*Mote Marine Laboratory* *Manatee Research Program Internships* **** *Program Description* The Manatee Research Program studiesseveral aspects of the biology of manatees inhabiting the waters of southwestern Florida, including population dynamics, population genetics, habitat use, distributional patterns and social behavior. Winter field data and samples are collected using photo-identification and non-invasive genetic sampling with some habitat sampling. Field work during the winter season is conducted primarily in Charlotte Harbor and the Ft. Myers area and is both land and boat based. The long-term database of the program contributes to management and conservation measurements for Florida manatees. Additionally, the program collaborates with manatee researchers throughout the state of Florida and the Caribbean.For more information about, please visit: https://mote.org/research/program/manatee-research. *WE ARE CURRENTLY SEEKING INTERNS TO BEGIN IN JANUARY 2019, WITH APPLICATIONS DUE BY SEPTEMBER 30^th * ** *Internship Description* Internships are available during all four seasons and must be a MINIMUM of 12 weeks.Hours are typically Monday-Friday, 9am-5pm, although some longer days may be required for field work (especially during the winter season). Interns should expect to spend about 20% of their time in the field and about 80% of their time in the office/lab.Field work duties include assisting with data collection (which consists of photographing manatees, as well as recording behavioral observations and environmental conditions), boat handling, and equipment use and maintenance. Field work requires spending long hours in the field, sometimes in uncomfortable weather conditions. Office/Lab duties include data entry and database maintenance, image downloading and processing, matching images to known animals, creating representative sketches from images for searching, equipment maintenance, as well as miscellaneous tasks and errands. There is no financial compensation for these internship positions, and successful applicants will be responsible for their own living and transportation expenses. Shared housing opportunities near Mote Marine Laboratory may be available. A few scholarships may be available from Mote Marine Laboratory through a competitive application process (US citizens only). *Required Qualifications* * Minimum of 18 years of age and engaged in or recently completed undergraduate studies * A background or degree in Biology, Marine Biology, Ecology, Zoology, or a related field is preferred * Basic computer proficiency in Microsoft Office (especially Excel and Access); previous experience using ArcMap GIS is a plus but not required * Excellent communication skills; fluent in English * Must be physically able to stand for long periods of time and lift heavy objects * Knowledge of photography/SLR camera use and/or drawing skills are a plus * Desire and willingness to acquire knowledge and skills related to marine mammal field work and capable of working well as a team * * *To apply for a Manatee Research Program internship:* * Fill out an application form at Mote Marine Laboratory’s website (https://mote.org/research/internships/college-internship-program-overview) and be sure to select “Manatee Research Program” as your first choice * Complete and provide to Mote’s intern office all other application materials including: a statement of interest, current college transcript, letter of recommendation, and /curriculum vitae /(incomplete applications will not be considered) Applicants may contact the Manatee Research Program’s intern coordinator, Christina Nau, (cnau@mote.org <mailto:cnau@mote.org>) with questions regarding the internship. -- Christina Nau Manatee Research Program Mote Marine Laboratory 1600 Ken Thompson Parkway Sarasota FL 34236 Phone: (941) 388-4441 ext. 471 cnau@mote.org