Research Intern (113 views)

New Quay, Wales
January 3, 2017

Interns are invited to assist the Sea Watch Foundation (www.seawatchfoundation.org.uk) with the running of the “Cardigan Bay Monitoring Project”. The project is based in New Quay, West Wales, and supports the conservation management of the bottlenose dolphin, harbour porpoise and grey seal populations of Cardigan Bay, monitoring their abundance, distribution, reproductive success and population structure using a combination of vessel-based, land-based and acoustic surveys. Sea Watch has been monitoring these populations on behalf of the Welsh government (through funding provided by Natural Resources Wales) for over a decade. Cardigan Bay contains Britain’s largest coastal population of bottlenose dolphins, for which two special areas of conservation have been established under the EU Habitats Directive.

Interns will help the Cardigan Bay Monitoring Officer and the Sightings Officer by taking part in the following tasks:

  • Land-based surveys
  • Boat-based surveys
  • Photo-identification matching
  • Data entry
  • Raising public awareness
  • Education initiatives and school visits
  • Acoustic data collection
  • Assisting with and participation in training courses and public talks.

In addition to these tasks, we have some specialist equipment, two hydrophones and a drone to collect acoustic and aerial data collection during boat-based surveys. If you are particularly interested and have experience working with either of these pieces of equipment, please draw our attention to it in your covering letter and application form, highlighting relevant experience.

Interns are required from early April until the end of October 2017. The research season is split into four separate periods at 7 weeks each.

Preference will be given to those applying for more than one period.

Interns will be based in New Quay, Ceredigion, West Wales. Accommodation is provided through rental of a house that interns share at a rate of around £70 per person per week. Interns are responsible for their own travel, accommodation and living expenses, but it is generally quite easy to obtain part-time paid work in the area if required.

Important notes for long-term applications (those applying for two or more periods):

  • Those applying for longer periods of time will be able to take on a personal project potentially leading to a publication

Period dates for summer 2017:

 

Period 1: 10/04 – 28/05, Period 2: 29/05 – 16/07, Period 3: 17/07 – 03/09, Period 4: 04/09 – 22/10

 

Important skills/qualifications

Essential:

  • an ability to work in a meticulous and reliable manner
  • strong commitment to volunteering work
  • willingness to work long hours outdoors in often changeable Welsh weather
  • good IT skills (Office package)
  • an ability to get on well with others in a small team and in shared accommodation

 

 

Desirable:

  • a strong interest and knowledge of British cetaceans
  • a background in marine biology/environmental science or similar
  • prior experience in boat-based survey work
  • good verbal and written communication skills and in public speaking
  • experience in interacting with the public

All interns will be trained in cetacean observation and identification, in boat survey protocols, and photo-identification of bottlenose dolphins and grey seals.

Interns in Periods 2 and 3 will be able to take part in Sea Watch’s annual 2-day training courses.

Internships with Sea Watch have frequently led to established posts both within the organisation and in other national and international research and conservation bodies, as well as providing a stepping stone for students to undertake doctoral studies in marine mammal science.

Please note that interns are responsible for their own travel and living expenses. International applications are welcome but it is the applicants’ responsibility to ensure visa requirements are met; Sea Watch cannot sponsor visa applications.

JOB IS EXPIRED.