Marine Mammal Animal Care Internship (Indianapolis Zoo)

The Indianapolis Zoo’s Internship Program offers a unique opportunity for current college students to become actively involved in the Zoo’s conservation, research, education, and recreation efforts. Interns can enhance their knowledge and experience in various animal care and administrative roles. 

Zoo Internships are open to current college students – who are at least at entering their sophomore year – enrolled in a four-year degree program. Interns serve 20-40 hours per week for 12 consecutive weeks. Positions are experience-based and are therefore unpaid. The Zoo can provide information to assist with your housing and transportation search.

Marine Mammal Animal Care
Working with one of the most diverse marine mammal collections in the U.S., this internship is ideal for individuals wishing to learn more about proper husbandry for marine mammals. Interns in these areas may encounter Atlantic bottlenose dolphins, California sea lions and Pacific walrus.

Duties and Responsibilities:

-Support the Zoo’s mission of empowering people and communities, both locally and globally, to advance animal conservation.

-Participate in weekly Trainer Lecture Series, complete required quizzes and comprehensive final examination.

-Perform diet preparation, cleaning and occasional feeding of animals under the supervision of staff.

-Perform maintenance of exhibits, back-up areas and food preparation areas.

-May observe and assist with daily inspection of animals and exhibits to forecast potential health, security problems and exhibit needs.

-May observe and assist training staff with the treatment of animals for medical purposes.

-May observe and assist training staff in the collection and transfer of animals.

-May observe and report equipment and maintenance needs.

-May assist staff in training demonstrations.

-Under the supervision of staff, performs record keeping, including food and medication sheets, as well as a concise daily log as needed.

-May assist staff with the enrichment of animals. 

-Works with other Zoo departments as needed.

-Performs related duties as required.

To apply, please submit the Spring Session Application form, along with a cover letter, resume, two letters of recommendation and a current (official or unofficial) transcript; November 10 is the deadline to apply. Please visit our website at https://www.indianapoliszoo.com/jobs-volunteer/internships/ for more information.

The Indianapolis Zoo empowers people and communities, both locally and globally, to advance animal conservation. The Zoo is a world-renowned facility and the first to be accredited as a zoo, an aquarium and a botanical garden by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums and the American Association of Museums. Home to nearly 1,600 animals and 23,000 plants, including many threatened and endangered species, the Indianapolis Zoo is the largest zoo in the United States that receives no direct tax support.

Experience Required

Entry-level

How to Apply

Please visit our website at https://www.indianapoliszoo.com/jobs-volunteer/internships/ to apply.

Indianapolis Zoo
1200 West Washington Street
Indianapolis, IN 46221
Phone: 317-630-2001
Fax: 317-630-2031

Senior Director of Development (Pacific Marine Mammal Center)

Sterling Search Inc. has been exclusively retained to recruit for the new Senior Director of Development (SDoD) for Pacific Marine Mammal Center (PMMC).

MISSION

The Pacific Marine Mammal Center Rescues, Rehabilitates and Releases Marine Mammals And Inspires Ocean Stewardship Through Research, Education and Collaboration. Pacific Marine Mammal Center was the first marine mammal rehabilitation facility in California and was established prior to the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972.  They now share the responsibility for marine mammal rehabilitation with six other centers along the California’s coastline. PMMC is very proud to be a leader in the field.

POSITION DESCRIPTION

Under the direction of the Chief Executive Officer and working with the Board of Directors, expand and diversify PMMC’s funding to identify new donors, upgrade current donors, and increase philanthropic revenues.

  • Develop and implement a comprehensive fundraising program for PMMC.
  • Support and encourage the Board of Directors and Development Committee in their Development responsibilities. Support the CEO and Development Chair in Board Development.
  • Engage, motivate and align volunteer leadership with prospects.  Serve as a resource for cultivation and stewardship efforts and track relationship progress in database.
  • Develop and demonstrate strategies for prospecting, cultivating and stewarding a portfolio of individual, foundation and corporate donors (i.e. five, six and seven figure donations) as well as planned gifts to ensure the highest engagement and participation while increasing annual gift levels of giving.
  • Responsible for fundraising efforts for the Campaign and other programs as assigned.
  • Work collaboratively on PMMC’S annual gala by taking a lead role on gaining new support. The logistics will be directed by PMMC’s Events Coordinator.
  • Prepare proposals for prospects with appropriate gift strategies.
  • Lead team meetings and provide regular updates to the CEO and board of directors.
  • Ensure accuracy of donor records, prospect lists, donor acknowledgements and stewardship of assigned and prospective donors.
  • Ensure compliance with all relevant regulations and laws, maintain accountability standards to donors, and ensure compliance with code of ethical principles and standards of professional conduct for fundraising executives.
  • Execute all other reasonable duties as assigned by the CEO.

