Fisheries Independent Monitoring Intern or Volunteer - Video

The interns or volunteers will assist with underwater video processing in the FIM program's St. Petersburg/Tampa Bay field lab.

Location: St. Petersburg, Florida

Supervisor: Mandy Tyler-Jedlund

The FWC’s Fish and Wildlife Research Institute (FWRI) Fisheries Independent Monitoring Program (FIM) is seeking detail-oriented interns and volunteers to assist with underwater video processing at its St. Petersburg/Tampa Bay field lab. Recent graduates, and current undergraduate and graduate college students with an interest in fish biology or a related field may apply for this internship opportunity.

Successful candidates will be task-oriented individuals that can work independently and as part of a team. The primary expectations and responsibility of the interns will be assisting with underwater video reading, including:

• Ability to follow standard procedures. Attention to specific and important details from similar site numbers/letters and specific habitat differences and characteristics.
• Identification of underwater habitats, substrate, and biota from black and white videos.  
• Ability to identify sponges, corals, algae, and distinguish different substrate types (sand, rock, rubble etc.) all from black and white underwater videos.
• Complete data entry using FIM application, as well as proof data for accuracy of entered data.

In addition to the above duties, interns might assist with the following tasks:

1. Participate in fisheries-independent sampling in rivers, bays, and nearshore areas using small and large seines, and otter trawls.
2. Taking and preparing biological samples for use by other sections (i.e., otolith extraction, fin clips, and tissue samples)

Interns will be required to submit a final report and present a 15–20-minute seminar on the work accomplished during their internship.

Interns will be responsible for providing their own housing.

College credit is possible, and candidates seeking college credit are preferred. Check with your department advisor at your home institution.

Qualifications:

• A current student who has successfully completed introductory coursework in some of the following areas: environmental science, marine science, botany, or biology.
• Willing to sit at a computer in a dark room for most of the day, to identify fish and habitat species.
• Able to communicate effectively both verbally and in writing.
• Possession of a valid U.S. Class E driver's license.

Preference will be given to applicants seeking an undergraduate or advanced degree (or recent graduates) in the following (or related) scientific disciplines:  Environmental Science, Oceanography, Marine Science, Biology and/or a closely related field. Candidates with working knowledge of Microsoft Office suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) are also desired.

If you are interested in applying for an internship with the Fish and Wildlife Research Institute, the following information is required:

• A cover letter describing the internship you are applying for; area(s) of academic/research interest; and the dates, days, and hours of availability.
• A résumé (or curriculum vitae) describing your relevant training and experience.
• Current academic transcripts.
• Names and contact information for three references.

Please submit application items as an e-mail attachment to: 
Interns@MyFWC.com 

If electronic submission is not possible, hard copies can be mailed to:
Internship Coordinator
FWC Fish and Wildlife Research Institute
100 Eighth Avenue SE
St. Petersburg, FL 33701-5020