Everglades National Park (ENP) is seeking 1-2 full-time BioCorps interns to participate in the park’s Sea Turtle Nesting Program. Primary duties for the internship center around monitoring sea turtle nesting at Cape Sable, Florida. The selected intern(s) will work directly with ENP biologists to perform duties related to conducting sea turtle nest surveys. Fieldwork is laborious and may include long periods standing, walking in sand or waist-deep water, exposure to hazardous wildlife and plants, biting insects, and long hours spent in high heat and humidity. The intern(s) will work 40 hours per week and some workdays may exceed 8 hours.
Housing is provided to all interns for the full 7-month term, including power, water, and internet access.
Prior to the getting started with the field work, the selected the intern(s) will need to attend one of the four statewide Nesting Beach Survey Workshops provided by Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, with dates available February to May. [OJ1] Intern(s) will be required to attend and pass the Motorboat Operator Certification Course (MOCC). After 40 hours of additional supervised boat operator experience, and starting on approximately April 15, the intern(s) will begin conducting the Sea Turtle Nesting Beach Survey at Cape Sable. As the nesting season progresses, the selected intern(s) will conduct sea turtle nest inventories and productivity assessments. The intern(s) will be involved in data collection, data entry, data management, and writing preliminary reports for the project. The intern(s) will be responsible for maintaining government vessels and keeping project equipment in good working order. Toward the end of their internship, the selected intern(s) will give a presentation detailing results of the project and their experience during the internship. The intern(s) will potentially have involvement in other marine projects/events, such as marine fishery (creel) surveys and responding to events such as sea turtle or marine mammal strandings, fish kills, algal blooms, invasive lionfish removal, and crocodile nest monitoring. Toward the end of the internship, intern(s) will plan, organize, and conduct a beach cleanup event to be conducted on the beaches of Cape Sable.
There will be opportunities to acquire federal training and assist on other projects being conducted by non-marine park staff and partners. In the past, these opportunities have included vegetation surveys, alligator nest monitoring, invasive reptile research and removal, freshwater aquatic ecology monitoring, and hydrologic monitoring.
QUALIFICATIONS
All prospective applicants should be a graduate of (or enrolled in) a formal course of study that is relevant to the duties of the position (biology, wildlife management, marine science). A combination of relevant education and appropriate experience is also acceptable. Resumes should contain enough information to show that the applicant meets the experience described in this internship announcement.
Successful candidates will be enthusiastic, organized, responsible, highly motivated, and show great interest in biology and the field of natural resource management. Candidates should be prepared to independently perform the sea turtle nest and creel surveys and be responsible for scheduling, coordination, and logistics for remote locations. Candidates should also be prepared to maintain a thoughtful and positive attitude in harsh and remote environmental conditions that will be encountered on a regular basis, including frequent thunderstorms, biting insects, hot and humid conditions, and other challenging circumstances. Having an exceptional safety ethic, especially when boating, is paramount. Candidates should have a high degree of safety and situational awareness.
Applicants with boating experience and the Department of the Interior (DOI) Motorboat Operation Certification Course (MOCC) are strongly desired. All applicants must be physically fit—able to lift 50 pounds and work outdoors in remote areas and in harsh weather on a regular basis. Applicants should have demonstrated success working independently and as part of a team. Provided housing in Flamingo is at least one hour from typical amenities in the Greater Miami area, so a personal vehicle is necessary.
Other desired qualifications include: the ability to maintain proper conduct at all times, flexibility with work schedules, ability to identify sea turtle nesting activity (crawls, nests, emerging hatchlings), effective communication skills with all ages and diverse audiences, ability to use a GPS and navigate using a map and compass, ability to create detailed verbal and written reports of the project work, ability to apply GIS and related technology in support of natural resource management, experience in a backcountry environment, strong interest in conservation of the natural environment, and the desire to enter public service, as a natural resources professional.
A valid US driver's license and a clean driving record are required, and a background check will be necessary. S/he must also be a US citizen and speak English.
