Please note that there are three different roles advertised in this email; Research Intern, Education and Outreach Assistant & Research Assistant. 1) Sea Watch Foundation – Research Intern Opportunity in Cardigan Bay for 2016 Interns are invited to assist the Sea Watch Foundation ( <http://www.seawatchfoundation.org.uk> www.seawatchfoundation.org.uk) with the running of the “Cardigan Bay Monitoring Project”. The project is based in New Quay, West Wales, and supports the conservation management of the bottlenose dolphin, harbour porpoise and grey seal populations of Cardigan Bay, monitoring their abundance, distribution, reproductive success and population structure using a combination of vessel-based, land-based and acoustic surveys. Sea Watch has been monitoring these populations on behalf of the Welsh government (through funding provided by Natural Resources Wales) for the last 15 years. Cardigan Bay contains Britain’s largest coastal population of bottlenose dolphins, for which two Special Areas of Conservation have been established under the EU Habitats Directive. Interns will help the Cardigan Bay Monitoring Officer and the Sightings Officer by taking part in the following tasks: · Land-based surveys · Boat-based surveys · Photo-identification matching · Data entry · Raising public awareness · Education initiatives and school visits · Acoustic data collection · Assisting with and participation in training courses and public talks. In addition to these tasks, this year we are specifically looking for two interns in each period with interest in recently acquired specialist equipment to assist us in acoustic and aerial data collection using a towed hydrophone and unmanned camera drone respectively. Both drone and hydrophone interns will undertake all regular intern activities but will be expected to concentrate on acoustic and aerial data collection during boat based surveys. If you are particularly interested in either opportunity, please draw our attention to it in your covering letter and application form, highlighting relevant experience and by titling your application email Drone Research Intern or Hydrophone Research Intern. Interns are required from mid-April until the end of October 2016. The research season is split into four separate periods, two 8-week periods (periods 1 & 2) and two 6-week periods (periods 3 & 4). Preference will be given to those applying for more than one period, including the whole 6.5 month field season, and particularly to applicants interested in working with the drone or towed hydrophone. Those applying for longer periods of time will be able to take on a personal project, potentially leading to a publication. Interns will be based in New Quay, Ceredigion, West Wales. Accommodation is provided through rental of a house that interns share at a rate of around £70 per person per week. Interns are responsible for their own travel, accommodation and living expenses, but it is generally quite easy to obtain part-time paid work in the area if required. Period dates for summer 2016: Period 1: 18/04 – 12/06, Period 2: 13/06 – 07/08, Period 3: 08/08 – 18/09, Period 4: 19/09 – 30/10 Important skills/qualifications Essential: · an ability to work in a meticulous and reliable manner · strong commitment to volunteering work · willingness to work long hours outdoors in often changeable Welsh weather · good IT skills (Office package) · an ability to get on well with others in a small team and in shared accommodation Desirable: · a strong interest and knowledge of British cetaceans · a background in marine biology/environmental science or similar · prior experience in boat-based survey work · good verbal and written communication skills and in public speaking · experience in interacting with the public All interns will be trained in cetacean observation and identification, in boat survey protocols, and photo-identification of bottlenose dolphins. Interns in Periods 2 and 3 will be able to take part in Sea Watch’s annual 2-day training courses. Internships with Sea Watch have frequently led to established posts both within the organisation and in other national and international research and conservation bodies, as well as providing a stepping stone for students to undertake doctoral studies in marine mammal science. Please note that interns are responsible for their own travel and living expenses. International applications are welcome but it is the applicant’s responsibility to ensure visa requirements are met; Sea Watch cannot sponsor visa applications. To apply: Please send your CV and application form (which can be downloaded from our website www.seawatchfoundation.org.uk/internships/), with a cover letter and contact details of two referees, reporting any relevant experience you have, to Katrin Lohrengel- katrin.lohrengel@seawatchfoundation.org.uk Deadline: 10th January 2016. Please specify NEW QUAY INTERN APPLICATION in your subject title. Applicants will be notified of the outcome by 10th February 2016. 