[MARMAM] VOLUNTEER NEEDED FOR LAND BASED BODY CONDITION STUDY ON SOUTHERN RIGHT WHALES USING UAVS

[Fredrik Christiansen]

VOLUNTEER NEEDED FOR LAND BASED BODY CONDITION STUDY ON SOUTHERN RIGHT WHALES 
USING UAVS


The Aquatic Megafauna Research Unit (AMRU) at Murdoch University, Perth, 
Australia, is looking for a volunteer to assist land based Unmanned Aerial 
Vehicle (UAV) research on Southern right whales at the Head of the Bight, South 
Australia, between the 25th of June and the 28th of September 2019. Only 
applicants available for the entire duration of the project will be considered, 
as access to the field site is difficult.


The research project aims to investigate Southern right whale body condition on 
their South Australian breeding/nursing grounds, as part of larger research 
project looking into baleen whale health 
(https://amru.org.au/southern-right-whale-body-condition-on-breeding-grounds/). 
To measure body condition, aerial photographs of the whales will be collected 
using an UAV operated from the cliffs overlooking the Great Australian Bight. 
The UAV will be operated by the chief scientist due to strict regulations in 
Australia.


Duties include cliff based searches for right whales, observation of right 
whale behavioural responses during UAV approaches, and looking for raptor birds 
that could intervene with UAV operations. The research assistant will also be 
expected to help out with data entry, processing and measurements of body 
morphometrics from UAV photographs.


This is an unpaid position and the successful candidate will have to cover the 
costs of transport to and from Perth, Western Australia, from where the 
research team will depart on the 26th of June and return to on the 27th of 
September. The person will also have to provide their own travel insurance. 
Accommodation will be provided in the form of a shared caravan that will also 
function as an office. This will be shared with another researcher. The caravan 
will be parked at the Nullarbor Road House which has toilet and shower 
facilities, a small convenience store, a café and a restaurant. Food expenses 
will be covered by the project. Phone reception is good at the Nullarbor Road 
House, but very limited at the field site. Internet is limited and expensive 
(do not expect to stream/download larger files or skype), and will be provided 
for research purposes only.


The Head of the Bight study area is very remote and isolated place (arid 
conditions) with very limited resources and communication. During the austral 
winter, bad weather is expected and will prevent UAV operations on 
approximately 50% of the days, so be prepared to stay indoors for extended 
periods of time. Due to the restricted living conditions it is essential that 
the candidate is able to live and work closely with the other researchers, is 
tolerant and respectful towards others and had a positive attitude. Strong work 
ethic and the ability to endure extended periods of office based work during 
periods of bad weather condition are essential. People with previous experience 
living in remote places and/or experience flying UAVs will be given priority. 
The person needs to be fluent in English and bring their own laptop computer 
(preferably a PC).


The Head of Bight is a beautiful and pristine environment with amazing 
wildlife, where right whales can be observed very close to shore. In addition 
to whales you might be lucky to see wombats, dingo’s, white-bellied sea eagles, 
wedge-tailed eagles, pink cockatoos, bobtail lizards, brown snakes, sea lions, 
little penguins, dolphins and white sharks.


Please apply by sending your CV (2 pages maximum) and cover letter (1 page) 
with the names and contact details of at least three professional references to 
f.christian...@murdoch.edu.au


Best regards,


Dr Fredrik Christiansen


Assistant Professor

Aarhus Institute of Advanced Studies, Aarhus University, Denmark

Aquatic Megafauna Research Unit, Murdoch University, Australia

+45 31332367, f.christian...@murdoch.edu.au

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[MARMAM] VOLUNTEER NEEDED FOR LAND BASED BODY CONDITION STUDY ON SOUTHERN RIGHT WHALES USING UAVS

[Fredrik Christiansen]

VOLUNTEER NEEDED FOR LAND BASED BODY CONDITION STUDY ON SOUTHERN RIGHT WHALES 
USING UAVS


The Aquatic Megafauna Research Unit (AMRU) at Murdoch University, Perth, 
Australia, is looking for a volunteer to assist land based Unmanned Aerial 
Vehicle (UAV) research on Southern right whales at the Head of the Bight, South 
Australia, between the 20th of June and the 28th of September 2019. Only 
applicants available for the entire duration of the project will be considered, 
as access to the field site is difficult.


The research project aims to investigate Southern right whale body condition on 
their South Australian breeding/nursing grounds, as part of larger research 
project looking into baleen whale health 
(https://amru.org.au/southern-right-whale-body-condition-on-breeding-grounds/). 
To measure body condition, aerial photographs of the whales will be collected 
using an UAV operated from the cliffs overlooking the Great Australian Bight. 
The UAV will be operated by the chief scientist due to strict regulations in 
Australia.


Duties include cliff based searches for right whales, observation of right 
whale behavioural responses during UAV approaches, and looking for raptor birds 
that could intervene with UAV operations. The research assistant will also be 
expected to help out with data entry, processing and measurements of body 
morphometrics from UAV photographs.


