Qualifications
This internship is geared towards undergraduate and graduate students majoring in environmental science, sustainable agriculture, agroforestry, policy, business, or a related field. Proficiency in English and Spanish is preferred. Experience in Latin America and/or working in a rural setting is a plus.

Current status of research
A team of Agroforestry professionals, including Florencia Montagnini (Yale professor) and Nigel Melican (World Tea Expert), are currently developing the instigation of over 70 agroforestry research plots. To date, investigations into pruning techniques, spacing, shade and soil types have been performed. The next 18 months will be crucial, with extended funds and resources being channeled into this vital area of revolutionary research.


Intern Duties
-       Work along side world experts to implement investigative system
-        Develop and implement a monitoring and measuring system
-        Plant the research plots
-        Design a database system to record results
-        Input data obtained from the plots and analyze results
-        Write academic papers

Description
Guayusa (Ilex guayusa) is a native holly tree to the Ecuadorian Amazon. Historically, the tree has been cultivated for subsistence. Runa works with indigenous farmers to boost production of guayusa by growing it in agroforestry systems. Researchers on our agroforestry team will work with farmers and Runa field technicians to implement and design a participatory research initiative with the help of the World Agroforestry Centre. We are now working with worldwise experts, Nigel Mican (Tea Expert) and Florencia Montagnini (Professor of Tropical Agroforestry, Yale) to create innovative ways to investigate guayusa and publish papers in a completely new area of research.

Project Objectives

• To design and develop agroforestry research plots to investigate how different conditions affect the growth of guayusa
• Collect data for academic papers
• Increase our knowledge about the growth patterns of Guayusa