Externship Program for AIS Professionals
Purpose:
The MAISRC Externship Program engages AIS professionals in solutions-oriented research to develop research-based solutions that can reduce the impacts of aquatic invasive species in Minnesota by preventing spread, controlling populations, and managing ecosystems; and to advance knowledge to inspire action by others.
As a part of the Externship Program, participants will partner with MAISRC-affiliated researchers to conduct research that is locally relevant to their organizations and has the potential for statewide benefits.
The goal of the externship program is to increase capacity for AIS management in Minnesota by addressing high-priority research questions and supporting the professional development of resource managers and decision-makers. As a part of this application process, we invite prospective externs to propose new research projects that will addresses these aims.
2026 Externship cohort:
Assessing Effects of Fish Exclosures on Native Milfoil Weevils and Eurasian Watermilfoil
Project lead: Jimmy Marty, EOR, Inc.
MAISRC partners: Dan Larkin, Alex Bajcz
This project will test a potential new way to manage Eurasian watermilfoil (EWM) in Minnesota lakes by supporting a naturally occurring biocontrol: the native milfoil weevil. Rather than adding weevils to lakes, the study will install fish-exclusion cages that protect existing weevil populations from fish predation. The approach is based on promising results from a pilot project in Wisconsin, where protected weevil populations increased and contributed to reductions in EWM.
Researchers will place fish predation exclosures at several locations within a Minnesota study lake and monitor changes in EWM abundance, weevil populations, and plant damage over the 2026 growing season. Vegetation surveys, weevil sampling, and a fish community assessment will help determine whether the protected areas allow weevils to expand and suppress EWM locally or across the lake.
The project will produce a technical report and an implementation guide describing how lake managers can design, install, and monitor fish exclosures. This unique approach could offer a practical, lower-chemical management option that supports long-term, sustainable control of EWM in Minnesota waters.
Building a Community Response and Action Plan for Mystery Snail and Rusty Crayfish
Project lead: Kelsey Taylor, Barr Engineering
MAISRC partners: Amber Ulseth, Val Brady, Jake Walsh, Megan Weber
This project will translate research on two aquatic invasive species, mystery snails and rusty crayfish, into practical tools communities can use to manage them in Minnesota waters. Both species can reach high densities and may threaten wild rice (manoomin) and other native aquatic plants, yet many resource managers and communities lack clear guidance and capacity for control.
Working with researchers, natural resource managers, and Tribal partners, the project will develop two community action and response plans: one for mystery snails and one for rusty crayfish. The plans will draw on current and emerging MAISRC research, past management efforts, and expertise from partners including the Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa, the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe, and the Minnesota DNR.
By the end of 2026, the project will deliver adaptable management plans designed for real-world use. Workshops and outreach in 2027 will help interested partners tailor the plans to their waters and prepare for implementation.
The goal is to expand the capacity of communities, managers, and organizations across Minnesota to detect, manage, and reduce populations of mystery snails and rusty crayfish, helping protect wild rice and aquatic ecosystems statewide.
CHARAsmatic Species: Advancing Early Detection of Starry Stonewort Using eDNA and Visual Tools
Project leads: Justin Townsend and Phoebe Brown, Ramsey County
MAISRC partner: Danny Gotarkar
Starry stonewort (Nitellopsis obtusa) is an invasive freshwater macroalgae that can rapidly form dense mats in lakes, crowding out native plants, reducing fish habitat, and interfering with recreation. Because it closely resembles several native macroalgae species in Minnesota, early detection is a challenge for effective management.
This externship project will strengthen early detection capacity in Minnesota by creating visual identification tools to accompany environmental DNA (eDNA) monitoring. Working with the University of Minnesota Waterhouse Lab and regional lake managers, the project will develop genetic reference data for native macroalgae and also create an eDNA metabarcoding database to improve species identification.
The macroalgae identification guide will integrate physical characteristics with genetic information. Designed for lake managers, researchers, and trained volunteers, the guide will help distinguish native species from starry stonewort and support faster, more confident detection in the field.
This project has the potential to expand Minnesota’s capacity to detect starry stonewort earlier, improve monitoring tools, and provide new resources that can be shared with lake managers and partners across the State.
