Internship - Marine mammal research in Spain The Bottlenose Dolphin Research Institute (BDRI), a research institution dedicated since 2005 to the understanding and conservation of marine mammals and the marine environment in which they live, is now accepting applications for its Internship Research Programme 2020. Our internship programme aims to prepare students for a professional career in the research of marine mammals, and conservation of the marine environment. This training experience provides the opportunity for highly motivated individuals to work with and learn from a multidisciplinary team of marine mammal scientists, including internationally renowned investigators. The BDRI also offers a limited number of independent studies to advanced undergraduate and graduate students (bachelor and master students). The position is located in O Grove (Galicia, NW Spain). The BDRI is a very international environment, and the everyday working language is English. PROGRAM DESCRIPTION - Internships are open to applicants 18 years of age or older. An academic background in biology, veterinary or natural science, coupled with motivation and interest in marine research make the most qualified individuals. Lasting between one and nine months, there’s a variety of research projects that will help you explore what you may want to do long term. With state-of-the-art facilities and equipment, participants will be trained to get involved with multiple research projects involving a combination of boat-based surveys onboard research vessels, land-based observations, laboratory work (photo-identification, GIS, bioacoustics, diet analysis, diving behaviour, video analysis, database work, etc), and strandings (response, rescue, necropsy, and data collection). The main research topics of the 2020 BDRI research season will include marine mammal ecology, social and feeding behaviour, ecological modelling, and bioacoustics (on cetaceans), as well as marine birds, sharks, and otters ecology. The incredible diversity of cetaceans present in Galician waters allows the BDRI team to have several ongoing research projects focused on the study of the ecology and behaviour of different species of cetaceans (bottlenose dolphins, harbour porpoises, Risso’s dolphins, common dolphins, striped dolphins, pilot whales, humpback whales, minke whales, fin whales, and blue whales), marine birds, Eurasian otters, and sharks. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION - Start and end dates are flexible depending on the needs of the institute and the intern’s availability, but the position requires a minimum of 30 days continuous commitment sometime between January 2020 through to November 2020. BDRI internships are not paid and this training experience requires a tuition fee which is used to off-set the cost of training, use of research equipment, facilities and research vessels, shared accommodation, and other expenses. The fee reflects the real world costs and expenses that go into making the research program possible and the BDRI Internship Program worthwhile. HOW TO APPLY - Interested candidates should submit an e-mail to info@thebdri.com, and we will provide you further information about the program. Approved applications are accepted on a first-come, first serve basis. Positions are open until filled. For more information and details, please visit: <https://www.thebdri.com/internships.html> A feedback from old participants at: <https://youtu.be/UAuO2XasBnw> Regular updates with photos and videos about our research at <https://www.facebook.com/thebdri/> BDRI’s reputation for success rests solidly on its ability to carry out studies published in prestigious scientific journals. Scientific articles published by the BDRI team in 2019 (for a full list of publications please visit: <https://www.thebdri.com/papers.html>): - Methion S, Diaz Lopez B (2019) Individual foraging variation drives social organization in bottlenose dolphins. Behavioral Ecology. doi:10.1093/beheco/arz160 - Diaz Lopez B, Methion S (2019) Habitat drivers of endangered rorqual whales in a highly impacted upwelling region. Ecological Indicators 103, 610 – 616. - Methion B, Diaz Lopez B (2019) First record of atypical pigmentation pattern in fin whale Balaenoptera physalus in the Atlantic Ocean. Diseases of Aquatic Organisms, 135:121-125. - Diaz Lopez B, Methion S, Giralt Paradell O (2019) Living on the edge: Overlap between a marine predator’s habitat use and fisheries in the Northeast Atlantic waters (NW Spain). Progress in Oceanography 175, 115 – 223. - Methion S, Diaz Lopez B (2019) Natural and anthropogenic drivers of foraging behaviour in bottlenose dolphins: influence of shellfish aquaculture. Aquatic Conservation Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems 29(6), 927-937. - Giralt Paradell O, Diaz Lopez B, Methion S, (2019) Modelling common dolphin (Delphinus delphis) coastal distribution and habitat use: insights for conservation. Ocean and Coastal Management 179, 104836. - Diaz Lopez B (2019) "Hot deals at sea": responses of a top predator (Bottlenose dolphin, Tursiops truncatus) to human-induced changes in the coastal ecosystem. Behavioural Ecology 2(3), 291-300. See you in Spain! Bruno Diaz Lopez Ph.D Chief biologist and Director The Bottlenose Dolphin Research Institute BDRI Avenida Beiramar 192, O Grove 36980, Pontevedra, Spain www.thebdri.com 0034 684248552 Like us on Facebook (thebdri). Follow us on Instagram (thebdri). Mention us on Twitter (thebdri).