[MARMAM] :CETACEAN RESEARCH ASSISTANT OPPORTUNITY IN ICELAND

[chiara bertulli]

CETACEAN
RESEARCH ASSISTANT OPPORTUNITY IN ICELAND

 

WHAT:


The
project aims to investigate abundance, distribution, patterns of residency,
social structure and health status of Minke whales, white-beaked dolphins and
humpback whales in Faxaflói bay, Reykjavik,
 Iceland. One
volunteer is needed for this project to help collecting photographs (photo-ID)
of whales (minke, humpback and orca whales) and white-beaked dolphins and sighting
data, geographical location (GPS), environmental parameters as well as effort
data. Data will also comprised information behaviour of the sighted animal/s
and the potential presence of calves. 

 

WHERE:


The south
part of Faxaflói Bay is facing Keflavík city where daily
whale-watching tours are arranged to spot Minke whales, white-beaked dolphins,
Humpback whales and harbour porpoises. Dolphin and Whale Spotting
Whale-watching Company has been running whale-watching trips since 1999, with
special interest in all whales visiting the bay and being involved in different
cetacean research projects. 

 

WHEN:
       

13th June
to 28th August 2011

 

CONDITIONS:


For the
boat based work, one whale-watching motor vessel will be used as research
platform. 

The
volunteer will be offered free accommodation, to share with other volunteers,
in Garður (a rather small town of about 1400 people 10km north of Keflavík).
The accommodation is equipped with bathroom and kitchen, provided by the municipality of Garður. Volunteers need to live and cook
together. The successful applicant will need to both work and live together
with people from different countries and backgrounds and therefore needs to be
a very tolerant and flexible person. 

Last, the
candidate will have to work as a contact between the whale-watching boat and
the lighthouse (where another team of volunteer will work as part of  the
tracking project led by Fredrik Christiansen) as well, in which case Fredrik
will buy him/her a sim card and refill cards.

Because of
the training required, applicants must be willing to commit for the entire
duration of the project.

Regarding
costs, unfortunately this is an unpaid volunteer position and you would have to
cover your own travel expenses to and from Iceland, your travel insurance
(required!), as well as your food expenses during the project. Accommodation
will be provided.

 

DUTIES:


Applicants
should be ready to work long hours (07:00 to 17.00 or to 20.00 hours depending
on weather conditions) and be expected to participate in the following duties:

 

-     
collect data from whale-watching boat

-     
data entry

-     
data processing

 





QUALIFICATIONS:


-     
have a strong background in Marine biology/Oceanography, with knowledge and
experience of marine mammal behaviour and/or sea birds

-     
have previous wildlife field experience and ability to stand long working days,
sometimes in rough sea conditions (seasick people should not apply for this
position!)

-     
have previous cetacean photo-identification skills 

-     
be computer literate with a working knowledge PC operating system and
proficiency with MS Word and MS Excel. Familiarity with software including MS
Access and Photoshop is very helpful. Possibility to bring your own Laptop is
much preferred 

-     
be enthusiastic, hard-working, team oriented, able to share small living space
on board

-     
be adaptable, flexible and patient as fieldwork is highly weather dependent 

-     
have good English language skills

-     
bring your own digital reflex camera and zoom lens

 

HOW
TO APPLY: 

CV or
resume should include the following:

-     
details of your availability

-     
contact details of two referees

-     
a brief description of yourself including your interest in marine mammals and
what you hope to gain from this experience

-     
any dietary requirements (i.e. vegetarian, vegan, etc.)

 

 

Send
applications both to Chiara G. Bertulli and Fredrik Christiansen (see below):

 

Chiara G. Bertulli (PhD Student)

Faxaflói
Cetacean Research

Principal
Investigator/Research Coordinator

c/o
Reykjavík Whale-watching Company

Ægisgardur
7

101
Reykjavík

Iceland 

www.faxa-cetacean.org 

 

University of Iceland

Biology Department

Náttúrfræðahús/Askja

Sturlugata 7

101 Reykjavik

Iceland

E-mail: cgb1 at hi.is
/ ciarabertulli at yahoo.it 

Mobile:
+354-8618307

Skype: chiara.giulia.bertulli

 

and

 

Fredrik Christiansen (PhD Student)

University of Aberdeen

Institute of Biological
Sciences

Tillydrone Ave

Aberdeen
AB24 2TZ

United Kingdom

 

University of Iceland

Biology Department

Náttúrfræðahús/Askja

Sturlugata 7

101 Reykjavik

Iceland

E-mail: f.christiansen at abdn.ac.uk

Mobile:
+44 78 18725081

 

 

 

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