SUMMER 2005 INTERNSHIP OPPORTUNITIES

Lobster Ecology
Interested undergraduates and recent graduates are invited to apply for
summer internships in subtidal benthic ecology research. Internships are
available for all or part of mid-May through October 2005. We especially encourage students interested in pursuing a career in marine science, ecology, or fisheries.
Research during the summer of 2005 continues more than a decade of research on early life history and recruitment processes of the American lobster in New England. This is the third year a project supported by NSF that is collaboration between researchers at Bigelow Laboratory and San Diego State University. The aim of the research is to evaluate the interaction of larval settlement, habitat availability, and predation on New England-wide patterns of American lobster distribution and abundance. The research will be conducted in Maine, Massachusetts and Rhode Island. Interns will spend much of their time in the field, conducting underwater surveys and experimental manipulations to address the project objectives. Additionally, interns will be expected to assist with other ongoing research projects, as well as data entry and analysis.
Applicants must be SCUBA certified and provide their own equipment, except tanks. Divers can expect water temperatures ranging from 9-18C in the Gulf of Maine, and sometimes low visibility. Dry-suits are not required, but are highly recommended, as field days will regularly consist of multiple dives in all weather conditions. Prior experience with outboard motor boats, computer spreadsheets and statistical software is desirable, but not required. This is an intensive field-based research program with long hours and physically demanding work. Therefore, a commensurate level of physical fitness is expected.
Work will be staged from Bigelow Laboratory http://www.bigelow.org/ in West Boothbay Harbor, the University of Maine's Darling Marine Center in Walpole, and the University of Rhode Island’s Narragansett Bay Campus (http://www.gso.uri.edu). Interns are housed at the Darling Marine Center http://www.dmc.maine.edu/ or at URI where dormitory, kitchen, vessel, and diving facilities are available.
Interns are provided a living stipend and dormitory housing. The opportunity to earn 3 upper level undergraduate credits for the internship is also available.
Applications should include a completed questionnaire, resumé, academic transcripts (unofficial is acceptable), and two letters of recommendation. Questionnaires are available at www.bigelow.org. If you have any questions or problems, please contact Charlene Bergeron (see below).
Send all material by ground mail to:
Charlene Bergeron
Wahle Lab/ Lobster Internship
Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences
West Boothbay Harbor, Maine 04575
email: cbergeron@bigelow.org
tel: 207 633 9670
fax: 207 633 9641
Review of applications begins in April, 2005.