SEANET Internships

Post date: Feb 8, 2018 12:47:11 AM

The University of Maine’s Sustainable Ecological Aquaculture Network (SEANET) is seeking 3-6 interns to work as a team at the Darling Marine Center (DMC) on various projects related to marine food web ecology, coastal oceanography and interactions with aquaculture in Maine estuaries. Full-time internships are available for 3 months, startingMay 16th through August 24th (start and end dates are flexible). Additionally, ongoing part-time internships are available with the option to transition to full-time summer employment (dates and work schedules are flexible).

Interns will work on a variety of projects that examine the ecology of estuaries with an emphasis on how estuarine ecology and oceanography interact with aquaculture systems.

Interns will assist and lead projects related to (1) examining drivers of coastal acidification and seasonal cycles of productivity), (3) taking this understanding into the lab to examine acidification effects on aquaculture growing areas including climate-related properties (e.g., primary production in Maine estuaries (including nutrients, light, and grazing), (2) monitoring physical and biogeochemical conditions in aquacultured species,and (4) integrating this information with estuarine models that help aquaculturists and citizens make sustainable and profitable decisions about siting. Interns will assist with field collections of phytoplankton and zooplankton samples and measure physical variables in Damariscotta Estuary and Cobscook Bay. AAUS Scientific Divers and divers-in-training will help maintain moored field instruments by scuba diving at various field sites. Interns will gain both laboratory, field, and modeling experience in various sampling and processing techniques used in marine ecology and aquaculture research. Interns will also gain first-hand experience in experimental design.

Requirements: Students must be a registered undergraduate student at the University of Maine or another accredited institution. AAUS Scientific Diver certification or plans to enroll in the UMaine Scientific Diving course is preferred but not required. Interns will participate in field-based activities that may be physically demanding and require long hours outdoors. Further, interns will participate in sample processing which will include long hours spent filtering water samples and/or working at a microscope. Hourly rate up to $10.50/hour, commensurate with experience. Housing is available at the DMC for $740 month and housing scholarships are available. To apply send a cover letter and CV to Dr. Damian Brady at damian.brady@ maine.edu.