The Bottlenose Dolphin Research Institute, a research institution dedicated since 2005 to the understanding and conservation of marine mammals and the marine environment in which they live, is now accepting applications for its Internship Program 2020.?

Our scientific research experience and commitment to research, education, and conservation make our center an important source of knowledge about marine biodiversity and the environment for scientists, undergraduate and postgraduate students, and the public. This training experience provides the opportunity for highly motivated individuals to work with and learn from a multidisciplinary team of marine mammal scientists, including internationally renowned investigators. We offer participants their first experience of a marine megafauna long-term project by involving them in the routine activities associated with different research projects. The position is located in O Grove (Galicia, NW Spain). The BDRI is a very international environment, and the everyday working language is English.

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION – An internship period at the BDRI offers an excellent opportunity for interested and motivated people to obtain field and laboratory experience in marine megafauna (cetaceans, marine birds, sharks, and otters) field research methodology and data analysis. With state-of-the-art facilities and equipment, participants are trained to get involved with multiple research projects involving a combination of boat-based surveys onboard research vessels, land-based observations, laboratory work (photo-identification, GIS, bioacoustics, diet analysis, diving behaviour, video analysis, database work, etc), and strandings (response, rescue, necropsy, and data collection). While you’ll benefit from specialized research training, you’ll need the drive to make the most of our research programs working side by side with the chief biologist (Dr. Bruno Diaz Lopez), and other experienced researchers (Severine Methion, Ph.D. candidate & marine ecologist and Oriol Giralt, Ph.D. 
candidate & marine biologist). The incredible diversity of cetaceans present in Galician waters allows the BDRI team to have several ongoing research projects focused on the study of the ecology and behaviour of cetaceans (bottlenose dolphins, harbour porpoises, Risso’s dolphins, common dolphins, striped dolphins, pilot whales, humpback whales, minke whales, sei whales, fin whales, and blue whales), marine birds, Eurasian otters, and sharks.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION – Internships are open to applicants 18 years of age or older. An academic background in biology, veterinary or natural science, coupled with motivation and interest in marine research make the most qualified individuals. Start and end dates are flexible depending on the needs of the institute and the intern?s availability, but the position requires a minimum of 30 days continuous commitment sometime between January 2020 through to November 2020. Approved applications are accepted on a first-come, first-serve basis. BDRI internships are not paid and this training experience requires a tuition fee which is used to off-set the cost of training, use of research equipment, facilities and research vessels, shared accommodation, and other expenses. The fee reflects the real-world costs and expenses that go into making the research program possible and the BDRI Internship Program worthwhile.

HOW TO APPLY – Interested candidates should submit an e-mail to info@thebdri.com, and we will provide you further information about the program. Approved applications are accepted on a first-come, first-serve basis. Positions are open until filled (maximum 15 vacancies).

For more information and details, please visit: <https://www.thebdri.com/internships.html>

Some of our ex-interns shared their BDRI internship experience at <https://youtu.be/UAuO2XasBnw>

For regular updates with photos and videos about our programs and research activities feel free to visit <https://www.facebook.com/thebdri/>

BDRI’s reputation for success rests solidly on its ability to carry out studies published in prestigious scientific journals.  Scientific articles published by the BDRI team in 2019 (for a full list of publications please visit: <https://www.thebdri.com/papers.html>):

– Methion S, Diaz Lopez B (2019) Individual foraging variation drives social organization in bottlenose dolphins. Behavioral Ecology. doi:10.1093/beheco/arz160
– Diaz Lopez B, Methion S (2019) Habitat drivers of endangered rorqual whales in a highly impacted upwelling region. Ecological Indicators 103, 610-616.
– Methion B, Diaz Lopez B (2019) First record of atypical pigmentation pattern in fin whale Balaenoptera physalus in the Atlantic Ocean. Diseases of Aquatic Organisms, 135:121-125.
– Diaz Lopez B, Methion S, Giralt Paradell O (2019) Living on the edge: Overlap between a marine predator?s habitat use and fisheries in the Northeast Atlantic waters (NW Spain). Progress in Oceanography 175, 115-223.
– Methion S, Diaz Lopez B (2019) Natural and anthropogenic drivers of foraging behaviour in bottlenose dolphins: influence of shellfish aquaculture. Aquatic Conservation Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems 29(6), 927-937.
– Giralt Paradell O, Diaz Lopez B, Methion S, (2019) Modelling common dolphin (Delphinus delphis) coastal distribution and habitat use: insights for conservation. Ocean and Coastal Management 179, 104836.
– Diaz Lopez B (2019) “Hot deals at sea”: responses of a top predator (Bottlenose dolphin, Tursiops truncatus) to human-induced changes in the coastal ecosystem. Behavioural Ecology 2(3), 291-300.

Bruno Diaz Lopez Ph.D
Chief biologist and Director
The Bottlenose Dolphin Research Institute BDRI
Avenida Beiramar 192, O Grove 36980, Pontevedra, Spain
www.thebdri.com
0034 684248552

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The Potomac-Chesapeake Dolphin Project (PCDP) is seeking two dedicated research assistants for the upcoming fall field season (September 3rd to October 23rd, 2019) in Heathsville, Virginia, USA. The PCDP was established in 2015 by Professor Janet Mann of Georgetown University. The PCDP’s mission is to better understand and protect the bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) in the Chesapeake Bay and greater western North Atlantic Ocean. Despite being the largest, and most populated estuary in the US, almost nothing is known about bottlenose dolphins in the Chesapeake. Yet, reports of dolphins in the area date back to the 1800s, with sightings as close as 13km from the US’ capitol, Washington, DC. This field season is part of an ongoing PhD project studying the populations dynamics, behavior, and historical presence of bottlenose dolphins in the Potomac River-Chesapeake Bay area.

