Job Closes: April 17th, 2026
GENERAL SUMMAR
YThe Michael Gonzales Memorial internship was established in 2012 to honor Michael Gonzales, former Deputy Director of Technical Services at the San Antonio River Authority. This internship opportunity is awarded to a highly motivated outstanding undergraduate student from a Texas institute of higher education. It is designed to stimulate interest in careers in environmental sciences among groups underrepresented in these professions. The candidate selected will intern with the San Antonio River Authority Environmental Sciences Department (ESD) in San Antonio, Texas. The intern must be a current member or become a member of the Texas Chapter of the American Fisheries Society (TCAFS) prior to the conclusion of the internship. The River Authority will assist the selected intern with the application process and/or application fees if necessary
.
Safety is #1 at the River Authority: We expect every employee: to 1) Strictly follow safety policies, rules, and safe work methods. 2) Promptly correct or report safety hazards or unsafe conditions. Immediately report injuries for prompt diagnosis and treatment. 3) Make regular suggestions for safety process improvements to support continuous safety improvemen
t.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES & RESPONSIBILIT
IESThe intent of this job description is to provide a representative summary of the major duties and responsibilities performed by employees in this job. Employees may be requested to perform job-related tasks other than those specifically presented in this descripti
• on.Conduct routine water quality collections throughout the San Antonio River bas
• in.Collect fish, habitat, and benthic macroinvertebrate data to assess stream heal
• th.Learn how to identify fish and benthic macroinvertebrates of the San Antonio River bas
• in.Use kayaks or other small watercraft to conduct freshwater mussel surveys using a variety of methods, oftentimes in remote locatio
• ns.Assist biologists with data collection, data processing, and report writing in support of routine monitoring and other projec
• ts.Become familiar with Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) sampling protocol in support of the Clean Rivers Progr
• am.Make unbiased observations of aquatic and riparian conditio
• ns.Assist with the calibration, operation, and maintenance of ESD field instrumen
• ts.Prior to the conclusion of the internship, present to ESD staff on their experience with the River Authori
• ty.Performs related work as requir
ed.
SUPERVISORY REQUIREM
• ENTSThis position does not directly supervise any employ
ees.
MINIMUM QUALIFICA
TIONSRequired Education and Exper
ienceCandidates for this internship must meet the following qualificat
• ions:Enrolled at an accredited college or university for at least one semester after completion of internship (Individuals graduating in Summer 2025 are not eligible for this position
• ) andHave a minimum total cumulative grade point average of
3.0.Candidates for this internship must provide all the following materials to be consid
• ered:Official or non-official transcr
• ipts,Two letters of recommendation from individuals with academic or professional experience with the candi
• date,A 500-word essay discussing professional goals, motivations, and passion
• s andRe
sume.Required Licenses or Certifica
• tion
sNone
COMPETENCIES FOR SUCCESSFUL PERFORMANCE OF JOB
DUTIESThe requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skills and abilities required to successfully perform the essential functions of this pos
ition.Knowled
• ge of:Aquatic species of
• TexasAquatic and ecological theories and prin
• ciplesMicrosoft
OfficeLaboratory Information Management
SystemSkills and Abil
• ities:Ability to read, analyze, and interpret doc
• umentsCommunicating orally and in w
• ritingAbility t
• o swimMust be able to function in a principle-based organization that has a culture built on character and SARA Core Values of Stewardship, Integrity, and Excel
l
ence. San Antonio River Authority is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action/Pro Disabled and Veteran Employer. We welcome differences in the form of gender, race, ethnicity, disability, geography, socioeconomic status, age, politics, religion, philosophy, sexual orientation, or gender ide
ntity.
