Volunteering: Manatees in Florida!

Manatee Tracking Project Research Intern or Volunteer

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission's (FWC) Marine Mammal Research Group is looking for one motivated intern or volunteer to serve for the upcoming winter-spring session in St. Petersburg, FL.

Position description:

The intern's primary responsibility is to assist researchers in the Manatee Behavioral Ecology and Movements Program with tracking manatees along the East Coast of Florida by following tagged individuals from land and small boats to record behavioral observations. The principle aims of this study are to characterize manatee use of warm-water refugia and essential winter foraging habitat using state-of-the-art satellite-linked GPS technology.

Other duties include telemetry equipment maintenance, data entry, miscellaneous office tasks, and public outreach as needed.

Interns are expected to work a minimum of 3 days a week. Hours are generally Monday-Friday, 8am-5pm, but some evening and weekend hours may be required. Applicants should understand that this job requires them to be wet, dirty and outdoors in all weather conditions. This position is unpaid, housing is not provided and interns must provide their own transportation to and from the office.

Lodging and transportation are provided while at the field site. The intern will have the opportunity to participate in manatee captures, currently scheduled for mid-December. Field work is expected to last through March, followed by work on equipment and data in the lab. Training will be provided in operating small watercraft, radio-tracking, manatee behavioral observations, and in mapping and interpreting Argos and GPS satellite telemetry data. Opportunities to assist with other manatee research projects may be provided dependent upon the candidate's interests and abilities.

Qualifications:

- Must be college junior or senior for internship credit; volunteers do not need to meet this qualification

- Must have basic computer proficiency

- Some field research experience with animals preferred

- Should be comfortable speaking to the public while in the field

- Ability to trailer and operate watercraft up to 22' in length is desired, but training will be provided

- Experience with radio telemetry tracking gear is desirable, but training will be provided

- Must be able to swim

- Preference given to applicants who possess a valid US driver's license

Application Process:

We are currently accepting applications for the winter 2009-spring 2010 session (December 2009- May 2010). Internships, which ideally last three to four months, require a minimum ten-week commitment. Starting and ending dates are flexible. Please indicate in your cover letter the position for which you are applying. Please send an electronic or hard copy of your resume with your cover letter, college transcripts (unofficial are sufficient if not applying for internship credit), a list of three references, and contact information to the following address. Electronic submissions are preferred.


TO APPLY:
Robin Allen
Internship Coordinator
Fish and Wildlife Research Institute
100 Eighth Avenue SE
St. Petersburg, FL 33701-3095
Interns@MyFWC.com

Check out our website at http://research.myfwc.com