Right whale Internship posting: Provincetown Center for Coastal Studies

The Provincetown Center for Coastal Studies located in Provincetown, MA USA, is seeking an intern for the upcoming 2011 right whale survey season. This person will work with both the aerial survey and habitat survey teams, who operate between January and May every year, documenting the abundance, distribution and behavior of North Atlantic right whales in Cape Cod Bay. The intern will primarily assist the habitat survey team, carrying out boat-based photography of right whales and collecting behavioral and environmental data at sites in Cape Cod Bay. The successful applicant will also be responsible for a number of lab-based photo-identification tasks, such as downloading images, database entry, and matching images to known animals using an online catalog.  He/ she will be required to work a minimum of four full days per week. The intern will often collect data independently in the field, thus responsible, detail-oriented applicants are encouraged to apply. Fieldwork will likely involve one to two surveys per week, between February and May 15. Applicants must be available for the full field season.

Requirements:

• A degree, preferably in biological/ environmental sciences.
• Experience with digital SLR cameras.
• Experience in photo-identification of marine mammals, and matching of photographs.
• Data entry; basic computer skills in programs such as Excel and Word.
• Experience of working on boats. Must not suffer from seasickness.
• Must work well in a team. Field hours can be long and the winter fieldwork conditions are cold and often uncomfortable.
• Enthusiasm and willingness to learn field and lab based research methods.
• A valid US drivers license would be beneficial but is not essential.

Housing will be provided. There is a $1000 stipend for this position. This is an excellent opportunity for anyone wishing to expand their skills in marine mammal survey techniques, and will offer the successful applicant the unique chance to work with one of the world’s most endangered cetacean species, the North Atlantic right whale.

PCCS has a long history of conservation and research work with the North Atlantic right whale. This internship will afford the successful applicant an invaluable opportunity to work within a well-established institution, with highly-qualified scientists, and to gain experience in photo-identification, matching, data entry and analysis. Some experience in plankton sampling may also be gained. Details of our work can be found at the following links:

Habitat program: http://www.coastalstudies.org/what-we-do/right-whales/vbhabstudies.htm

Aerial program: http://www.coastalstudies.org/what-we-do/right-whales/aerialsur.htm

Application process:

Please submit your cover letter, resume, college transcripts (unofficial are sufficient), and the contact information for three references via email to srichardson@coastalstudies.org . The closing date for applications is September 30, 2010. Please use "Right whale internship position" in the subject line of your email.