Research Internship Announcement for Belizean Nationals ONLY

Title:  Field Research Internship

Objective:  To provide marine science field experience to a Belizean at the tertiary level or higher

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:  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:  2 June - 24 August 2007 (approximate dates)

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

Duties:

• Assist scientist(s) with data collection (e.g., manatee survey and sighting data, photo-id data, acoustical data, behavioral data, habitat data, seagrass sampling)
• Assist with data entry into field computer
• Interact with and help train Earthwatch volunteers (mostly from the USA, Australia, Japan, and Europe)
• Assist with equipment preparation and clean up
• Assist with general camp maintenance
• Assist with meal preparation and clean up
• Share your local knowledge of Belize with EW Volunteers and Researchers

Obligations (must be completed for Stipend to be Paid):

• Participate Fully in Duties listed Above
• Maintain a Daily Field Journal
• Read Selected Scientific Literature from our Library on manatees in Belize and other manatees & dugongs around the world
• Submit a thesis based on your readings and your experience to the Manatees in Belize project. Copes of this thesis will be given to the Coastal Zone Management Institute, and to the Conservation Division of the Forest Department
• Fulfill any additional requirements for your school/teacher/supervisor

Compensation and Expenses:

• A small stipend ($200BZ per EW Team) is provided by the Project for the full internship position and completion of obligations as listed above.
• Transportation to Spanish Bay Marine Research Field Station from rendezvous site in Belize City is provided by the Project. Interns are responsible for their own transportation to the rendezvous site.
• Room and board expenses will be covered while at the Research Station (bunk bed and 3 meals per day - bring your own linen and toiletries - successful applicants will receive complete field briefing).

Qualifications: 

The successful applicant will be one who demonstrates an enthusiastic interest in Marine Science and/or Conservation of Belize's Marine Resources, must be a good swimmer with snorkeling experience (or a good swimmer with a willingness to learn to snorkel), must be prepared to spend long days (8 hours per day) on a small boat followed by 4-6 hours of additional work and study, and to live in rustic housing on a mangrove island for 14 days straight, and must be willing to interact with diverse people from different cultures. This internship is limited to Belizean applicants only. USE OF ILLEGAL SUBSTANCES, ALCOHOL ABUSE, SEXUAL HARASSMENT, INTIMATE RELATIONS WITH OTHER STAFF AND/OR EARTHWATCH VOLUNTEERS WILL NOT BE TOLERATED. RESEARCHERS RESERVE THE RIGHT TO TERMINATE THE INTERNSHIP AND RETURN THE INTERN TO THE RENDEZVOUS SITE FOR MISCONDUCT.

Application: 

Our selection process is based on letters of reference, Curriculum Vitae (or Resume), and a short personal essay (2-4 typed pages). The interest and enthusiasm demonstrated in your essay will be considered just as much as your letters of reference.

To apply, please submit the following documents to Manatees in Belize, Caryn Self Sullivan before 30 April 2007; send electronic applications in MS Word, PDF, or Rich Text Format (.doc, .pdf, .rtf files) via email to caryn@sirenian.org

• At least TWO (2) letters of recommendation from a teacher or supervisor with whom you have recently worked. The letters should specifically address your abilities to meet the above "Qualifications." The letters MUST include contact information so that we may call and/or email your references for confirmation.
• A current Curriculum Vitae or Resume. List all applicable course work and experience to date.
• A short essay (2-4 pages typed) describing why you are interested in this internship and how the experience will benefit your personal and/or professional goals.

Helpful Application Hints: 

Make sure that your Name, postal Address, Phone numbers, and Email Addresses are included in your essay letter. Put you name on every page in your application package.

Acknowledgments: 

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

Accepting Applications Immediately.

CLOSING DATE (for Summer Term):  April 30th, 2007 - FIRM

Be prepared to work very hard in exchange for this opportunity to participate in a unique manatee field research project!

Our study site is located in the Drowned Cayes area near Belize City. 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 you will need to spend another 6 hours devoted to data reduction, reading, writing, AND 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 could be one of the most rewarding experiences of your young career!

We invite you to 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)
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).

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.

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.

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