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE AND QUALIFICATIONS

We are seeking candidates offering the following qualifications:

  • Passion, imagination, vision, leadership, and integrity.
  • A demonstrated ability to plan and operate strategically, to build public support, to develop and strengthen fundraising infrastructure, to inspire staff, to develop strong working relationships with Boards of Directors, and to develop effective fundraising programs.
  • A minimum of five years of major-gift fundraising experience including direct stewardship of Boards of Directors.
  • Demonstrated knowledge of local funding sources, strong relationships with donors, funders and community leaders.
  • Significant experience in and a successful track record of growing an annual fund and securing new and increased major gifts.
  • A strategic approach to development, with significant experience in cultivating and managing donors.
  • A record of quantifiable success in donor segmentation, research, and cultivation.
  • Exceptional management, organizational, and financial skills.
  • Demonstrated ability to plan, set goals and objectives, organize, and implement to completion.
  • A strong interpersonal and communication skill set and demonstrated ability to work effectively with and gain the respect and support of varied and changing constituencies including staff, Board members, existing and potential donors, volunteers, and other key stakeholders.
  • A track record as an effective communicator, skilled at writing and public speaking; adept at writing proposals, solicitation letters, donor correspondence, and other types of materials to enhance fundraising.
  • Ability to juggle many responsibilities at once, and to operate both independently and with the flexibility to be part of a team.
  • Computer literate:  Working knowledge of Word, PowerPoint, and Excel, and experience with fundraising database software.
  • Bachelor’s degree required.

The ideal candidate will demonstrate the following capabilities:

  • Commitment to the mission and work of the PMMC with the credibility and persuasiveness to secure support from others
  • An organized individual with strong creative and conceptual skills
  • A doer who functions effectively without being autocratic or political; must be a team player who is inclusive, flexible, energetic and fair minded
  • A decisive and resourceful individual who will accept responsibility and take charge of results, as well as work successfully with limited resources
  • A self-starter who is confident enough to express opinions, to forge ahead when appropriate and hold back when necessary, with a sensitivity to the feelings and opinions of others
  • An energetic person who is emotionally mature and dependable; a collegial individual

A competitive compensation package will be offered to attract an outstanding candidate.

How to Apply

Please send resumes to: Nicole Seipel (310) 948-2535 Sterling Search, Inc. nicole@sterlingsearchinc.com To apply: https://jobs.crelate.com/portal/sterlingsearchinc/job/8znqnbs5j4neufodp9sk1wztph Direct all correspondence emails and telephone calls to Sterling Search, Inc. Any resumes sent or telephone calls made to PMMC will be redirected to Sterling Search, Inc.

Pacific Marine Mammal Center
Laguna Beach, CA

Advanced Marine Mammal Training (Sea Lions) Intern (Zoo)

The Sea Lion Department is seeking applicants for 2019 internship positions in advanced marine mammal training and care.

Internship Overview:

The Advanced Sea Lion Internship at Audubon Zoo in New Orleans, Louisiana is designed for college students or recent college graduates who are interested in a career in marine mammal training. Our interns work side-by-side with experienced marine mammal trainers and educators. Interns will be exposed to all aspects of the daily care and training of California sea lions. An advanced intern will spend the first half of their internship completing the duties of the basic internship. Once the intern has successfully completed all the requirements of the basic internship, they will then move into their role as an advanced intern. The advanced internship focuses on the intern first understanding the concepts of operant conditioning and then working to successfully apply those concepts in the hands-on training of California sea lions.