2) Sea Watch Foundation – Voluntary Education and Outreach Assistant opportunity based in Cardigan Bay for the 2016 summer season The Sea Watch Foundation <http://www.seawatchfoundation.org.uk/> is seeking an Education and Outreach Assistant for the 2016 season. This position will suit a volunteer who has a strong interest in marine conservation and recognises the importance of educating and raising awareness by involving the public. The assistant will be responsible in aiding the Sightings Officer with the following duties: · Promoting and organising the National Whale and Dolphin Watch event (23rd – 31st July 2016) · Participating in presentations and creating activities to take to local schools · Researching and writing articles · Creating educational/promotional materials (posters, displays, flyers) · Assisting in the organisation of training courses · Social networking (Facebook, Twitter, website) · Raising Sea Watch Foundation’s profile locally (organising events, manning the Sea Watch stand on the pier, liaising with local boat operators to produce educational materials) · Interacting with the media (radio, TV and newspapers) · Representing Sea Watch at public events within the UK generally · Liaising with the Adopt a Dolphin Coordinator for the promotion of Sea Watch Foundation and the Adopt a Dolphin scheme The Education and Outreach Assistant will also have some opportunity to be involved in the fieldwork aspects of the “Cardigan Bay Monitoring Project <http://www.seawatchfoundation.org.uk/cardigan-bay-monitoring-project/> ” (land-based and boat-based surveys). This project, undertaken on behalf of Natural Resources Wales, manages the conservation of a coastal population of bottlenose dolphins, the largest in the UK. Monitoring of harbour porpoise and grey seal populations is also part of the project. The field season will run from April to October 2016 and has been split into two periods of 6 weeks followed by two periods of 8 weeks. One assistant is required for each half of the season. However, preference may be given to those who can stay for the entire seven-month field season. The assistant will be based in New Quay, West Wales. Accommodation is provided at a rate of approximately £70/week in a house, sharing with the research interns. The assistant is responsible for their own travel and living expenses, but it is generally quite easy to obtain part-time paid work in the area if required. Intern periods for summer 2016: Period 1: 18/04 – 12/06, Period 2: 13/06 – 07/8, Period 3: 08/08 – 18/9, Period 4: 19/09 – 30/10 Important skills/qualifications Essential: * a strong interest in marine conservation and education * outgoing personality with confidence to interact with the public * excellent verbal and writing skills * must have initiative and bring their own ideas and personality to the position * strong commitment to volunteering work * an ability to work in an organised and reliable manner and to manage a variable workload, including appropriate delegation * an ability to get on well with others in a small team and within shared accommodation Desirable: * a background in marine biology/environmental science or similar * a strong interest and some knowledge of British cetaceans * good IT skills (Office package) * prior experience in public speaking * experience with postings in social media * prior experience in boat-based survey work * willingness to work long hours outdoors in often very changeable Welsh weather To apply: Please send your CV and a cover letter reporting any relevant experience you have and specifying the period(s) you would prefer to volunteer for, as well as contact details of two referees, to Kathy James (kathy.james@seawatchfoundation.org.uk). Deadline: 10th January 2016. Please specify EDUCATION ASSISTANT APPLICATION into your subject title. Applicants must be available for interview via Skype between the 20th and 26th January and will be notified of the outcomes by the 29th January 2016. 3) RESEARCH ASSISTANT/INTERN COORDINATOR IN CARDIGAN BAY 2016 This position is responsible for assisting the Monitoring Officer in the running of the “Cardigan Bay Monitoring Project” and coordinating the project interns. The project is based in New Quay, Ceredigion, West Wales, and takes care of the conservation management of the bottlenose dolphin, harbour porpoise and grey seal populations of Cardigan Bay, monitoring their abundance, distribution, reproductive success and population structure using a combination of line-transect, photo-identification, land-based and acoustic surveys. Start Date: April 11th 2016 End Date: November 6th 2016 Responsibilities will include but are not limited to: * Coordinate between the Monitoring Officer/Sightings Officer and the project interns – in charge of the intern shared house and the intern weekly office rota. * Assisting the Monitoring Officer/Sightings Officer