WHALE RESEARCH SUMMER INTERNSHIP

An undergraduate student will be part of a team conducting research to understand the foraging ecology of gray whales in beautiful Port Orford! We are looking for a motivated, interested and outgoing OSU undergraduate student to be part of the Geospatial Ecology of Marine Megafauna (GEMM) Lab team. During the summers of 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2018, the GEMM Lab has conducted research to understand the foraging ecology of gray whales in Port Orford, Oregon, to tackle the question: how and where do whales find food?

This internship position will join a team lead by an OSU/GEMM Lab graduate student, and two high school interns, to conduct this research on whales and their prey. The undergraduate intern will undergo training in Newport for 4 weeks, before the whole team undertakes training together in Port Orford for a 2-3 week period and then collect data over a 4-week field season.

Duties include helping with all aspects of data collection and management, field logistics, and leadership and teaching of high school interns. The incumbent will learn scientific methodology, sampling and data collection protocols, ecological principles, leadership and teamwork skills, quantitative data analysis methods, and science communication skills.

Required qualifications: positive attitude towards early morning (5:30/6am) data collections and long work days; must be comfortable working in a kayak and at heights (on a cliff site)

General Details:

Internship Dates - mid-June to end of August *start and end date may vary

Location - Port Orford, Oregon

Housing - Group housing included

Compensation -Total compensation not to exceed $6,120 over a 10-week period

For more information: Email Academic Advisor, Cynthia Leonard

Application Requirements

  • Cover letter
  • Resume
  • Two letters of recommendation (details in the application)
  • Unofficial transcripts

APPLICATION HERE

Initial review of applications: March 8, 2019

Deadline: March 22, 2019

*applications not accepted after March 22, 2019

Interns selected mid- April

Internship Application Review Process:

  1. Committee review
  2. Top applicant contacted by the review committee
  3. If the applicant accepts the position, they will be hired as an OSU hourly student worker

Eligibility: This paid internship is a 40 hour a week commitment. If you are enrolled in summer classes, to qualify for this internship, you cannot be enrolled in more than 5 credits to fulfill the 40 hour week paid internship requirement.

Note: Open to all qualified/eligible OSU students. All job offers are contingent upon Human Resources final approval.

Accommodations for disabilities may be made by contacting 541-737-7341 or [email protected]

Check out MSI's 2018 summer interns HERE