Responsibilities:

  • Assist in diet preparation, exhibit maintenance, cleaning, water quality testing, and other section responsibilities.
  • Assist trainers in training and husbandry sessions.
  • Implement enrichment for sea lions and design original enrichment.
  • Complete weekly study guides and quizzes.
  • Participate in lecture series given by the training staff.
  • Speak on microphone during daily educational presentations in the Sea Lion Theater.
  • Work alongside an experienced trainer to train a new behavior
  • Assist in the training of basic interns and act as a leader
  • Complete a research project of  your own choosing
  • Construct original enrichment items
  • Learn to ask animal behaviors in a presentation setting
  • Develop an original project that will be used in the education of basic interns in the future
  • Develop ability to properly keep training, enrichment, and diet records

Requirements:

  • Must be at least 18 years old.
  • Must have successfully completed one semester of college.
  • Must have one previous animal internship focused on operant conditioning.
  • Must be able to afford housing, food, and transportation to and from the zoo as this is a full time (40 hours per week) unpaid internship.
  • Must be available for the full 28 week internship period.
  • Must be able to lift 50 pounds and work in all weather environments (extreme heat and humidity, rain, and freezing temperatures).
  • Must provide a current negative TB test prior to start date.
  • Must be able to acquire housing on own.
  • Must be a self-motivated, upbeat, and hardworking individual.

Salary

Unpaid

How to Apply

Send cover letter and one-page resume, and two references via e-mail to sealions@auduboninstitute.org. Please write “Advanced Internship” in the subject line and please indicate which internship term you are applying for. In the event their preferred placement has been filled, qualified applicants may be referred to other Audubon departments. By submitting application materials, the candidate agrees to release their information to our internship staff.

Audubon Nature Institute
6500 Magazine St.
New Orleans, LA 70118

Marine Mammal Training (Sea Otters) Intern (Aquarium)

The Audubon Aquarium of the Americas is looking for a motivated, hardworking individual to participate in our Marine Mammal Training Internship. We are looking for candidates who are interested in gaining experience working in the marine mammal training field. The intern will work directly with the animal training staff and are exposed to all aspects of the daily care and training of our collection of 0.2 Southern sea otters, Enhydra lutris nereis. Heavy emphasis is placed on essential daily tasks such as food preparation, daily cleaning/facility maintenance, enrichment, and gaining a basic understanding of the principles of training. Interns shadow trainers and learn through observation about marine mammal husbandry and operant conditioning techniques. As interns gain experience, they may have the opportunity to assist with basic behavioral maintenance. (Please note: all contact with animals is contingent upon trainer approval and intern performance)

Essential responsibilities include but are not limited to: food preparation, exhibit maintenance, daily and weekly cleaning tasks, public presentations, daily enrichment, and daily animal observations. Interns will also participate in required reading and coordinating worksheets.

Requirements:

  • Must commit to the 14 week internship semester
  • Must commit to a schedule of 24 hours per week, working 7:30am-3:30pm Thursdays – Sundays
  • Candidates must have completed at least two years of undergraduate education in a Biology or Psychology related field
  • Able to lift 50 lbs and climb ladders/stairs without assistance
  • May be asked to work holidays
  • Must pass a background check and may be subject to random drug testing
  • Must have strong communication skills and be comfortable engaging a diverse audience.
  • This is a non-paid internship, interns are responsible for all housing, transportation and living expenses.

Salary

Unpaid

How to Apply

Please send cover letter and resumes to: Kristine Grzenda Curator, Audubon Aquarium of the Americas Husbandry Department 1 Canal Street New Orleans, LA, 70130 or email to kgrzenda@auduboninstitute.org with the subject “Sea Otter Internship” Dates of Position: Spring, February- May Summer, May- August Fall, August- November Winter, November- February In the event their preferred placement has been filled, qualified applicants may be referred to other Audubon departments. By submitting application materials, the candidate agrees to release their information to our internship staff.

Audubon Nature Institute
6500 Magazine St.
New Orleans, LA 70118

Animal Hospital Leader (SeaWorld San Antonio)

The Hospital Leader is responsible for the efficient and successful functionality of the veterinary hospital, diagnostic lab, and necropsy. This role will oversee all daily hospital operations and supply/equipment management.