in intern basic training of land- and boat based surveys, photo ID studies, database entry and more. * Assisting the Monitoring Officer in all phases of the research. * Assisting the Sightings Officer with maintenance of the national sightings database. * Optional opportunity to undertake a personal research project supervised by the Monitoring Officer. Research topic will be chosen according to Sea Watch Foundation requirements and applicant’s interests. Requirements: The successful applicant is expected to have completed a BSc degree (or higher) in biology, marine biology, zoology, chemistry, or related field and able to demonstrate previous experience in marine mammal research. A strong interest and knowledge of British cetaceans and experience are beneficial. The applicant should ideally have some experience using DSLR cameras. Practical experience of photo-identification (both photography and matching) is desirable. Experience with other equipment regularly used by Sea Watch Foundation such as hydrophone, theodolite, digiscope and camera drone is advantageous. The applicant must be proficient with database and word processing software and be willing to learn new software applications. Specific experience in use of Access and GIS would be advantageous. Knowledge of other relevant software such as PAMGuard and Raven is useful but not essential. The preferred candidate should have a proven track record as a team player since the project will involve working closely with other researchers, but also must be able to supervise small groups of people as they will be coordinating a team of at least 6 interns. They must be self-motivated, with the drive and determination to work independently and responsibly. If a personal research project is undertaken, this brings the opportunity to submit work for scientific publication, and for presentation at the European Cetacean Society Conference. This position is unpaid, but accommodation will be heavily subsidised and will not exceed £10 per week should a charge be made at all. The Research Assistant will be responsible for their own travel expenses to New Quay. Due to the touristic background of New Quay, part-time paid evening work is generally easy to find if required by the applicant. The Research Assistant will have one day of every weekend free and may take a week’s vacation. Dates for this week should be previously agreed if possible. International applications are welcome but it is the applicant’s responsibility to ensure visa requirements are met; Sea Watch cannot sponsor visa applications. To apply: Please send your CV and application form (which can be downloaded from our website www.seawatchfoundation.org.uk/internships/), with a cover letter and contact details of two referees, reporting any relevant experience you have, to Katrin Lohrengel- katrin.lohrengel@seawatchfoundation.org.uk Deadline: 3rd January 2016. Please specify RESEARCH ASSISTANT/INTERN COORDINATOR in your subject title. Successful applicants will be notified of the outcomes by the 3rd February 2016. The Sea Watch Foundation The Sea Watch Foundation is a registered marine environmental research charity that aims to achieve better conservation of whales and dolphins in the seas around Britain and Ireland, by involving the public in scientific monitoring of populations and the threats they face. At Sea Watch Wales, we are dedicated to raising awareness, knowledge and conservation of the marine wildlife inhabiting Welsh seas. Our work in Wales has been funded over the years by Natural Resources Wales, and we work closely with the local management authority, Ceredigion County Council. Research The purpose of our research here is to monitor the marine mammal populations inhabiting Cardigan Bay, so as to gain information to aid the conservation and long-term well being of these animals and the local marine environment. This is achieved by conducting various projects including: * Estimating the abundance and distribution of bottlenose dolphins, harbour porpoises and grey seals within Cardigan Bay using distance sampling and opportunistic boat surveys * Maintaining and updating a catalogue of photographically identified bottlenose dolphins in Wales in order to study their abundance, social structure, movements and life histories, using mark-recapture techniques * Acoustic monitoring of bottlenose dolphins and harbour porpoises in the Cardigan Bay SAC using automated click detectors (T-PODs) and hydrophones. * Setting up a library of underwater sounds in Welsh waters in order to develop bio-acoustic research in the area. We further aim to raise awareness and understanding of the importance of the local marine wildlife and the habitats supporting them, and to encourage respect and conservation of the area and its wildlife for future generations. At the New Quay office, we also run national training courses in cetacean identification and survey methods for the general public.