Volunteer Internship Announcement

We are taking a hiatus from the EW Project in 2008, please check back later this year for 2009.

Title:  Logistics and Research Internship

Primary Project:  Behavioral and Habitat Ecology of Manatees & Dolphins in Belize, Central America

Primary Funding Agency:  The Earthwatch Institute and the Hugh Parkey Foundation for Marine Awareness and Education

Principal Investigator:  Caryn Self-Sullivan, Ph. D. Candidate, Texas A&M University

Field Assistant for 2007:
Dorian Alvarez, Field Assistant, Former Intern, Belize

Location: 

Spanish Bay Conservation & Research Center, Spanish Lookout Caye, Drowned Cayes, Belize, Central America

Research Permits issued by: 

Conservation Division-Forestry Department, Belize

Project Details: 

Available Online at Earthwatch (http://www.earthwatch.org/expeditions/selfsullivan.html)

2007 Summer Internship Term:  14 May - 31 August 2007 (approximate dates)

May 16: Marine Science Quiz Bowl
June 3 - 15: EW Team 2
July 7 - 20: EW Team 3
August 4 - 17: EW Team 4
August 20 - 24: Marine Science for Primary and Secondary Teachers

Qualifications: 

Science oriented upper level undergraduate, graduate, or post-doc.  The successful applicant must speak English, be a strong swimmer, must be well organized and comfortable with coordinating logistics for groups of 12-25 people, must have some field experience, and must be comfortable working with volunteers and living under rustic/primitive conditions.  A positive "can do" attitude, love of interacting with an eclectic group of people, patience in dealing with both the public (volunteers) and the scientists, and high self-esteem and fun-loving nature will be extremely important to a successful field season. First aid, CPR, and snorkeling experience are of added value as is a background in biology, zoology, wildlife ecology, environmental or marine science, or conservation biology.

Accepting Applications Immediately
CLOSING DATE:  April 20th, 2007 - FIRM

Introduction:

Be prepared to work very hard in exchange for this opportunity to participate in a unique manatee field research project in Belize.  Our Logistics Interns have four principle responsibilities:  (1) coordinate, train, and interact with a diverse group of Earthwatch volunteers; (2) coordinate camp logistics, schedule and delegate responsibilities to volunteers; (3) oversee collection and reduction of field data (including, GPS data, acoustic recordings, and seagrass samples).  and (4) input data and expenses into database or delegate and oversee input (MS Access, MS Excel, MS Word). The intern will also lead snorkeling trips on the reef,  and ideally, deliver a lecture or lead a discussion once per week on a topic or issue related to this project. Examples might include:    Marine Protected Areas, Use-Preservation Paradox, Conservation, Biodiversity, Integrated Coastal Zone Management, Coral Reef Ecology, Mangrove Ecology, Seagrass Ecology, Marine Invertabrates, Tropical Fishes, Marine Mammals, Marine Ecosystem Management, Endangered Species, Marine Reptiles, etc., etc., etc.

Our study site is located in Belize, a former British colony surrounded by Latin American countries - the culture is truly unique. Our living conditions are rustic; we have limited solar power and collect rainwater in vats for washing and drinking. We spend considerable time in and on the water beneath a tropical sun. About 8 hours a day are spent on a small boat and another 6 hours are devoted to the "logistics of living" on a mangrove island. We have zero tolerance for illegal drugs, alcohol abuse, and intimate relationships between staff/interns and EW Volunteer(s) during the EW Expedition; in other words, if a staff member or intern meets his/her soul mate - s/he must refrain from acting on his/her feelings until after the end of the EW Expedition - it's only 2 weeks! Staff/interns who fail to follow Project Standards of Practice and all Earthwatch Policies will be removed from the project immediately at their own expense. This is not an easy internship... however, if you believe you are up to the challenge, it should be one of the most rewarding experiences of your young career! All applicants are required to communicate with previous interns (email [email protected] for contact info) and explore the following websites prior to submitting an application:

1. Earthwatch Expedition Details Download the Expedition Briefing PDF from this page: (http://www.earthwatch.org/expeditions/selfsullivan.html)
2. Co-PI: Marie-Lys's Field Notes 2005 (http://www.vanaqua.org/aquanews/field/earthwatchupdates.htm)
2a. Co-PI: Marie-Lys's Field Notes 2006 (http://www.vanaqua.org/aquanews/field/earthwatch2006.htm)
Links below this point are from EW Expeditions at the old fish camp on the west side of the caye; we moved to SBCRC in 2005.
3. Saving the sirens: 2003 Current Science editor Kirsten Weir
4. Previous Intern: Megan's Field Notes 2003 (http://www.sirenian.org/AquaNews2003/AquaNews.htm)
5. Photo Gallery by 2001 EW Volunteer (http://webpages.charter.net/jrees/manatees_in_belize_001.htm)
6. Travelogue by 2001 EW Volunteer (http://members.bellatlantic.net/~samg2/belize/index.html)
7. Species Brief based on Project (http://www.sirenian.org/SpeciesBrief.html)
8. Intro Poster to Project (http://www.sirenian.org/research99_1.html)
9. Understanding the PI (http://www.sirenian.org/Dream.html)
Additional information may be found by browsing Caryn's Homepage (http://www.sirenian.org/caryn.html#CARYN) and Sirenian International's Homepage (http://www.sirenian.org).

Camp Conditions: 

Spanish Bay Conservation & Research Center is situated on the east side of a ~186-acre twin mangrove island in the Drowned Cayes (see image above), which are located about 10 miles east of Belize City and 2 miles west of the Belize barrier reef (see image to left). If you are familiar with the Drowned Cayes area, you might know our island as Spanish Lookout Caye or Spanish Bay Caye and our research station as "Spanish Bay Resort". The Resort was purchased by the Hugh Parkey Foundation for Marine Awareness & Education in 2004. Our project base station migrated from the fish camp (Pink House) on the west side of Spanish Lookout Caye where we were housed for 4 years, to Spanish Bay in 2005 and we will be located here again for the 2007 Field Season."

Spanish Lookout Caye is privately owned in it's entirety; we will share the 186 acres with the staff, cruise ship day-guests, and other research/educational program participants, and 2 island dogs. We will live in a wood frame bunkhouse and have screens, showers, and toilet facilities. A separate building serves as our kitchen, research and social room. Our limited water (rainwater catchment vat) and electricity (solar + generator) must be conserved at all times. There is no nightlife on the island, other than that we make ourselves! We bring all our food and supplies by small boat from Belize City once a week. Fishing, kayaking, and snorkeling can be done right from our front yard; sunrises, sunsets, and moonsets are brilliant. The Conservation & Research Center is currently under major renovations, so the exact logists and accommodations cannot be described in detail at this time. Be prepared for primitive and you should be pleasantly surprised.

Compensation: 

This is a volunteer position and the intern must purchase their own airfare to/from Belize and cover any travel expenses incurred when not on Spanish Lookout Caye.  While at our camp, living expenses (room and board) will be provided.  The intern will have time to travel around Belize (at his/her own expense) during breaks listed above, if he or she desires.

To Apply: 

AFTER communicating with at least 2 previous interns and reviewing the recommended websites, submit (1) a cover letter indicating your interests, the term you are applying for, and the statement that you have read this announcement completely, visited the recommended websites, and communicated with a previous intern; (2) a CV or resume; and (3) three references. Each of your references should send a brief letter of recommendation that includes their name, institution or organization, telephone numbers, and email address. ALL SUBMISSIONS AND REFERENCE LETTERS SHOULD BE SUBMITTED BY EMAIL. WE ARE OFTEN TRAVELING OR IN THE FIELD AND MAYNOT RECEIVE YOUR APPLICATION OR LETTERS OF RECOMMENDATION IF THEY ARE SENT BY SNAIL MAIL.
Our 4 phase process to selecting an intern includes:
1. Email Caryn ([email protected]) to get contact information for previous interns; communicate with at least 2 previous interns.
2. Submit an application by email as described above.
3. If your application is selected for further consideration, we will send each of your references a questionnaire.
4. Upon receipt of answers to the questionnaire, IF we feel your strengths and weaknesses are a good match for ours, we will set up a telephone or personal interview.
Invitations for the internship will be made by email or phone at least 14 days prior to the start date (~April 30th). You must accept and commit to the internship or reject the internship within 2 days of the invitation. Commitment means that you have purchased your airfare!

Submit your application to:

Caryn Self-Sullivan
EMAIL: [email protected]

Acknowledgments: 

The Hugh Parkey Foundation for Marine Awareness & Education,Spanish Bay Conservation & Research Center, and the Earthwatch Institute provide financial support for our Logistics Internships. We are extremely grateful for their help in providing internship opportunities.