Southern Sea Otter Research Internships
The Sea Otter Research and Conservation
(SORAC) program at the Monterey Bay Aquarium has near-term openings for
undergraduate research interns to assist with field studies of the southern sea
otter (Enhydra lutris nereis).
SORAC program personnel work with academic and agency colleagues to study the
behavior, ecology, and natural history of the southern sea otter, and the
program needs to fill several research internships for fall 2007 and throughout
2008.
These research internships will provide
college students and recent graduates with opportunities to track and monitor
radio-tagged sea otters as part of ongoing research projects. Each internship
session will offer different experiences in marine mammal science, including,
but not limited to, conducting extensive data collection along the Monterey
coastline (occasionally from boat or plane); participating in 6- or 12-hour
activity budgets; entering data in computerized databases; attending surgical
procedures and post-mortem examinations; responding to sea otter strandings;
recovering sea otter carcasses; and assisting with sea otter population counts.
Internship applicants should have a
background in biology, zoology or a related field, possess some knowledge of
research methods and study design, and have facility with computers and
computer applications. They should have an ability to work and communicate well
with others, and they must bring an enthusiasm for working long days in field
or lab settings. At the time of application, applicants must have completed
their first year of college, must have the capability to relocate to the
This is an unpaid internship, although
research interns will receive certain benefits available to Monterey Bay
Aquarium volunteers.
Please direct expressions of interest and
questions regarding the internship to SORAC’s training and volunteer coordinator:
Debbie Keller
886 Cannery Row
P: 831-648-4866
F: 831-648-4989
The mission of the