Basic Requirements:
• Bachelor’s Degree in science or management field required.
• Five years of experience in a veterinary or clinical laboratory field required.
• Must have 3 years of experience in a supervisory position demonstrating superior leadership and teamwork skills.
• Professional certification as an ASCP Certified Medical Technologist, or Certified Veterinary Technician, or Certified Veterinary Practice Manager is preferred.
• AZA or Affiliate accredited zoo experience preferred.
• Computer skills including Microsoft Office applications. Previous experience with SAP and TRACKS preferred. 
• Must have a working knowledge of the English language with excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Current ambassadors applying should not have any significant performance deficiencies within a six month period. 
• Must be able to lift, carry, push, pull up to 50 lbs. and on occasion, stand, walk, and work for prolonged periods of time in extreme weather conditions.
• Must be willing to work a flexible schedule to include weekdays, weekends, evenings, overnights and holidays.
• Must be willing to comply with and ensure ambassadors comply with all SEA grooming guidelines and employment standards. 
• Must be able to successfully complete all legal, company and department training requirements to include but not limited to passing required tests and certifications within established timelines. 

Duties and Responsibilities: 
• Establishes and maintains a positive atmosphere which ensures the highest level of ambassador performance and guest service while enforcing and complying with safety procedures and guidelines.
• Consistently practices safe work habits including, but not limited to the use of personal protective equipment, lifting and reporting of unsafe situations.
• Encourage and demonstrate confidentiality and professional communication internally and with all departments that interact with the Zoological department
• Hire, supervise, train, and coach ambassadors while ensuring proper training and development in accordance with SEA guidelines.
• Provide excellent service to guests and ambassadors-be accountable for superior results by enthusiastically focusing on quality and continuous improvement.
• Assist with development and implantation of area and department goals.
• Conduct ambassador performance reviews and promote ambassador recognition. 
• Maintain open and continuous lines of communication with Zoological leaders. 
• Maintain inventory and conduct all departmental purchasing. 
• Ensure maintenance of equipment and supply need. 
• Plan and develop department’s annual budget in coordination with the Senior Leader of Zoological Operations. 
• Oversee and update area standard operating procedures.

Salary Commensurate with Experience

How to Apply:

Apply online at: careers.seaworldparks.com

SeaWorld San Antonio
10500 Sea World Drive
San Antonio, TX 78251

Population Ecologist (Institute for Marine Mammal Studies)

Population Ecologist

The Institute for Marine Mammal Studies (IMMS) is located in Gulfport, MS and was established in 1984 for the purposes of studying marine mammals in the northern Gulf of Mexico. IMMS is also the only rehabilitation facility for marine mammals and sea turtles in Mississippi.

The Population Ecologist will be responsible for overseeing the daily aspects of the IMMS bottlenose dolphin Photo ID program, including boat trips, data analysis and evaluation, and the preparation of manuscripts for publication in peer-reviewed journals. Applicants must have experience in boat-based marine mammal photo-ID and behavioral observations. Candidates should be familiar with Darwin and FinBase programs as well as ArcGIS. Applicant should be legally able to work in the United States and fluent in written and spoken English.

Primary Duties and Responsibilities:

  • Conduct regular photo-identification surveys of the Mississippi Sound and surrounding areas, examining the population structure and ecology of the Mississippi Sound, Lake Borgne, Bay Boudreau bottlenose dolphin BSE stock
  • Develop new lines of inquiry, building upon core research activities at IMMS
  • Assist in project oversight and reporting
  • Management of Darwin and FinBase databases
  • Prepare grant/permit applications and reports as needed
  • Assist with marine mammal and sea turtle rescue, rehabilitation, and release as needed
  • Assist in the post-release monitoring of sea turtles and marine mammals through use of satellite tags
  • Prepare manuscripts for publication in peer-reviewed journals using new and existing data sets
  • As needed, assist in lab-based marine mammal and sea turtle necropsies as well as field necropsies of marine mammals.

