Southern Sea Otter Research Internships

 

The Sea Otter Research and Conservation (SORAC) program at the Monterey Bay Aquarium has near-term openings for undergraduate research interns to assist with field studies of the southern sea otter (Enhydra lutris nereis). SORAC program personnel work with academic and agency colleagues to study the behavior, ecology, and natural history of the southern sea otter, and the program needs to fill several research internships for fall 2007 and throughout 2008.

 

These research internships will provide college students and recent graduates with opportunities to track and monitor radio-tagged sea otters as part of ongoing research projects. Each internship session will offer different experiences in marine mammal science, including, but not limited to, conducting extensive data collection along the Monterey coastline (occasionally from boat or plane); participating in 6- or 12-hour activity budgets; entering data in computerized databases; attending surgical procedures and post-mortem examinations; responding to sea otter strandings; recovering sea otter carcasses; and assisting with sea otter population counts.

 

Internship applicants should have a background in biology, zoology or a related field, possess some knowledge of research methods and study design, and have facility with computers and computer applications. They should have an ability to work and communicate well with others, and they must bring an enthusiasm for working long days in field or lab settings. At the time of application, applicants must have completed their first year of college, must have the capability to relocate to the Monterey area for 3 to 4 months (i.e., a term, quarter, or semester), and have the flexibility to work at least 30 hours per week.

 

This is an unpaid internship, although research interns will receive certain benefits available to Monterey Bay Aquarium volunteers.

 

Please direct expressions of interest and questions regarding the internship to SORAC’s training and volunteer coordinator:

 

Debbie Keller

Monterey Bay Aquarium

886 Cannery Row

Monterey, CA 93940

P: 831-648-4866

F: 831-648-4989

E: dkeller@...

 

The mission of the Monterey Bay Aquarium, a non-profit public aquarium in Monterey, California, is to inspire conservation of the oceans.