Research opportunity for PhD or master candidates available by now Dear marmamer's, we are two German PhD students studying behaviour and ecology of the cetacea in the waters off 'Eua Island, Kingdom of Tonga. We collect data by daily trips with an offshore capable 10.5m sail boat. Our focus is on offshore whales and dolphins but not restricted to one species. We are looking for a PhD or master student who will help us with our data collection and boat maintenance in Tonga as soon as possible. In return she / he can collect data for her / his own thesis as well, provided that this does not interfere to much with our own work. The opportunity to collect data from our sail boat together with us is offered since a crew of three instead of two people would improve our ability to collect data as well. We can not provide supervision, but the opportunity to carry out field work in Tongan offshore waters and therefore in a geographic area and an ecosystem which is hardly researched yet. Tongan waters underlie less anthropogenic influences than most other oceanic regions in the world, especially waters around 'Eua Island. We are looking for a master student or PhD candidate who would stay in Tonga for at least 3 months. There are no research costs (for boat, fuel ect.) but travel costs, food and accommodation can not be covered by us since we are completely self-funded. The last two points however can be organised cheaply in 'Eua. We expect high motivation, good English skills, knowledge about whales and how to approach them, ability of identifying cetacean species at sea (we will provide a small catalogue with pictures in advance), knowledge about and preferentially experience in photo ID, open mind and the ability and will to discuss when useful. Sailing experience would be a plus. Please send your application to: carina.ramm@gmail.com kind regards Carina Ramm & Tim Arnold Carina Ramm Institute of Polar Ecology University of Kiel Germany