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Right whale Internship posting: Provincetown Center for Coastal Studies

The Provincetown Center for Coastal Studies is seeking an intern for the upcoming 2009 right whale survey season. This person will work with both the aerial survey and habitat survey teams, who operate between January and May every year, documenting the abundance, distribution and behavior of North Atlantic right whales in Cape Cod Bay.

The intern will primarily assist staff members with photographing right whales and collecting behavioral and environmental data at sites in Cape Cod Bay.

The successful applicant will also be responsible for a number of lab-based photo-identification tasks, such as downloading images, database entry, and matching images to known animals using an online catalog.

He/ she will be required to work a minimum of four full days per week. The intern will often collect data independently in the field, thus responsible, detail-oriented applicants are encouraged to apply.

Fieldwork will likely involve one to two surveys per week, between January 2 and May 15. Applicants must be available for the full field season.

Requirements:

A degree, preferably in biological/ environmental sciences.
Experience with digital SLR cameras.
Experience in photo-identification of marine mammals, and matching of photographs.
Data entry; basic computer skills in programs such as Excel and Word.
Experience of working on boats.
Must not suffer from seasickness.
Must work well in a team.
Field hours can be long and the winter fieldwork conditions are cold.
Enthusiasm and willingness to learn field and lab based research methods.
A valid US drivers license would bebeneficial but is not essential.

Housing will be provided. There is no remuneration for this position. 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 cetacean species, the North Atlantic right whale.

PCCS has a long history of conservation and research work with the North Atlantic right whale. 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, data entry and analysis. Some experience in plankton sampling may also be gained.

Details of our work can befound at the following links:
Habitat program: http://www.coastalstudies.org/what-we-do/right-whales/vbhabstudies.htm Aerial program: http://www.coastalstudies.org/what-we-do/right-whales/aerialsur.htm

Application process:

Please submit your cover letter, resume, college transcripts (unofficial aresufficient), and the contact information for three references via email to scrockett@coastalstudies.org

The closing date for applications is November 20, 2008.

Ruth H. Leeney
Interim Director, Right Whale Aerial Survey Program
Provincetown Center for Coastal Studies
5 Holway Avenue MA 02657, USA
T: (+1)-808-205-5638 / (+1)-508-487-3623 ext. 109
E: rleeney@coastalstudies.org
www.namibiandolphinproject.blogspot.com