Volunteer Opportunity: The Dolphin Institute (TDI) in Honolulu, Hawai’i is offering a limited number of volunteer positions for college-level students to assist in the processing of data collected on humpback whales in Hawaiian waters. TDI is a Hawaii-based non-profit marine mammal science and education organization dedicated to whales and dolphins through research, education, and conservation. It is directed by Dr. Adam Pack, Assistant Professor at University of Hawai’i at Hilo, and Dr. Louis Herman, an emeritus professor at the University of Hawai’i at Manoa. Further information on TDI can be found at www.dolphin-institute.org. TDI’s archival catalog of identification photographs of humpback whales spans over three decades and includes over 22,000 observations of over 5,000 individual humpbacks. This archive is a rich resource for investigating the behavior and biology of Hawaii’s humpback whales. During the summer of 2009, TDI volunteers will have a unique opportunity to work alongside one of our researchers to help uncover the life histories of individual humpback whales by matching photographs of their tail flukes (the “finger print” of a humpback) to our digitized archival catalog. TDI is looking for extremely motivated and dedicated individuals. Volunteer openings are available for an immediate start date. Accepted volunteers must complete at least 1 full day each week, or alternatively 2 half days, for a three-month period. Continuation is evaluated based on dedication and performance. Volunteers are responsible for their own housing and transportation to TDI’s Honolulu office. Desirable qualifications: College or post-college education preferred, experience in marine mammal research, previous fluke matching experience, experience with computer programs such as Aperture, Photoshop, FileMaker Pro, Excel, and experience working with large data sets. Send a cover letter indicating your qualifications and why you are seeking a volunteer position with TDI along with a complete resume including two letters of reference. Send applications or inquiries by email to Kathryn Rose at krose.tdi@gmail.com. Positions are open until filled, but early application is encouraged.