Field work is demanding and requires long hours both on and off the water. There is no guarantee of seeing dolphins on a daily basis given their seasonal presence. However, when dolphins are sighted, there can be well over 100 in a group and spending time with them is incredibly fun and rewarding. Field assistants will gain valuable research experience. We particularly encourage those interested in pursuing graduate school in marine mammalogy to apply.

Timeframe:
~2 months

Field site:
Heathsville, Virginia, USA.

Heathsville is approximately 200km south east of Washington, D.C. in the Northern Neck of Virginia. Our field site is located where the Potomac River meets the Chesapeake Bay. Even though Heathsville is in relatively close proximity to DC, Heathsville is remote. We do have a fieldhouse with electricity, water, limited cell phone service, and limited internet. Housing will be provided, and the research team will share cooking and cleaning responsibilities in a communal kitchen. We eat a predominantly vegetarian diet.

Job responsibilities:

Research assistants will help collect transect and behavioral surveys on bottlenose dolphins. Boat work is dependent on weather, but even on windy days we need to be ready to pack up and quickly get out on the water if the wind drops. Days on the water can be consecutive, long, and tiring in variable environmental conditions (often very hot and humid conditions). Days on land require extensive, and tedious, data entry and processing.

Most of your time will be spent:

• Searching for and spotting dolphins
• Driving the boat
• Scribing data during surveys
• Entering transect surveys and coding photographs on the computer
• Doing basic maintenance and equipment prep and cleaning

Qualifications:
The ideal candidate will be a recent graduate with a science background and a genuine interest in marine mammal science and behavior. This position is well suited for recent graduates of marine biology, animal behavior, zoology, ecology, or similar fields looking to gain additional analytical and in-field experience. Applicants must be able to work closely with a small team (3 people). We not only work together, but also live, cook, and eat together, so being mature and a strong team player is critical.

The candidate must:

• Possess basic computer skills
• Be detail oriented, flexible, and patient
• Possess excellent verbal and communication skills
• Work well both independently and in a team
• Be fluent in English
• Have prior research experience (preferably fieldwork)
• Be comfortable on a small boat
• Be prepared to work long, consecutive days, including weekends

The most essential qualifications are that you are flexible, conscientious, and hard-working, and are excited about the research.

Salary/funding:

This is an unpaid, volunteer position. However, all living expenses (housing, food, and internet) will be fully covered by the project. If you are unable to pay for domestic travel to and from the field site due to any student loans, or other moderate monthly expenses, that could prevent you from accepting this position, please apply anyway. If you are selected, we may be able to use other sources of funding to cover those expenses so that you can take the job. We particularly want to encourage candidates from groups that are underrepresented in STEM fields to apply.

If interested please email Ann-Marie Jacoby at amj58@duke.edu with the subject line Research Assistant Last_Name. Application review will begin immediately, and candidates will be evaluated until the position is filled.

In the email, please include:

1. A cover letter describing your research interests, the skills and strengths that you will bring to the position, and what you hope to gain from the project and apply to your career. Please list the full range of your skills, both practical (boat handling, photography, etc.) and academic (statistics, computer programming, etc.).
2. CV
3. A copy of your unofficial transcript
4. Email contacts for 2 references

Oceanic Observatory of Madeira (OOM/ARDITI) is currently opening INTERNSHIPS in Madeira Island (Portugal)

The Oceanic Observatory of Madeira (OOM) is a research unit within the Regional Agency for the Development of Research, Technology and Innovation (ARDITI), located in Madeira Island, Portugal. OOM seeks to become a centre of excellence dedicated to research and permanent monitoring of the ocean. This initiative brings together a multidisciplinary scientific community, joining several institutions with the aim of promoting cooperation and resource optimization. http://oom.arditi.pt

*OOM/ARDITI is looking for interns to help with our marine mammal research project (CETUS project) based in Madeira Island, Portugal.*

We are currently filling positions for September – October and a position for November – December 2019.  Priority will be given to those interns who are available both periods.

*Internship Details:*
In the Madeira Archipelago, located in Macaronesia (NE Atlantic), 29 species of cetaceans have been recorded. There is a daily ferry boat that conducts trips between the 2 main islands of the archipelago, Madeira and Porto Santo. Interns will be onboard the ferry boat and will be enrolled in data collection through visual surveys 3 days per week. Interns must cover all their accommodation, travel and food expenses. These positions are unpaid but we encourage candidates to seek grants where we can post as host institution. To cover for logistic expenses, there is a monthly fee of 75eur, paid fully upon arrival. Non-European candidates must cover their own insurance expenses.

*Internship description:*
– Training on monitoring protocol and cetacean identification;
– Sea surveys Madeira-Porto Santo;
– Educational activities in local schools or to the general public (when
possible);
– Free time to visit Madeira and Porto Santo;
– Accident insurance.

Successful applicants should possess or be enrolled in a BS or MS course in biology or related, be reliable, dedicated, adaptable and patient, as this work is highly weather dependent and requires consecutive days of work at sea. Interns should be independent and proactive. If you are an undergraduate or graduate student interested in pursuing a career in marine mammal research, this is an excellent opportunity to learn and gain experience at sea.

*Applications will be accepted until the postions are filled*.

If you are interested in interning with OOM/ARDITI, please send a CV and a
letter of interest to anja.badenas@mare-centre.pt .