This is an unpaid position and the successful candidate will have to cover the 
costs of transport to and from Perth, Western Australia, from where the 
research team will depart on the 21st of June and return to on the 27th of 
September. The person will also have to provide their own travel insurance. 
Accommodation will be provided in the form of a shared caravan that will also 
function as an office. This will be shared with another researcher. The caravan 
will be parked at the Nullarbor Road House which has toilet and shower 
facilities, a small convenience store, a café and a restaurant. Food expenses 
will be covered by the project. Phone reception is good at the Nullarbor Road 
House, but very limited at the field site. Internet is limited and expensive 
(do not expect to stream/download larger files or skype), and will be provided 
for research purposes only.


The Head of the Bight study area is very remote and isolated place (arid 
conditions) with very limited resources and communication. During the austral 
winter, bad weather is expected and will prevent UAV operations on 
approximately 50% of the days, so be prepared to stay indoors for extended 
periods of time. Due to the restricted living conditions it is essential that 
the candidate is able to live and work closely with the other researchers, is 
tolerant and respectful towards others and had a positive attitude. Strong work 
ethic and the ability to endure extended periods of office based work during 
periods of bad weather condition are essential. People with previous experience 
living in remote places and/or experience flying UAVs will be given priority. 
The person needs to be fluent in English and bring their own laptop computer 
(preferably a PC).


The Head of Bight is a beautiful and pristine environment with amazing 
wildlife, where right whales can be observed very close to shore. In addition 
to whales you might be lucky to see wombats, dingo’s, white-bellied sea eagles, 
wedge-tailed eagles, pink cockatoos, bobtail lizards, brown snakes, sea lions, 
little penguins, dolphins and white sharks.


Please apply by sending your CV (2 pages maximum) and cover letter (1 page) 
with the names and contact details of at least three professional references to 
f.christian...@murdoch.edu.au


Best regards,

Dr Fredrik Christiansen

Assistant Professor

Aarhus Institute of Advanced Studies, Aarhus University, Denmark

Aquatic Megafauna Research Unit, Murdoch University, Australia

+45 31332367, f.christian...@murdoch.edu.au

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[MARMAM] VOLUNTEER NEEDED FOR LAND BASED BODY CONDITION STUDY ON SOUTHERN RIGHT WHALES USING UAVS

[Fredrik]

VOLUNTEER NEEDED FOR LAND BASED BODY
CONDITION STUDY ON SOUTHERN RIGHT WHALES USING UAVS

 

Murdoch University Cetacean Research Unit (MUCRU), Perth, Australia, is looking
for a volunteer to assist land based Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) research on
Southern right whales at the Head of the Bight, South Australia, between the 
19th
of July and the 17th of August 2016. The person will have to be available
for the entire period.

 

The research project aims to investigate Southern right whale body
condition on their South Australian breeding/nursing grounds, as part of larger
research project looking into baleen whale health 
(http://mucru.org/our-research/research-projects/baleen-whale-body-condition/).
To measure body condition, aerial photographs of the whales will be collected
using an UAV operated from the cliffs overlooking the Great Australian Bight.
The UAV will be operated by the chief scientist due to strict regulations in
Australia.

 

Duties include cliff based searches for right whales, observation of
right whale behavioural responses during UAV approaches, and looking for raptor
birds that could intervene with UAV operations. The research assistant will
also be expected to help out with data entry, processing and measurements of
body morphometrics from UAV photographs.

 

This is an unpaid position and the successful candidate will have to
cover the costs of transport to and from Ceduna, South Australia, where you
will be picked up/dropped off (3.5 hours drive from the Head of the Bight). The
person will also have to provide their own travel insurance. Accommodation will
be provided in the form of a shared caravan that will also function as an 
office.
This will be shared with one other researcher. At the site there will also be a
research team from Curtin University (4-6 people). Food expenses will be
covered by the project.  

 

The Head of the Bight study area is very remote and isolated place (arid
conditions) with very limited resources and communication (limited phone and
internet connection is available, but do not expect to stream/download larger
files or skype). During the austral winter, bad weather is expected and will
prevent UAV operations on at least 50% of the days, so be prepared to stay
indoors for extended periods of time. Due to the restricted living conditions
it is essential that the candidate is able to live and work closely with the
other researchers, is tolerant and respectful towards others and had a positive
attitude. Strong work ethic and the ability to endure extended periods of
office based work during periods of bad weather condition are essential. People
with previous experience living in remote places for extended periods of time
will be given priority. The person needs to be fluent in English and bring
their own laptop computer.

 

Please apply by sending your CV (3 pages maximum) and cover letter (1
page) with the names and contact details of at least three professional 
references
to f.christian...@murdoch.edu.au

 

Best regards,

 

Dr Fredrik Christiansen

Postdoctoral Research Fellow

Cetacean Research Unit, School of Veterinary and Life Sciences

Murdoch University, Murdoch, WA 6150, Australia

+61 417 502 098, f.christian...@murdoch.edu.au

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