combination of traditional Vector Control Assistant experiences in the field and laboratory alongside professional development activities like cross-training, shadowing mentor staff, and carrying out an independent project. Duties generally include a combination of field and laboratory work. This internship may require regularly driving a District vehicle on a variety of paved and unpaved roads in various weather conditions.

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Vanessa H., UC Santa Barbara, Former Vector Control Assistant Field Operations Intern

During my internship at Placer Mosquito, through a hands-on, in the field research project, I was able to learn valuable tools to help me in my career path of science and technology! Being granted the opportunity to work at Placer Mosquito, jump-started my career by exposing me to how to conduct scientific research. The mentorship at Placer Mosquito provided helped me in publishing and presenting my internship research at the Mosquito and Vector Control Association of California conference in 2021 which has been one of my greatest achievements. 

Vanessa H.
UC Santa Barbara

Former Interns and Projects

2023

  • Madelyn S., Social Media Intern, Boise State University
  • Monica H., Applied Research Intern, UC Berkeley
  • Taylor E., Applied Research Intern, Occidental College/UC Irvine

2022

  • Alexa T., Social Media Intern, Whitney High School/Sierra College
  • Esmeralda M., Applied Research Intern, UC Berkeley

2021

  • Olivia d L., Social Media Intern, Whitney High School/San Diego State University
  • Shrey S., Applied Research Intern, UC Berkeley

2020

During my internship at Placer Mosquito, I had the incredible opportunity to assist with an epidemiologic project under the helpful guidance of an experienced supervisor. I was able to sharpen my skills in data analysis, writing, and communication as well as learn more about the field of epidemiology. This experience has been instrumental in finding success in my own job search after my internship and I highly recommend this opportunity to others!

– Shrey S., Applied Research Intern, UC Berkeley

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