To Whom It May Concern:
The Center for Whale Research (www.whaleresearch.com) would like post/
submit to the list-serv the following internship announcement:
_________________________________________________________________
The Center for Whale Research (CWR), a small, non-profit
organization, is pleased to announce our internship program for 2011.
Who We Are:
The mission of the Center for Whale Research is to develop, promote,
and conduct benign studies of free-swimming Cetaceans (Whales,
Dolphins, and Porpoises) for the purpose of conserving their
populations and informing governments and the public of their
ecosystem needs. Our emphasis is on non-invasive research
methodologies such as passive acoustic monitoring and photo-
identification.
What We Do:
Although the Center for Whale Research is involved with various
research projects, our central project is the Orca Survey, now in its
35th year. Orca Survey is a photo-identification study of the killer
whales (Orcinus orca) that reside in the inland marine waters of
Washington state and southern British Columbia. The focus of the
project is a group known as the Southern Resident Killer Whales. Both
the U.S. and Canada have now designated this population as
endangered, and our primary objective is to determine population size
and trends each year. However, our long-term studies have also
provided the bulk of the natural history information on killer whales
- including growth rates, social organization, spatial distribution,
and prey preference. Orca Survey is a model study that illustrates
the depth of information that can be learned through patient
observation, and we hope that our work will continue for many more
years to come.
Why Intern?
Our internship is a great way for interested students to discover
what a life of marine mammal research is really about. This field is
highly competitive and an experience like this is essential for
future career opportunities. However, marine mammal work is not as
glamorous as many believe it is. Candidates need to be realistic
about ALL aspects of this field and be willing to work hard and live
in a rustic, communal setting. An internship at CWR is a great way to
gain needed experience, as well as to meet and network with people in
this profession that come from a variety of backgrounds.
The Internship:
Interns will be expected to participate in all aspects of the Orca
Survey project, as well as the day-to day operations of the Center.
This includes, but is not limited to: data entry, fund-raising
efforts, standing early morning watches, gardening, meal-preparation,
basic housekeeping, and other office tasks. Also, a significant
component of the internship will be to help create and implement
community outreach and education projects. There will be
opportunities to strengthen your skills in the areas of photography,
photo-identification, and a variety of computer software, but these
are just pieces of what we do at CWR.
The best part of this internship will, undoubtedly, be the
opportunity to observe and experience wild killer whales. As an
intern, you will occasionally be able to accompany our staff out on
the water in order to conduct photographic surveys. During these
encounters, you will be tasked with making behavioral observations
and recording accurate field data. It will not be possible for
interns to participate in every encounter due to vessel capacity
restrictions, but given weather, and other restrictions, we will
accommodate interns as best we can. We want to emphasize, however,
that the majority of the work to be done will not directly involve
killer whales. Applicants should see this internship as an
opportunity to learn about what CWR does and gain experience in all
aspects of both fieldwork and operating a non-profit. You will have
some time off to recreate and enjoy the beautiful San Juan Islands
but keep in mind that an internship with CWR is not intended to be a
vacation.
Internship positions will be offered in monthly sessions from May-
September 2011. The beginning and end dates for each session will
tentatively coincide with the start and end of each month. There is
availability for two interns each month and the fee for the program
is $900/month. This includes accommodations and all meals, and
contributes to the requisite staffing needs, utilities, fuel costs,
and other incidentals involved with your stay. Applicants are welcome
to apply for any month, or combination of months within the
internship period, but may only be selected for a portion of their
proposed stay. One month minimum is required.
As mentioned already, living at the Center means being willing to
live in shared, rustic accommodations and participate in a communal
environment. Amenities like toilets, shower, laundry, electricity,
and kitchen facilities are available at the Center for everyone’s
use, but interns may or may not have some or all of these
conveniences where they sleep.
Requirements:
Applicants must be 18 years of age and have a strong desire to work
with killer whales or other cetaceans. You must be physically fit
(able to lift 50lbs), able to swim, and not easily susceptible to
seasickness. Be prepared to spend time aboard a small (19-25ft.)
vessel in unpredictable weather and sea conditions.
Preferred candidates will have earned an undergraduate degree in a
relevant field of study, with greater preference being given to those
students already involved in a graduate program. However, current
undergraduates that show exceptional dedication to their studies will
certainly be considered.
Daylight lasts quite long in the San Juan Islands during the summer
months and, consequently, work can begin very early (05:00) and
continue well into the evening (23:00). Interns must be willing to
work hard, keep up their energy, and maintain a positive attitude
throughout. Successful applicants will be able to tolerate a
constantly changing schedule, as life at the Center revolves around
the whales, and possess superior “people skills.” Interns will be
required to engage the public and work well with the different
ethnicities and personalities that the Center attracts. A sense of
humor is mandatory.
International applicants are responsible for obtaining their own
travel visas and all candidates must be willing to sign a waiver of
liability and disclose pertinent medical histories.
How to Apply:
Please send cover letter, resume/CV, contact information for three
references, and unofficial transcripts to [email protected].
Your cover letter should explain both your interest in the program,
and the qualities that set you apart from other candidates. Also be
sure to include what month(s) you prefer, how long you can stay, and
if there are alternate months you would consider. While not required,
letter(s) of reference would be highly desirable. When emailing
application materials, enter “2011 CWR Internship” as the subject
heading. Applications without this subject heading may be lost or
overlooked. We look forward to hearing from you.
Application Deadline: February 14, 2011 (we will aim to have
decisions made by March 1, 2011)
Visit us at www.whaleresearch.com
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