Dear all, The South African Shark Conservancy (SASC), in collaboration with Sea Search, is seeking an Honours student to conduct a cetacean-focused research project based out of Hermanus, South Africa. Since 2012 SASC has collected opportunistic data on the spatial and temporal occurrence and behaviour of cetaceans in Walker Bay on the southwest coast of South Africa. This study will investigate how the number of species, relative abundance, and behaviour of a variety of cetaceans varies across seasons and years. The student will be required to analyse existing survey data and participate in boat-based monitoring surveys to supplement existing data. This project will be conducted in conjunction with Southern Right Charters, our commercial boat-based whale watching partner, and with the co-supervision of Dr. Els Vermeulen from Sea Search. SASC is unable to provide living expenses for students undertaking these projects, and a project fee of US$1720/month is charged to cover all costs associated with accommodation, transportation, supervision, paperwork and research-related expenses. Students are encouraged to apply for university funding to offset project costs (discount will be made for South African citizens). As a student you will be expected to undertake additional internship activities as they arise, and are required to spend a minimum of three (3) calendar months at SASC. All data collected during research projects remains the joint Intellectual Property (IP) of the student and SASC as per our standard Project Collaboration Agreement. Applicants will be required to submit an official academic transcript, two (2) academic references and a short CV (no longer than three pages) prior to acceptance. For more information and to apply, contact meag@sharkconservancy.org with cc els.vermeulen@seasearch.co.za Kind regards, Els ---------------------------------------- Els Vermeulen, PhD Marine Mammal Biologist SANCOR Post-doctoral fellow - University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa Co-director, Sea Search, Cape Town, South Africa - www.seasearch.co.za - www.sousaproject.org Co-founding Director, Whalefish - www.whalefish.org Cell: +27 (0)60 9714301