Research Assistant

The Research Assistant is responsible for assisting the Monitoring Officer in the running of the “Cardigan Bay Monitoring Project” and coordinating the project interns.  The project offers the participants the opportunity to learn and practice techniques used in scientific data collection and the study of marine mammal populations (e.g. land observations, boat-based surveys, photo-identification, line-transects, theodolite, cybertracker and acoustic monitoring). 

The Research Assistant can expect to gain a solid foundation in collecting marine mammal scientific data to be used by themselves and/or our staff in peer reviewed publications. SWF staff are committed to the Research Assistant gaining scientific knowledge through training and in situ experience. We highly support the continuation of the Research Assistant in higher education or a future job in the field of marine mammal research.

Daily responsibilities will include but are not limited to:

• Coordinate between the Monitoring Officer/Sightings Officer and the project interns
• Organising the interns’ weekly schedules as well as the rotations for dedicated surveys
• Supervising the interns in the laboratory and interns house
• Dealing with IT staff to set up the computers in the laboratory
• Maintenance and validation of all databases (vessel and land-based watches, effort, photo-ID, acoustics)
• Assisting the Monitoring Officer in training the interns in the use of field equipment such as: theodolite, digiscope, GPS, hydrophone, Cybertracker, and cameras
• Assisting the Monitoring Officer/Sightings Officer in basic training of land- and boat based surveys, data entry and more
• Assisting the Monitoring Officer in the matching and cataloguing of bottlenose dolphins and maintenance of the photo-ID database

Requirements:

• Minimum BSc degree or higher in Biology, Marine Biology, Zoology, Environmental Science or similar
• Previous experience in marine mammal research and a strong interest and knowledge of British cetaceans and boating experience are desirable
• The applicant must be proficient with database and word processing software and be willing to learn new software applications. Specific experience in Access and/or GIS would be advantageous
• The preferred candidate should have a proven track record as a team player as the project will involve working closely with other researchers but also must be able to supervise small groups of people as they will be coordinating at least 6 interns per period
  • Self-motivated with the drive and determination to work responsibly and independently

This position is unpaid but accommodation expenses through the whole period will be covered at the intern’s house. The Research Assistant will be responsible for their own travel expenses, visa requirements and living expenses. Due to the touristic back-ground of New Quay, part-time paid work is generally easy to find if required by the applicant. The Research Assistant will have one day of every weekend free and a week vacation between the end of the second research interns period (12/07/2015) and beginning of the third one (13/07/2015). Dates for this week could be previously agreed if inconvenient for the Research Assistant.