We Regret To Announce That We Will
Not Be Offering Internships Through 2008

Description
Internships are a popular way for college students to obtain practical experience in a specific field of the work force. Often, a bachelor's degree does not prepare a person who plans on entering the field of marine mammal research. People who are interested in marine mammals may have never seen one in the wild and their knowledge has come from captive animals or the literature. Our internship offers participants the opportunity to work very closely with graduate students and to see first hand what marine mammal research entails. 

This MMRP Internship is only available with Dr. Bernd Würsig and his graduate students.  If you are interested in working with another professor at Texas A&M or with the Texas Marine Mammal Stranding Network, please contact them directly.

TERMS AND APPLICATION
There are three terms scheduled for incorporation of interns to our program: spring, summer, and fall. The date in which each term starts varies with the year. In general, it is around mid February for spring, mid June for summer, and mid September for the fall.

Deadlines for application are the end of February for the summer term, end of June for the fall term, and end of October for the spring term and must contain the following: 
1. Curriculum vitae, or "resumé",
2. Letter of intent, which clearly spells out what you would wish to accomplish with the internship,
3. Two letters of reference, preferably from professors,
4. A letter listing classes taken and grades obtained. An official transcript is not necessary, but a copy is appreciated.

Please send the above materials to Marine Mammal Research Program, Attn. Internship Coordinator, 4700 Ave. U, Bldg. 303, Galveston, TX 77551. There are no application forms. Please clearly state the term for which you are applying. Please notice that this is a volunteer position. If you are accepted, we require confirmation within 3 days. Also, due to Texas A&M University regulations, you will be required upon one week of arrival to sign a waiver of liability and hold harmless agreement.

INTERN RESPONSIBILITIES
Interns joining the BEL-MMRP are asked to contribute 40 hours per week for a minimum of three months. Each intern will dedicate most of her/his time to assisting a graduate student in their data-analysis phase. In most cases, the work will involve data processing and analysis as well as fieldwork. In addition, interns will provide help to the BEL-MMRP in the following tasks:

Data Entry and Analysis
The BEL-MMRP is equipped with PC computers, spreadsheet, word-processing, statistical, charting, graphics, and communications software. It also maintains fully equipped photo-identification and behavior analysis laboratories, including digital film and video-editing capabilities. Interns will receive comprehensive training in behavioral and photo-identification analysis. They will input field data into computer files, identify individual dolphins through photographs of their dorsal fins, format data for analysis, and run statistical analysis. These tasks include the use of spreadsheets to evaluate photo-identification and behavioral data sets. They will also scan photos for use with the program "FinScan" for computer-assisted photo-identification of dolphins. While our specialty is not in sound analysis techniques, we do incorporate sound communications studies into some of our behavioral work.

Seminars
Scholastic seminars are conducted on a weekly or bi-monthly basis to further enhance the academic environment at the MMRP. Interns will participate by reviewing scientific papers of their choice and presenting their critiques in a friendly, informal setting.

Library Research
The BEL-MMRP includes a computer data base with over 30,000 references and an extensive library with reprints and books on marine mammal biology. Interns will become familiar with key articles and authors by helping in the input, sorting, formatting, and correcting of the computer-based reference file. They will learn how to access over 22,000 digital journals and create pdf files  of older literature.

Housing
Although free accommodations and food are not available at the MMRP, we provide assistance to obtain the best possible deal. Most students at the lab live in one- or two-bedroom apartments on the west end of town, which is the area where the MMRP is located. Rental prices/intern/month in Galveston vary between $150 and 500 US depending on the place and the number of people sharing it. Utilities, including water, vary between $30 and 100 US per month; in some cases, such expenses are included with the rent. Most places prefer a six month lease, so rent might be higher for a month-to-month lease. There are two main ways to obtain an apartment:

Real Estate Agents

Places acquired tend to be over $350 US per month. Free apartment locating services are: 

Transportation
Public transportation in Galveston is extremely poor. A vehicle is helpful to get around in Galveston; however, a bicycle is sufficient in many cases.

Airline Information
There are no commercial flights to Galveston. Interns flying in are usually received at one of the Houston airports by an MMRP graduate student. If possible, try to fly into Hobby Airport in Houston, rather than George Bush-Intercontinental, as the former is significantly closer to Galveston.

Shuttle From Airports
There is a van shuttle service offered through Galveston Limousine Service which picks people up from both Intercontinental and Hobby airports and takes them to the lab (or other destination of their choice). The shuttle runs every hour and a half from 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. daily. Reservations are not needed and the cost is about $26 US. The shuttle can be picked up just outside the baggage claim areas of both airports.

Weather
The weather in Galveston varies with the seasons. Summers are very humid, sunny, and hot (upper 90's F) with occasional thunderstorms. Winters tend to be cool (30-60 deg. F), windy, and cloudy. Spring and fall are milder seasons.

Needed Equipment
Hat, sunscreen, sunglasses, clothing for the season, bed sheets and pillows, towel, raincoat, clothes and shoes to get dirty. A camera or video camera for personal use if you wish. A journal is a consideration to record ideas and experiences, and to establish a good scientific habit.

Link to Galveston Maps

ADDITIONAL OPPORTUNITIES
1.Interact with the other projects that are conducted at the MMRP. This interaction might take the form of short-term assistance or learning about the project.
 2.Collaborate with the Texas Marine Mammal Stranding Network during live or dead strandings, including beach recovery and observation of recovering individuals.  However, strandings are seasonal, sporadic, and unpredictable, so may not occur during any one internship. 
 3.Attend necropsies of marine mammals performed by the Texas Marine Mammal Stranding Network if space is available. 
 4.Access the library facilities and computer resources of the MMRP. 
 5.Interact with graduate students and researchers in other branches of the MMRP and in the Marine Biology Department of Texas A&M at Galveston.
6.Establish contacts with researchers in other institutions.
 7.Accumulate experience by learning new skills and ideas to enhance career opportunities. Several former interns are now graduate students at our or other universities or field assistants in various parts of the world. Over the years, quite a few former interns have obtained PhD’s and are professionals in the field of marine mammology.

For more information about the internship program,
please contact BERND WÜRSIG .