Marine
Mammal Research Internships
(For
a detailed description and more information, please see our website at www.whalecenter.org/intern.htm)
The
Whale Center of New England, located in Gloucester,
MA,
is a non-profit research organization involved with the study of behavior,
ecology, and natural history of the whales and dolphins found in the waters off
of Massachusetts. Primary concentration is on an individually-identified
population of humpback whales that spend portions of the spring, summer,
and fall in these waters. Additional
species studied in this area include fin whales, minke whales, North
Atlantic right whales, sei whales
and Atlantic white-sided dolphins. The Whale
Center
is also heavily involved with habitat conservation and education programs. Since the early 1980's, the Whale
Center
has provided annual spring, summer,
and fall internships to undergraduate students who have completed their
freshman year of studies and to recent college graduates. We are currently looking to fill research
internships for the spring (January 30 - May 26) semester
of 2006.
The
Whale Center of New England internship provides experience needed to further
pursue fields in marine biology and animal behavior. It is our goal to provide interns with the
opportunity to collect valuable information important to the marine mammal
field and to see how this information is used in management
and conservation efforts in this area. Many of our former
interns have continued to pursue their interests in various fields of biology
and education. Each internship session
offers different experiences in marine mammal science that will depend on the
season. These duties may include, but
are not limited to: extensive photo and computer work (training provided),
field data collection aboard commercial
whale watching vessels and our 27' research boat Silver II, attendance at
necropsies (whale autopsies), stranding response, seal surveys and attendance
at conferences and meetings. Fall and spring interns also have the
opportunity to create a dedicated project utilizing the more than 26 years of
behavioral data collected at the Whale Center of New England. Interns are involved in the project from
start to finish and will present their findings at the end of the session.
Interns
live together in a common apartment
and share cooking and cleaning duties.
Rooms may be shared with one other person. A living arrangement
such as this is conducive to open discussion and interaction between peers, and
home
life is often a continuation of the day in the field. Therefore, it is essential that candidates
can combine these two areas. A fee of
$1000 for the period is charged to cover housing, utilities, educational
materials, staff support, and a weekly food stipend. College credit may be
arranged by the student through their department
or as an independent research program at their college or university. The Whale
Center
encourages this, and will take whatever steps are required to facilitate such
efforts.
Internship
applicants should have the following:
*
A background in biology, zoology, or related field
*
Some
knowledge of research methods
and design
*
An ability to work, live and communicate well with others
*
Enthusiasm and dedication to work long days (sometimes
12 hours or
more)
in the field or lab.
In
order to formally apply for an internship: please send a
curriculum vitae or resume,
a cover letter detailing your reason(s) for applying, one letter of reference,
and an updated transcript. Please note:
a paper application form is not necessary. Once your application has been
received, an interview will be arranged.
Application
materials and questions regarding the internship should be directed to the
intern coordinator:
Cara
Pekarcik
The
Whale
Center
of New England
P.O.
Box 159
Gloucester,
MA
01930
978-281-6351
(vox)
978-281-5666
(fax)
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
www.whalecenter.org/intern.htm
