Harbor Porpoise Internship

Our Washington Inland Waters Porpoise Project is recruiting two Harbor Porpoise Population Survey Interns for the summer and fall of 2011. This project is focused on studying harbor porpoise population stability in the Puget Sound.

The intern position involves a commitment of at least 20 hours per week extending over a 12 week period from July through October, 2011. The intern will have considerable flexibility in determining their work schedule. Interns will participate in the field activities including land and water-based visual surveys.

This research is designed to provide an understanding of temporal and spatial aspects of the distribution of harbor and Dall's porpoise. The internship offers an excellent opportunity for qualified and motivated individuals to obtain field and laboratory training in visual survey methodology and acoustic data collection and analysis. We are using high frequency hydrophones and acoustic spectral analysis software for the acoustic portion of the work. The interns will learn how this equipment operates and work with acoustic spectra from the harbor porpoise. Interns may also have the opportunity to assist with the acoustic research involving a rescued, orphaned, harbor porpoise.

A small monthly stipend is available for this internship position. The intern will be responsible for their living expenses during the time of the internship. Some transportation costs may also be reimbursed. For this reason a preference is given to interns located in the Puget Sound Area. During the work period interns must have a personal vehicle (or arrange transportation) to allow them to travel to and from the survey sites.

Ideal internship applicants will be advanced undergraduates or a recent graduate of a scientifically-oriented university program in the behavioral or biological sciences. A typical applicant should have a strong interest in the scientific study of cetacean behavioral ecology, have potential interests in future graduate study in marine mammal science, and be an individual who seeks extensive and intensive exposure to the field work, data analysis techniques, and research literature in this field. Preference will be given to persons with experience handling a boat in marine waters.

The internship application will consist of a letter of interest, transcripts of university coursework and two letters of recommendation from professors or research supervisors who are familiar with your scholarship, research skills and work habits. Interested applicants should first correspond with Aileen Jeffries by email, aileen@pacificbio.org before preparing and submitting application materials. Full application materials should be sent to aileen@pacificbio.org or via mail to Pacific Biodiversity Institute, PO Box 298, Winthrop, WA., 98862.

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Harbor Porpoise Internship