Voluntariado: Australia!

Volunteers required for humpback whale research in Australia.

We are seeking applications from volunteers to help with field work on the effects of noise on humpback whales from 20 September to 19 October,2008. The work will take place during the whales' southward migration along the Australian east coast and is funded by the Australian Centre for Applied Marine Mammal Science (ACAMMS).

The field work will take place at Peregian Beach, approximately 140km north of Brisbane. This will be a multi-disciplinary study of the passing whales during their southward migration and include controlled exposure experiments (CEEs), the deployment of DTAGs, the collection of behavioural and positional data from a land station, the acoustic recording and tracking of singers using an array of hydrophone buoys moored offshore, and the boat-based collection of photo-IDs, biopsies and blow mucus samples.

Volunteers should be available for the entire four week study. You will be responsible for your transport to and from Peregian Beach, but once there, we will provide accommodation and food. The project will suit young scientists with genuine interests in humpback whale behaviour, behavioural ecology, acoustics and communication.

Successful applicants will:
- have a mature attitude towards marine mammal research.
- be able to live and work constructively with others in a team.
- have a good level of physical fitness.
- not be too fussy an eater as cooking will be communal (vegetarians excepted!).

Preference will be given to those who:
- have a degree in biology, marine science, or veterinary science.
- have previous relevant marine mammal field experience.

Applicants should send an email introducing themselves to
Michael Noad
mnoad@uq.edu.au,

Rebecca Dunlop
r.dunlop@uq.edu.au

and Melinda Rekdahl
m.rekdahl@uq.edu.au.

The email should include an outline of why you would like to work on this project, your qualifications and previous experience. Please also attach a brief CV including the contact details of two relevant referees.

Applications will be accepted until 30 June and places will be offered soon after this to allow you time to make travel arrangements.

Michael Noad
BVSc PhD Lecturer,
Veterinary Anatomy Head,
Cetacean Ecology and Acoustics Laboratory
School of Veterinary Science
University of Queensland
St Lucia,
Qld 4072,
Australia
Ph. +61 7 3365 2088
Mob. +61 416 270567
Fax. +61 7 3365 1255
Email mnoad@uq.edu.au

Rebecca Dunlop
BSc PhD
Cetacean Ecology and Acoustics Laboratory
School of Veterinary Science
University of Queensland
St Lucia,
Qld 4072,
Australia
Ph. (07)3365-3066
Mob. 0437434041
Fax. (07)3365-1255
Email r.dunlop@uq.edu.au