Marine Mammal Stranding Response Internships on Cape Cod, MA The International Fund for Animal Welfare’s (IFAW) Marine Mammal Rescue and Research Program is currently accepting applications for Marine Mammal Stranding Response Internships for summer 2015. Interns will be placed in one of two available tracks (Response or Necropsy), however all interns will receive cross-training in both areas.
Background IFAW is an international non-profit organization with headquarters in Yarmouth Port, Massachusetts, USA. IFAW’s Marine Mammal Rescue and Research Program is a federally authorized response program dedicated to marine mammal stranding response on Cape Cod and southeastern Massachusetts. Our mission is to promote the conservation of marine mammal species and their habitat by improving the rescue and humane care of stranded marine mammals, advancing stranding science, and increasing public awareness through education. Cape Cod is a marine mammal stranding “hot spot”, with over 230 strandings per year, including live and dead seals, large whales, porpoises and dolphins and an unusually high frequency of live mass stranded dolphins. Internship Duties – Response Track - Assist staff with all aspects of marine mammal stranding response including; live animal health assessment and triage, stranding hotline coverage, dispatch of field responders, opportunistic public outreach, and biological data collection and sampling from dead stranded marine mammals. - Assist in maintaining preparedness for strandings including: cleaning, organizing, and maintaining stranding response gear and equipment - Assist in data entry of stranding reports, case files, and sample collection - Assist in organizing, cataloging, and archiving stranded marine mammal documentation including photos and video - General office duties and report and outreach/education material preparation Internship Duties - Necropsy Track - Assist the necropsy coordinator in performing post-mortem examinations in both field and laboratory settings - Assist in maintaining, cleaning, and organizing necropsy equipment and supplies - Assist in photo archiving and data entry - Assist in the archiving, shipping and tracking of biological samples - Assist in the preparation of necropsy reports - General office duties including training and outreach material preparation and organization Requirements - Candidates must be at least 18 years old - Must possess a valid driver’s license - Must be of good physical fitness, be able to lift/carry 40lbs, walk long distances in difficult terrain, and work in harsh weather conditions at times. - Able to follow written and oral staff directions and protocols effectively Preferred candidate will also have: - Undergraduate study of biology, zoology, ecology, marine/environmental/animal science - Experience handling animals - Experience driving trucks, trailers and boats - Working knowledge of Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint Learning outcomes While hands-on experience is opportunistic and the number and type of responses will vary, most interns have the opportunity to: - Develop skills in identifying species commonly stranded on Cape Cod and gain knowledge of their biology and ecology - Acquire basic stranded cetacean and pinniped assessment and triage skills - Gain knowledge of response logistics and management including the use of the Incident Command System - Gain knowledge of the stranding network structure and operation and marine mammal policy as it relates to strandings - Gain basic necropsy skills and knowledge of marine mammal anatomy and physiology - Participate in active research projects as appropriate Additional Information This internship is unpaid. Housing and transportation are the responsibility of the intern. International applicants will be considered, but is the responsibility of the applicant to acquire necessary visas and documentation; including an international driver’s license. Internship start and end dates are flexible but the position requires a minimum 12 week continuous commitment for the summer session (June - August). Interns are required to attend a minimum of 3 days per week, which may include weekends and holidays. Since strandings are unpredictable, applicants with flexible daily schedules are preferred. If the intern intends to receive academic credit, he/she will be responsible for making all arrangements with their educational institutions. Interns should be prepared to perform in a variety of settings on any given day including beach, on-water, and laboratory. Specialized gear such as dry suits and life jackets will be provided. To apply: Please use the below link to access the online application and to upload supporting materials (Cover Letter, Resume, Letter of Recommendation from college professor or employer) http://www.ifaw.org/united-states/about-ifaw/employment All application materials must be received by March 2nd by 5:00pm EST For more information about IFAW’s global animal welfare and conservation work, please visit www.ifaw.org<http://www.ifaw.org> C.T. Harry | Asst. Stranding Coordinator | Marine Mammal Rescue & Research __________________________________________________________ IFAW - International Fund for Animal Welfare World Headquarters 290 Summer Street - Yarmouth Port, MA 02675 tel.1.508.744.2272 email. [email protected]<mailto:[email protected]> stranding hotline. 1.508.743.9548 Saving Animals in Crisis Around the World www.ifaw.org<http://www.ifaw.org/> The content of this email is intended only for the use of the above-named addressee and may contain information that is confidential, proprietary, and/or legally privileged. Please notify the sender if you received this email in error.
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