Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary Ocean Exploration Internship

Host: The Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary (CINMS) is one of 14 special marine protected areas designated and administered by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Office of National Marine Sanctuaries (ONMS). CINMS manages diverse and productive marine ecosystems through a combination of regulatory and non-regulatory programs. CINMS programs focus on conducting and coordinating research and monitoring, organizing and carrying out education and outreach within local communities, and, most importantly, ensuring natural and cultural resources are protected while allowing uses that are sustainable.

Location: Based in Santa Barbara at the CINMS headquarters office on the campus of UC Santa Barbara with occasional travel to coastal communities in Los Angeles, Ventura and Santa Barbara counties.

Internship Dates: June 6 - August 19, 2016; start and end dates flexible with regard to student’s academic commitments.

Stipend: $4,000.00

Time Commitment: The internship is a full time, 11-week commitment. Over the 11 weeks, the intern may take up to five days off for personal reasons, vacation or illness. If participation is less than 100%, the stipend will be pro-rated.

Position Description and Responsibilities: One (1) internship is offered with the CINMS to assist in ongoing research and monitoring efforts that support the sanctuary. A major project that the intern will engage in will be the execution of a sanctuary research mission to be conducted in July 2016 from the Exploration Vessel (E/V) Nautilus. The specific details of the planned mission will be shaped prior to the start of the internship. CINMS will serve as a host focal site for scientific activities (exploring deep sea environments within and around the sanctuary) and, in partnership with UCSB and others, as a hub for disseminating educational information to students locally and nation-wide, including via real time broadcasts from the ship.

The mission is organized by the Nautilus Exploration Program, which is supported by the Ocean Exploration Trust. The Trust was founded in 2008 by Titanic-discoverer and National Geographic Explorer-in-Residence Dr. Robert Ballard to engage in pure ocean exploration. Programs center on scientific exploration of the seafloor and many expeditions are launched from aboard E/V Nautilus, a 64-meter research vessel operated by the Ocean Exploration Trust. In addition to conducting scientific research, these expeditions are offered to explorers on shore via live video, audio, and data feeds from the field. Educators and students of all ages are also brought aboard during expeditions, offering them hands-on experiences in ocean exploration, research, and communications.

Internship Responsibilities:

1. Assist the CINMS Research Coordinator and Team Lead for Education and Outreach with planning and coordination steps necessary to organize staff, local partners and involved scientists so that the CINMS role in the Nautilus mission is effective, safe and productive.
2. Assist the CINMS Research Coordinator and Team Lead for Education and Outreach with implementation of a variety of fieldwork coordination and education programming activities that will occur during the Nautilus mission cruise in July 2016.
3. Work as an effective member of the sanctuary research department through participation in regular meetings, and contributing to various reporting requirements (e.g., weekly accomplishment reports).
4. Develop web site content and distribute social media posts for the sanctuary prior to and during the research cruise to highlight the scientific approaches and findings of the mission.li>

Preferred Experience and Capabilities: Experience or academic training in resource management, environmental sciences, or biological sciences. Some experience working with scientific instrumentation is desirable. The successful candidate must be highly organized with the ability to work independently as well as within a team setting, and able to effectively communicate orally and in writing with researchers and sanctuary colleagues. Ideal candidates should be self-motivated, creative, innovative, and comfortable working with a diverse team in a fast-paced, collaborative environment. Also important is the ability to effectively manage multiple projects, and enthusiasm about marine science, stewardship and conservation. Proficiency in using computers is essential. The work may include some heavy lifting of equipment (up to 50 pounds) and fieldwork on boat platforms in varying sea conditions within and around CINMS.

Skills Gained: The intern will learn about current research and monitoring efforts underway at CINMS, and gain an understanding of the importance of marine science to support sound resource management. The intern will gain experience working with a small team to plan a major vessel-based marine research and deep-sea exploration expedition. Intern will learn how to operate within a small professional office and interact with research colleagues remotely. The intern will also learn how cutting edge remote broadcast technologies can be used to connect field scientists to large gatherings of students.

Eligibility/Requirements: The internship is intended for an upper-class undergraduate student (juniors/seniors) or graduate student, in good academic standing with their university. A valid California State driver’s license is required. Intern must be 18 years or older.

Applicants are also subject to additional eligibility and requirements that can be found here.

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