Desired Qualifications:

  • PhD in Ecology, Marine Biology, Biology, or related field
  • Ability to manage large databases such as FinBase (experience with Access a plus)
  • Experience with ArcGIS and R
  • Experience with satellite telemetry
  • Knowledge of, and experience maintaining and applying for, federal and state permits
  • Experience supervising staff/interns in the field and office settings
  • Familiarity with the reporting process for marine mammal and sea turtle strandings
  • Experience with marine mammal necropsies
  • Experience assisting in veterinary procedures for marine mammals and sea turtles
  • Experience with marine mammal and sea turtle rehabilitation

To Apply:

In order to apply please send your CV, cover letter, 1-2 copies of recently published works, and contact information for 3 references to moby@imms.org. Review of applications will begin immediately and will continue until the position is filled. Start date is flexible, and salary is commensurate with experience.

Stranding Coordinator (Institute for Marine Mammal Studies)

Stranding Coordinator

The Institute for Marine Mammal Studies (IMMS) is located in Gulfport, MS and was established in 1984 for the purposes of studying marine mammals in the northern Gulf of Mexico. IMMS is also the only rehabilitation facility for marine mammals and sea turtles in Mississippi.

The Stranding Coordinator will be responsible for overseeing the daily aspects of the Marine Mammal and Sea Turtle stranding department at IMMS including logistical support for the veterinary department, daily husbandry for marine mammals and sea turtles in rehabilitation, reporting to government agencies, assisting with permit applications and reports as requested, assisting with post-release monitoring of marine mammals and sea turtles through satellite telemetry, assisting in lab necropsies of dolphins and sea turtles, as well as conducting marine mammal field necropsies. The stranding coordinator will also oversee the IMMS 24-hour stranding hotline and oversee the training of volunteers and staff regarding marine mammal and sea turtle response.

Primary Duties and Responsibilities:

  • Assist in regular veterinary exams for marine mammals and sea turtles in rehabilitation
  • Conduct field necropsies on marine mammals
  • Coordinate the response for live and dead strandings along the Mississippi Gulf Coast and in Mississippi territorial waters
  • Coordinate with the Sea Turtle Stranding and Salvage Network as well as the Marine Mammal Stranding Network to coordinate response.
  • Assist in the tagging (PIT, Flipper, Satellite) of marine mammals and sea turtles prior to release
  • Prepare grant/permit applications and reports as needed
  • Oversee the maintenance of water quality for marine mammals and sea turtles in rehabilitation

Desired Qualifications:

  • MS or PhD in Ecology, Marine Biology, or related field
  • Experience with ArcGIS, and R
  • Experience with GulfMAP a plus, but not required
  • Experience supervising staff/interns in the field and office settings
  • Familiarity with the reporting process for marine mammal and sea turtle strandings
  • Experience with marine mammal necropsies
  • Experience assisting in veterinary procedures for marine mammals and sea turtles
  • Experience with marine mammal and sea turtle rehabilitation

To Apply:

  • In order to apply please send your CV, cover letter, 1-2 copies of recently published works, and contact information for 3 references to moby@imms.org. Review of applications will begin immediately and will continue until the position is filled. Start date is flexibly, and salary is commensurate with experience.
  • https://imms.org/employment/

Internship – Bottlenose Dolphin Research Institute

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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PHD SCHOLARSHIP OPPORTUNITY (Belugas and Baleen Whales in Canadian Waters)

*PHD SCHOLARSHIP OPPORTUNITY*

*Agent-based modeling of recreational boating in the St. Lawrence Estuary and the Saguenay River (Quebec, Canada) to mitigate their impacts on belugas and baleen whales*

Goal: This project aims at developing a spatially explicit agent-based model of recreational boating in the St. Lawrence Estuary and the Saguenay River (Quebec, Canada) to mitigate impacts such as underwater noise,
collision, and disturbance on the St. Lawrence Estuary beluga and baleen whales populations.

Description: The St. Lawrence Estuary beluga population is currently listed as an endangered species under the Species At Risk Act (Canada) and the Act Respecting Threatened and Vulnerable Species (Quebec). Other
endangered species frequently observed in the St. Lawrence Estuary include the North Atlantic blue and fin whales. Several threats to the recovery of these whale species are coming from the navigation activities occurring in
the St. Lawrence Estuary and the Saguenay River such as animal exposure to underwater noise emitted by surrounding boats, disturbance/harassment, and collisions. Such navigation activities as maritime shipping, ferries and whale-watching excursions are well-documented largely due to AIS data. However, recreational boating in the summer habitat of the St. Lawrence Estuary Beluga is poorly documented with scarce data available. Moreover,
no methodology has been proposed so far to monitor recreational boating activities and estimate their impacts on whales.

