Volunteers required in Portugal for cetacean monitoring campaigns in the Atlantic Ocean

The Faculty of Sciences from University of Porto / Interdisciplinary Centre of Marine and Environmental Research is preparing its 5th year of cetacean monitoring in cargo ships from Continental Portugal (Porto/Lisbon) to Madeira (Caniçal), to Azores (Ponta Delgada/Horta/Praia da Vitória) and to Canary and Cape Verde Islands (Las Palmas/Sal/Boavista/São Vicente/Mauritania).

We are seeking volunteers for the 2016 MMOs team for the following periods: 1. 15th June to 31st August 2. 15th August to 31st October Sea-surveys will include an educational component when the ship is at the port in the islands, where volunteers, accompanied by a member of the team, will visit local schools and give a lecture or an activity to the children. For 2.5 months, the internship includes: - An intensive training on monitoring protocol, cetacean identification and data processing and analysis; - Sea-surveys from Mainland Portugal to the Islands (in the routes stated above); - Educational activities in local schools (when possible); - Data processing and analysis; - Free time to visit Mainland Portugal and the Islands. We encourage the use of this experience for university reports or internships (given that the course director allows it) or for other scientific results (presentation at conferences, scientific papers, …). The 2.5-month internship requires the payment of 300€ and includes accommodation for the full period, as well as food when on-board. Accident insurances for European volunteers are covered but travel expenses (travel insurances and trips) aren’t. Non-European volunteers have to pay for their own accident/travel insurance. Successful applicants should possess or be enrolled in a BS or MS course in biology or related, be reliable, dedicated, adaptable and patient, as this work is highly weather dependent and requires consecutive days of work at sea. If you are an undergraduate or graduated student interested in pursuing a careen in marine mammal research, this is an excellent opportunity to learn and gain experience at sea. Application deadline is 31st March. A few volunteers will be selected for interview. Skype interviews will be undertaken during the first 2 weeks of April and final decision will be communicated by the end of April. To apply please send a Motivation Letter (state which period you prefer) and a Short Curriculum Vitae (highlight experience in cetacean monitoring) to: ispinto@ciimar.up.pt and anamafaldacorreia@gmail.com.

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Prof. Dr. Isabel Sousa Pinto Prof. Faculty of Sciences of University of Porto Interdisciplinary Centre for Marine and Environmental Research - Director of Coastal Biodiversity Lab R. dos Bragas, 289. 4050-123 Porto, Portugal Email: ispinto@ciimar.up.pt www.ciimar.up.pt