IFAW Marine Mammal Stranding Internship The International Fund for Animal Welfare’s (IFAW) Marine Mammal Rescue and Research Program is currently accepting applications for Marine Mammal Stranding Internship for our fall session 2016 (September 2016 – January 2017). Please see below for future internship sessions. 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 occurring each year. These strandings include live and dead seals, large whales, porpoises, and dolphins. The Cape Cod region also experiences an unusually high frequency of live, mass stranded dolphins. Specific Internship Duties
- Manage stranding hotline and dispatch volunteers for stranding calls received during office hours - Assist staff with all aspects of marine mammal stranding response, including live animal health assessment and triage, opportunistic public outreach, biological data collection, and sampling from dead stranded marine mammals - Assist in stranding preparedness, including cleaning, organizing and maintaining stranding response gear and equipment - Assist in data entry of stranding reports, case files, sample collection, and lab results - Assist in organizing, cataloging and archiving stranded marine mammal documentation, including photos, video and datasheets - General office duties, including training and outreach material preparation and organization - 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 the archiving, shipping, and tracking of biological samples - Assist in the preparation of necropsy reports Specific Focus Areas Interns will be cross-trained in all areas of stranding response and every effort will be made for interns to gain a wide-range of experiences. However, each intern will have specific “focus areas” of either: field response or necropsy. Interns will be paired with staff based on these particular focus areas and individual tasks and projects will be related to one of these areas. Each intern’s “focus” will be determined by staff once they have been selected for the program. Please indicate in your cover letter your primary preferred focus and any other areas of interest if your primary choice is not available. The final determination will be made by staff but we will make an effort to assign interns based on their preferences. Requirements - 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, be comfortable on small boats in nearshore waters, able to swim, and work in harsh weather conditions at times - Able to follow written and oral staff directions and protocols effectively - Be enrolled in an undergraduate or graduate program, or have graduated within 2 years - Working knowledge of Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint Preferred candidate will also have: - Undergraduate and/or graduate study of biology, zoology, ecology, marine/environmental/animal science - Previous marine mammal stranding response/research experience - Experience handling animals - Experience driving large trucks 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, as well as 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 it is the responsibility of the applicant to acquire necessary visas and documentation, including an international driver’s license. The internship position requires the commitment for the full session (12 weeks, September 2016 – January 2017). Interns are required to attend three 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 his/her educational institution. 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, boots and life jackets will be provided. Please keep in mind that stranding work is unpredictable and changes seasonally. We cannot guarantee the type and number of strandings and experiences you will receive during your internship. We will do our best when possible to give interns a varied experience. To apply: Please use the link below to access the online application and to upload the required documents: 1. Cover Letter (please indicate which focus area(s) you prefer) 2. Resume 3. One Letter of Recommendation from college professor or employer (can be uploaded or directly emailed to recruitm...@ifaw.org<mailto:recruitm...@ifaw.org> by the recommender. (It is your responsibility to ensure your letter of recommendation has been submitted on time, or you will not be considered for the internship.) http://www.ifaw.org/united-states/about-ifaw/employment All application materials must be received by Friday, July 15th by 5:00pm EST Internship notification of acceptance will be sent by Friday, August 12th Required intern orientation will be September 12-15, 2016 Future Internship Session Dates: The IFAW Marine Mammal Stranding Internships are offered 3 times a year; you must re-apply for each session. Winter Session Dates: January 2017 – May 2017 Application due date: October 28th 2016 Summer Session Dates: June 2017 – August 2017 Application due date: April 21st 2017 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. cha...@ifaw.org<mailto:cha...@ifaw.org> 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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