Right Whale Ecology Program – Photo-ID Internship

Center for Coastal Studies (CCS), Provincetown MA USA



The Center for Coastal Studies (CCS), a nonprofit institution dedicated to
the understanding and

protection of our coastal environment and marine ecosystems, is seeking a
seasonal intern in

the Right Whale Ecology Program from January 02 – May 30th, 2024. This
long-term project

focuses on documenting the abundance, distribution and behavior of North
Atlantic right whales

and their food resource in Cape Cod Bay and adjacent Massachusetts waters.
The intern will be

the primary vessel observer for the project and will participate in
research cruises up to four

days a week. Fieldwork responsibilities include photographing critically
endangered North

Atlantic right whales, collecting behavioral and environmental data,
recording other sighting

events (species, vessels, and fishing gear), and working with a habitat
research team both in

the field and office. Office responsibilities include photo-analysis
(downloading images, inputting

sightings information, matching individuals to known animals using an
online and in-house

catalog, cataloging), database entry and maintenance, assisting the aerial
team and maintaining

vessel field equipment.



**Minimum Requirements: **

● Previous marine mammal survey experience, including background in species
identification

and photo-identification of large cetaceans

● Experience with digital SLR cameras, lenses, and filters

● Basic computer literacy and working knowledge of Microsoft Office
programs (Excel, Word,

PowerPoint)

● Experience working on boats and ability to withstand harsh elements for
up to 10 hrs at a

time

● Not prone to seasickness

● Must be able to live and work well in a team

● Enthusiasm and willingness to learn field and lab-based research methods

● Strong attention to detail and ability to work well under pressure



**Preferred Qualifications: **

● A college degree, preferably in biological/ environmental sciences

● Experience using iMatch image database software

● Experience with database entry and management

● Experience using GPS equipment

● Demonstrated ability to estimate object ranges from a vessel

● A valid US driver’s license



The successful applicant will be required to work five full days per week
and will

need to be flexible for research cruises due to weather constrictions. The
intern will often collect

data independently in the field, thus responsible, detail-oriented
applicants are encouraged to

apply. Applicants must be available for the full field season and must be
willing to work

weekends, holidays and evenings as needed. Housing will be provided, as
well as a small

stipend to cover general living expenses. International applicants must
secure their own visas or

other required documentation.



CCS has a long history of conservation and research work with the North
Atlantic right whale

and Cape Cod Bay has been a major critical habitat for over 50% of the
estimated population in

recent years. This is an excellent opportunity for anyone wishing to expand
their skills in marine

mammal survey techniques, and will offer the successful applicant the
unique chance to work

with one of the world’s most endangered cetaceans. This internship will
afford the successful

applicant an invaluable opportunity to work within a well-established
institution, with

highly-qualified scientists, and to gain experience in
photo-identification, matching, and data

entry and analysis. Experience in oceanographic sampling can also be
gained. Details of our

work can be found on our website:
http://coastalstudies.org/right-whale-research/



*How to Apply:*

Please submit cover letter, CV/resume, and contact information for two
professional references

in a single pdf and attached along with copies of college transcripts via
email to [email protected], with 2024 RW Photo-ID Internship in
the subject line.

Deadline for submissions: October 9th, 2023



http://www.coastalstudies.org


Valerie Daniels
Human Resources Manager
Center for Coastal Studies
5 Holway Avenue
Provincetown, MA  02657

Attachment: Right Whale Observer Internship 2024.docx
Description: MS-Word 2007 document

_______________________________________________
MARMAM mailing list
[email protected]
https://lists.uvic.ca/mailman/listinfo/marmam

Reply via email to