Common Carp Movement in Response to Weather Conditions
Project lead: Zach Nagel, Prior Lake-Spring Lake Watershed District
MAISRC partner: Grant Vagle
Common carp can degrade lake ecosystems by uprooting aquatic plants, stirring up sediments, and increasing nutrient levels that fuel algal blooms. This project will investigate how short-term weather conditions influence carp movement in Spring Lake to help lake managers improve their removal efforts.
Researchers will track radio-tagged common carp while collecting detailed environmental data, including precipitation, wind, barometric pressure, and water temperature. By combining carp telemetry with weather data, the team will identify patterns that indicate when carp are most likely to concentrate in certain areas of the lake.
The project will produce a practical guidance document to help lake managers anticipate favorable conditions for carp removal. By improving the timing and efficiency of management actions, the research aims to reduce carp populations, improve water clarity, and support healthier native aquatic plant communities.
While focused on Spring Lake, the findings are expected to inform common carp management strategies in lakes across Minnesota.
Structure
The MAISRC Externship Program will launch for the first time as a pilot program in 2026. Externships are expected to be up to one year in duration with a maximum budget of $30,000. During the externship, MAISRC will fund a portion of the extern’s salary (and associated fringe benefits) to enable them to dedicate time to applied AIS research while continuing to fulfill their ongoing organizational responsibilities. For example, an applicant could propose to allocate 10% of their time to MAISRC-associated research over a one-year period. In addition to funding participants’ allocated effort, MAISRC will also cover direct costs associated with the project (e.g., supplies, laboratory services, research travel, etc.). MAISRC will also cover time spent on the project by MAISRC-affiliated researchers (faculty and staff) who will partner with externs; these costs will be addressed internally and should not be included in applicants’ proposed budgets. Note that this program is not intended to provide supplemental funding for ongoing organizational activities. The goal is to enable new research that would not otherwise be performed.
Externs and MAISRC-affiliated researchers will collaboratively implement the research to ensure scientific rigor and relevance to on-the-ground management. Applicants may already know of MAISRC affiliates with whom they wish to collaborate or, if not, can describe the research mentoring/support that their project requires as part of their application, in which case MAISRC will try to identify a suitable match.
Continuation of externships beyond the one-year timeframe may be possible, based on performance and the goals of the extension.
Timeline
| February 6, 2026 | Applications due |
| February 20, 2026 | Invitations for proposals sent |
| March 6, 2026 | Proposals due |
| March 30, 2026 | Final selection and announcement of awards |
| May 1, 2026 | Externships begin |
| April 30, 2027 | Externships end |
Eligibility and Themes
Professionals from across sectors, including state, tribal, non-profit, private-sector, and local governmental units that are conducting AIS-related work in Minnesota, are eligible to apply. The Externship Program is intended for early- to mid-career professionals – not students, interns, seasonal staff, or other temporary employees. Externships must focus on one or more MAISRC priority species and should address early detection and preventing the establishment of priority species, creating and improving options for control of priority species, and/or understanding impacts to prioritize management actions.
Potential externship focus areas include the following. These are intended as illustrative examples and other proposed activities will be considered.
- Using qualitative and quantitative approaches, describe the impacts of the AIS Prevention Aid program and the potential consequences of reduced funding.
- Develop a rapid response framework (e.g., communication plan, lake wide search protocols, outreach materials, management recommendations, etc.) for new starry stonewort infestations.
- Develop recommendations for verification and response when AIS presence is suspected based on eDNA.
- Develop and pilot a community-based control project for mystery snails or rusty crayfish, building on past and ongoing MAISRC research.
Applicants may address one of the focus areas listed above or develop their own project on a topic of interest and relevance to their local jurisdictions.
Application Instructions
The deadline for pre-proposals was February 6, 2026 at 11:59 PM.
Application Components:
- Externship Application – submit in one PDF; download outline
- Project Budget – submit in MS Excel; download template (Click "File" then "Create a Copy" to download to your computer)
- Optional Attachments – letters of support, etc.
For questions about the Externship program or to discuss research ideas, contact MAISRC staff at [email protected].