Start Date: May/01/2018
Description: Florida Atlantic University’s Avian Ecology Lab is seeking an avian ecology field intern to assist with a three-year study on wading birds, foraging habitat, and prey assemblages in Florida Bay and lower Florida Keys. The seasonal internship is from May 1st 2018 to July 31st 2018. Shared housing at field sites is provided. Airfare to Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport or Miami International Airport will be compensated up to $300.00.
Primary field duties include wading bird abundance surveys, aquatic fauna sampling, submerged aquatic vegetation surveys, wading bird behavioral surveys, handling nestling wading birds, and collecting diet samples. Lab duties include processing aquatic fauna specimens and data entry.
Field sites are accessed by only boat, thus field work will require boating, kayaking, and wading in shallow water. Field work will be conducted 4-6 days per week.
This position provides a unique opportunity for students and recent graduates to develop their field and lab skills in environmental science and avian ecology, while contributing to a research project linked to the restoration of the greater Everglades ecosystem and wading bird conservation.
Interns should expect to gain:
- Various field sampling techniques
- Avian and aquatic fauna identification skills
- Boating experience and maintenance
- Marine navigation skills
- Spatial data organization using ArcGIS
- Experience handling wild animals
Qualifications: Applicants should have, or are in the process of earning, a bachelor’s degree in biology, wildlife, fisheries, natural resources or related field. Applicants should be highly motivated, physically fit, able to work dawn to dusk in remote locations under harsh and unpredictable field conditions (heat, humidity, rain, choppy water, mosquitoes), and maintain a positive attitude. The ability to work without supervision at a high level of performance and efficiency is mandatory. Preference will be given to applicants with boating experience and wading bird identification skills.
To Apply: Applications should be submitted via email as a single PDF that contains (1) a letter of interest highlighting relevant experience, (2) a resume or CV, and (3) the names and contact information for at least 3 references. Please use the subject line “Avian Ecology Field Internship Application.” Review of applications will continue until the position is filled.
Send applications to Marisa Martinez (marisamartin2015@fau.edu). For more information about the Florida Atlantic University Avian Ecology Lab visit: http://www.science.fau.edu/biology/gawliklab.
