Dolphin Communication Project (DCP) – Volunteer Research
Assistants/Interns – Summer 2011
Connecticut, USA and Bimini, The
Bahamas
The Dolphin Communication
Project (DCP, www.dolphincommunicationproject.org) is currently seeking two interns for the summer
of 2011. These internships have both field and office components, both of which
are mandatory, and total 8–12 weeks, depending on DCP’s
schedule.
DCP looks at how
dolphins communicate and attempts to shed more light on the meaning of their
interactions. With research ongoing since 1991, our questions focus primarily on
communication and behavior among dolphins. As a team, DCP research scientists
study four groups of dolphins in three countries. Interns are needed at our
Bimini, Bahamas research site, where we study wild Atlantic spotted and
bottlenose dolphins. An abbreviated publication list is available at the end of
this post.
Responsibilities
In the
field:
¨
Travel to
and assist for 3-4 weeks at our Bimini research site (exact dates TBD, likely
beginning mid-July, following the office
component)
¨
Assist
gathering data (general observations, photographs) during 4-6 hour/day boat
excursions (weather and schedule dependent)
¨
Complete
photo-identification of dolphins from still photography and video as well as
other data analysis tasks
¨
Assist with
on-board and outreach education as well as web-based
projects
¨
Represent
DCP in a responsible, mature and respectful
manner
At the
office:
¨
Travel to
and assist office staff for 4-6 weeks at our Connecticut office (exact dates
TBD, likely prior to field component, beginning approximately 1
June)
¨
Process and
analyze data, including, but not limited to: photo-identification of individuals
from other DCP research sites, conducting detailed focal follows from video data
for behavioral analyses, and acoustic analysis of dolphin sounds
¨
Assist in
the development and implementation of education programs for schools and the
general public
Requirements
Successful interns
must have basic computer skills and working knowledge of Microsoft Word, Excel
and PowerPoint. Current enrollment in a degree-seeking program, background in
science and/or animal behavior and experience on boats and/or with
photo-identification are all desired, but not necessarily required. The
successful candidates will be comfortable on a boat for several hours at a time
in varying conditions, including extreme heat. They will also be proficient
swimmers with the desire to improve free-diving skills. They will be able to
work as a team both at the office and in a fairly remote and isolated field
setting. Good writing and public speaking skills are a must, as is attention to
details. Interns must be at least 18 years of
age.
Expenses and
Compensation
This is an unpaid
internship. Interns are responsible for their own transportation to Bimini and
Connecticut. There is a $1,000.00 fee which will cover expenses in the field,
including room and partial board. Room, board and transportation while in
Connecticut are the responsibility of the intern, although assistance in
securing this may be available.
Interested
applicants should review information at this link: http://tinyurl.com/DCPinternship. Interested applications should read this page thoroughly before
applying.
Send a completed
application (downloadable and detailed at the link above) to kelly@dcpmail.org.
Applications are due 4 February 2011. Due to field
schedules, only electronic applications will be accepted. Interviews (via
telephone or Skype) will be arranged for selected candidates.
For more information,
please contact Kelly Melillo-Sweeting at kelly@dcpmail.org.
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Selected Refereed Publications:
(for a full list of publications by DCP researchers, please visit:
Dudzinski, K.M., Clark, C.W., Würsig, B. 1995. A mobile video/acoustic system for simultaneously recording dolphin behavior and vocalizations underwater. Aquatic Mammals 21(3): 187-193.
Dudzinski, K.M. 1998.
Contact behavior and signal exchange among Atlantic spotted dolphins (Stenella frontalis).
Aquatic Mammals 24(3): 129-142.
Dudzinski, K.M., M. Sakai,
M., Masaki, K., Kogi, K., Hishii, T., Kurimoto, M. 2003. Behavioral observations
of adult and sub-adult dolphins towards two dead bottlenose dolphins (one female
and one male). Aquatic Mammals 29(1): 108-116.
Gregg,
J.D., Dudzinski, K.M., Smith, H.V. 2007. Do dolphins eavesdrop on the
echolocation signals of conspecifics? International Journal of Comparative
Psychology, 20: 65-88
Paulos,
R.D., Dudzinski, K.M., Kuczaj, S.A. 2008. The role of touch in select
social interactions of Atlantic spotted dolphin (Stenella frontalis) and
Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops aduncus).
Ethology 26: 153-164.
Dudzinski,
K.M., Thomas, J. Gregg, J.D. 2008. Communication. In (W.F. Perrin, B. Würsig,
H.C.M. Thewissen, eds) Encyclopedia of Marine Mammals, second edition. Academic
Press, Inc.
Dudzinski, K.M., Gregg,
J.D., Ribic, C.A., Kuczaj, S.A. 2009. A comparison of pectoral fin contact
between two different wild dolphin populations. Behavioural Processes,
80:182-190
Melillo, K.E., Dudzinski, K.M., Cornick, L.A. 2009. Interactions
between Atlantic spotted (Stenella frontalis) and
bottlenose (Tursiops
truncatus) dolphins off Bimini, The Bahamas, 2003-2007. Aquatic
Mammals, 35:281-291
Dudzinski, K.M., Gregg, J.D., Paulos, R.D., Kuczaj, S.A. 2010. A
comparison of pectoral fin contact behaviour for three distinct dolphin
populations. Behavioural Processes,
84: 559-567.