Intern seed dispersal Nutcracker
The Swiss Ornithological Institute is a non-profit foundation for ornithology and bird conservation that combines basic research, applied research and practical conservation under one roof. More than 200 permanent staff and 70 temporary employees are involved in a wide range of fields for the benefit of birds.
The research project ‘Seed dispersal by nutcrackers’ aims to investigate the role of young nutcrackers in the establishment and spread of Swiss stone pine. To this end, nutcrackers are caught and equipped with GPS transmitters. The analysis of the movement data will provide insights into the hiding behaviour of nutcrackers and show how the hiding behaviour, migration, reproduction and survival of young birds affect the establishment of Swiss stone pines.
In the research project ‘Seed dispersal by Northern nutcrackers’, we are investigating the role young nutcrackers play in the establishment and spread of the Swiss stone pine. To do this, nutcrackers are captured and fitted with GPS transmitters. Analysing the movement data will provide insights into the nutcrackers’ caching behaviour. It will also show how caching behaviour, dispersal, reproduction and survival of the young birds affect the establishment of Swiss stone pines.
Are you looking for an exciting fixed-term position in a dynamic team, starting February1, 2027 or as agreed, through September 30, 2027? To strengthen our team, we are seeking two
Interns for a study on seed dispersal by nutcrackers80%–100%
Your tasks
• Helping to search for nutcracker nests in alpine forests and to install nest cameras.• Helping to catch nutcrackers and fit them with GPS tags.• Searching for dead tagged birds and determining the causes of death.• Independent fieldwork in a small team in alpine terrain, partly off-trail.• Using a range of methods such as telemetry, habitat surveys, camera traps and acoustic loggers.• Recording and processing various types of data using R, QField, QGIS and Excel.
Your profile
• You are interested in working with birds and their roles in the ecosystem.• Experience in catching birds (mist nets) and handling them, as well as in tree climbing, is an advantage.• You are experienced in the mountains, sure-footed and physically fit.• You move safely on snowshoes or touring skis and can assess the associated risks.• You enjoy working independently but also value exchange within the team.• You see irregular working hours as a welcome change. • You hold a category B driving licence.
We offer
An interesting exciting internship awaits you in a diverse environment with an informal, first-name culture. You will work partly alone and partly in a small team. A field flat in the Davos area and a company vehicle are provided. Good training opportunities and excellent social benefits complete our offer.
The place of work is Davos (canton of Graubünden).
Are you interested?
The Swiss Ornithological Institute values diversity in its workforce. We therefore welcome all qualified applications. For further information, please contact Dr Matthias Tschumi, Ecological Research (+41 41 462 99 24, matthias.tschumi@vogelwarte.ch). We look forward to receiving your complete online application (cover letter, CV, certificates) by 13 December 2026 at the latest, in a single PDF file via our application portal. Applications submitted in any other format cannot be considered.
Interviews will take place online on 16 and 17 December 2026 upon invitation.