IFAW Marine Mammal Stranding Internship Fall session 2017 (September 2017 - January 2018) The International Fund for Animal Welfare's (IFAW) Marine Mammal Rescue and Research Program is currently accepting applications for its Marine Mammal Stranding Internship for the fall session 2017 (September 2017 - January 2018). Please see below for future internship sessions. Program Background IFAW is an international non-profit organization. This internship is based out of our International Operations Center in Yarmouth Port, Massachusetts, USA. IFAW's Marine Mammal Rescue and Research Program is a federally authorized program dedicated to marine mammal stranding response on Cape Cod and southeastern Massachusetts. Our mission is to promote the conservation of marine mammal species and their habitat by improving the rescue and humane care of stranded marine mammals, advancing stranding science, and increasing public awareness through education. Cape Cod is a marine mammal stranding "hot spot," with an average of over 240 strandings occurring each year. These strandings include live and dead seals, large whales, porpoises, and dolphins. The Cape Cod region also experiences an unusually high frequency of live, mass stranded dolphins. Internship Duties - Stranding hotline coverage: answer calls, obtain pertinent information, educate callers, dispatch volunteers, complete associated paperwork and data entry. - Marine mammal stranding response and necropsy: assist staff with all aspects of marine mammal stranding response, including live animal health assessment and supportive care, biological data collection, performing post-mortem examinations and sampling in both field and laboratory settings. - Stranding / necropsy preparation: cleaning, organizing and maintaining stranding response and necropsy gear, equipment and facilities, restocking kits and supplies. - Data entry / processing: assist in entry of stranding report, level A, case file, sample collection, and lab result data. Assist in organizing, cataloging and archiving stranded marine mammal documentation, including photos, video and datasheets. Assist in the preparation of necropsy reports. - Outreach and training: assist staff with training and outreach material preparation and organization, participate in opportunistic outreach at stranding sites, participate in community events. - Sample processing: assist in the collection, preparation, archiving, shipping, and tracking of biological samples. Internship Focus Areas Each intern will be assigned to a focus area of either Response or Necropsy. Interns are paired with staff members based on these particular focus areas and individual tasks and projects will be related to one of these areas. All interns will be cross-trained in stranding response and necropsy, and every effort will be made for interns to gain a wide-range of experiences. . Please indicate in your cover letter your preferred focus area(s). Final determination of each intern's "focus" will be determined by the staff once individuals have been selected for the program. We will make every effort to assign interns based on their preferences. Requirements - Must be at least 18 years old. - Must possess a valid driver's license and secure reliable transportation. - Must be of good physical fitness, be able to lift/carry 40lbs, walk long distances in difficult terrain, be comfortable on small boats in nearshore waters, able to swim, and work in harsh weather conditions at times. - Able to follow written and oral staff directions and protocols effectively. - Be enrolled in an undergraduate or graduate program, or have graduated within 2 years. - Working knowledge of Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint. - Must be able to commit to 3 days a week for a minimum of 12 weeks during the internship session including 1 weekend day per week. -Ability to work in teams and individually. Preferred candidate will also have: · Undergraduate and/or graduate study of biology, zoology, ecology, marine/environmental/animal science. · Previous marine mammal stranding response/research experience. · Previous necropsy experience (marine mammal or other taxa). · Experience caring for and/or handling animals. · Experience driving large trucks. ________________________________ Learning outcomes While hands-on experience is opportunistic and the number and type of responses will vary, most interns have the opportunity to: · Develop skills in identifying species commonly stranded on Cape Cod and gain knowledge of their biology and ecology. · Acquire basic stranded cetacean and pinniped assessment, handling and supportive care skills. · Gain knowledge of response logistics and management. · Gain knowledge of the stranding network structure and operation, as well as marine mammal policy as it relates to strandings. · Gain an understanding of marine mammal anatomy and physiology and basic necropsy skills. · Participate in active research projects, as appropriate. Important Information · This internship is unpaid and housing and transportation are the responsibility of the intern. If accepted, we will try to provide interns with resources to help find housing. · Interns generally work a minimum of 3 days per week, which usually includes a weekend day each week. Interns may be required to work some holidays. Since strandings are unpredictable, interns should expect to work late or come in early some days. Applicants with flexible daily schedules are preferred. · International applicants will be considered, but it is the responsibility of the applicant to acquire necessary visas/ documentation, including a valid driver's license, well before the potential start date. Please email questions regarding VISA requirements to: RecruitMMRR@ifaw.org<mailto:RecruitMMRR@ifaw.org>. · If the intern intends to receive academic credit, he/she will be responsible for making all arrangements with his/her educational institution. · Interns should be prepared to perform in a variety of settings on any given day, including office, beach, on-water, and laboratory. Specialized gear such as dry suits, boots and life jackets will be provided. · Please keep in mind that stranding work is unpredictable and changes seasonally. We cannot guarantee the type and number of strandings and experiences you will receive during your internship. We will do our best when possible to give interns a varied experience. ________________________________ To apply: Only complete applications will be considered. The three documents listed below are required for your application to be considered complete. ð Cover Letter (please indicate which focus area(s) you prefer) ð Resume ð One Letter of Recommendation from college professor or supervisor · Note: recommendation letters can either be uploaded with your application, or, if your reviewer prefers, they can email it directly to RecruitMMRR@ifaw.org<mailto:RecruitMMRR@ifaw.org> . It is your responsibility to ensure your letter of recommendation has been submitted on time. [Apply Here] <http://www.ifaw.org/united-states/about-ifaw/employment> Or copy and paste the following link into your browser: http://www.ifaw.org/united-states/about-ifaw/employment All application materials due by: Friday, June 2, 2017 by 5:00pm EST Phone interviews will be scheduled June 12th through June 16th Fall Internship notification of acceptance will be sent by Friday July 7th New intern orientation will be held September 6 - 8, 2017. All accepted interns are required to attend. Future Internship Session Dates: The IFAW Marine Mammal Stranding Internships are offered 3 times a year; you must re-apply for each session. Winter Session Dates: late January 2018 - May 2018, Application due date: November 13, 2017 Summer Session Dates: June 2018 - August 2018, Application due date: February 16, 2018 For more information about IFAW's global animal welfare and conservation work, please visit www.ifaw.org<http://www.ifaw.org>. Kristen Patchett CVT | Stranding Coordinator Marine Mammal Research and Rescue ___________________________________________________________ IFAW - International Fund for Animal Welfare International Operations Center 290 Summer Street - Yarmouth Port, MA 02675 tel. 1.508.744.2171 email. kpatchett@ifaw.org<mailto:kpatchett@ifaw.org> Saving Animals in Crisis Around the World www.ifaw.org<http://www.ifaw.org/> The content of this email is intended only for the use of the above-named addressee and may contain information that is confidential, proprietary, and/or legally privileged. Please notify the sender if you received this email in error.
