Dolphin Communication Project (DCP) - Volunteer Research Assistants/Interns -
Summer 2017
Florida, USA and Bimini, The Bahamas
The Dolphin Communication Project (DCP, www.dolphincommunicationproject.org) is
currently seeking two interns for the summer of 2017. These internships have
field and office components, both of which are mandatory, and total 9-12 weeks,
depending on DCP's schedule.
DCP looks at how dolphins communicate and attempts to shed more light on the
meaning of their interactions. With research ongoing since 1991, our questions
focus primarily on communication and behavior among dolphins. Interns will
spend the field portion of this internship at our Bimini, Bahamas, research
site, where we study wild Atlantic spotted and bottlenose dolphins. An
abbreviated publication list is available at the end of this post.
Responsibilities
In the field:
--Travel to and assist for approximately 6 weeks at our Bimini research site
(exact dates TBD, likely beginning in late, following the office component)
--Assist gathering data (general observations, photographs) during 4-6 hour/day
boat excursions (weather and schedule dependent)
--Complete photo-identification of dolphins from still photography and video as
well as other data entry and analysis tasks
--Assist with on-board and outreach education as well as web-based projects
--Represent DCP in an enthusiastic, responsible, mature and respectful manner
At the office:
--Travel to and assist for 4-5 weeks at our Port Saint Lucie, Florida (FL)
office (exact dates TBD, likely prior to field component, beginning in late
May)
--Process and analyze data, including, but not limited to: photo-identification
of individuals from other DCP research sites, event sampling from video data
for behavioral analyses, and acoustic analysis of dolphin sounds
--Assist in the development and implementation of education programs for
schools and the general public, as needed
Requirements
Successful interns must have basic computer skills and working knowledge of
Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint. Current enrollment in a degree-seeking
program, background in science and/or animal behavior and experience on boats
and/or with photo-identification are all desired, but not necessarily required.
The successful candidates will be comfortable on a boat for several hours at a
time in varying conditions, including extreme heat. They will also be
proficient swimmers with the desire to improve snorkeling and free-diving
skills. They will be able to work as a team both in a small office and in a
fairly remote and isolated field setting. Good writing and public speaking
skills are a must, as is attention to details. Interns must be at least 18
years of age. Although international applicants are invited to apply, all
applicants should know that interns are responsible for their own daily
transportation to/from the FL office and public transportation is limited in
this area; therefore, all interns should have their own transportation while in
FL.
Expenses and Compensation
This is an unpaid internship. Interns are responsible for their own
transportation to Bimini and Florida. There is a $1,100.00 fee that will cover
housing in the field (on-island transportation not needed). Room, board and
transportation while in Florida are the responsibility of the intern. Although
assistance in finding housing may be available, the ability to find suitable
housing in Florida is ultimately the interns’ responsibility. We recommend all
applicants complete a preliminary housing search in advance of submitting their
applications.
Interested applicants should review information at this link:
http://dolphincommunicationproject.org/index.php/get-involved/internships.
Please read this page thoroughly before applying or emailing questions .
Send a completed application (downloadable and detailed at the link above) to
ke...@dcpmail.org. Applications are due 28 February 2017. Due to field
schedules, only electronic applications will be accepted. Interviews (via
telephone or Skype) will be arranged for selected candidates in early March.
For more information, please contact Kelly Melillo Sweeting at
ke...@dcpmail.org.
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Selected Refereed Publications:
(for a full list of publications by DCP researchers, please visit:
http://www.dolphincommunicationproject.org/index.php/about-dolphins/scientific-publications)
Dudzinski, K.M., Clark, C.W., Würsig, B. 1995. A mobile video/acoustic system
for simultaneously recording dolphin behavior and vocalizations underwater.
Aquatic Mammals 21(3): 187-193.
Dudzinski, K.M. 1998. Contact behavior and signal exchange among Atlantic
spotted dolphins (Stenella frontalis). Aquatic Mammals 24(3): 129-142.
Dudzinski, K.M., M. Sakai, M., Masaki, K., Kogi, K., Hishii, T.,