This project will first focus on making a quantitative portrait of recreational boating in the summer habitat of the St. Lawrence Estuary beluga population (thereafter referred to as beluga). This portrait will include a characterization of the fleet, spatial distribution, temporal variability, along with a description of the spatiotemporal dynamics of
boater excursions. This project will also allow to identify the main archetypes of recreational boaters along with their decision-making models that will be implemented in an agent-based model. The agent-based model will be used to assess the cumulative impacts of recreational boating on whales in the St. Lawrence Estuary and the Saguenay River and propose mitigation options. The model will also allow to project the impacts of boaters’ eco-friendly behaviors on whales.

Throughout this project, the PhD student will propose and conduct several data campaigns using different qualitative and quantitative methods to collect data on various objects at different scales (e.g. remote sensing,
aerial surveys, GPS tracks, semi-supervised interviews, Q-methodology, questionnaires). First, the student will develop a methodology and deploy it to characterize the fleet of recreational boats along with the
spatiotemporal dynamics of their excursions throughout the summer habitat of beluga whales. Thereafter, the student will propose and implement a method to characterize the behavior and the decision-making process of
recreational boaters at sea in order to define archetypes. For each archetype of recreational boater, the student will thus propose a conceptual model of behaviors and decisions including their interactions with whales. The results of these inquiries will be implemented into a spatially explicit agent-based model. The student will then elaborate a
validation procedure of the agent-based model of boaters? behaviors. Finally, the validated model of recreational boaters will be integrated into a spatiotemporal simulator of boat-whale interactions in the Saguenay
River and the St. Lawrence Estuary. This simulator will be used to assess the relative contribution of each navigation component to the overall impacts on the St. Lawrence whales and to test the effectiveness of various
mitigation scenarios.

The ideal candidate will show dynamism, motivation, determination, intellectual curiosity and creativity, ability to work independently and as part of a team, along with a great sense of initiative. He/She will need to travel regularly to the Saguenay and the St. Lawrence Estuary region for data collection. He/She will be encouraged and supported to travel for scientific communications (conferences, workshops), meetings with partners and stakeholders. He/She will be part of a dynamic multidisciplinary research team and will benefit from support for different parts of his/her
project. The project being funded by the Government of Quebec, the selected candidate will be required to contribute to the production of deliverables for various ministries.

Requirements: The candidate must possess a Master degree in Geography, Environmental Sciences or any discipline relevant to the project. He/She must demonstrate relevant experience in modeling, statistics, and in the
use of qualitative methods (e.g. interviews). The candidate must demonstrate proficiency in scientific communication (oral and written) to experts and laypeople, including writing scientific articles and conducting
literature reviews, both in French and English. The candidate must demonstrate a dedication to excellence supported by academic records making him/her eligible to provincial and national scholarship competitions.

Experience in the following fields will be considered to be assets:
– GIS, spatial analysis, and spatial statistics;
– Agent-based modeling;
– Cognitive psychology and study of human decision-making processes;
– Object-oriented programming;
– Software and programming language: R, QGIS, Java, Python.

Start date: January 2020
Scholarship: 25 000$/yr for 3 years
Location: Ripon (Quebec, Canada)
Director: Prof. Jerome Dupras (UQO-ISFORT)
Co-director: Prof. Clement Chion (UQO-ISFORT)

Collaborators: Group for Research and Education on Marine Mammals (GREMM), University of Victoria, Parks Canada, Transport Canada, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Réseau d’observation de mammifères marins.

Application:

Email your academic CV (long form), application letter (detailing your skills and assets related to the project requirements), official academic transcripts (Bachelor and Master), and the name and contact
information of 3 academic references to Pr. Clement Chion (clementchion@gmail.com; clement.chion@uqo.ca), Pr. Jerome Dupras (jerome.dupras@uqo.ca), and Robert Michaud (rmichaud@gremm.org);

Deadline: September 15th 2019, or until the position is filled.

Potomac-Chesapeake Dolphin Project Research Assistants

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