BioCorps Internship in the Florida Everglades: Sea Turtle Nest Monitoring

Everglades National Park (ENP) is seeking one or more BioCorps interns for a full-time, 35-week internship working in the Florida Everglades. The BioCorps internship program is a collaborative program between Everglades National Park, the University of Florida, and partners of the park, which supports biological management, monitoring, and research within the Florida Everglades. 

The selected intern(s) will support a variety of natural resource projects but will primarily monitor 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.

Prior to the getting started with the field work, the selected the intern(s) will need to attend one of the six statewide Nesting Beach Survey Workshops provided by FWCC throughout Florida with dates in March and April (https://myfwc.com/media/22194/nest-workshop-schedule.pdf ). After 40 hours of additional supervised boat 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, and invasive lionfish removal. Toward the end of the internship, intern(s) will plan, organize, and conduct a beach cleanup event to be done 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 have included vegetation surveys, alligator nest monitoring, invasive reptile research and removal, freshwater aquatic ecology monitoring, and hydrologic monitoring. Training will include motorboat operation certification and CPR and First Aid if not already acquired, and may include helicopter training, among others. These internships are highly synergistic and are good opportunities for young biologists to cultivate their skillsets and build their CVs.

The intern(s) will work 40 hours per week and some workdays may exceed 8 hours. A living stipend and shared housing in ENP can be provided, but relocation funds are not available. 

Everglades National Park is an internationally recognized landscape that protects a dynamic collection of habitats, wildlife, processes, and culture. The proximity of the Everglades to an exceptionally large, burgeoning urban community presents a number of challenges to the continued protection of resources for which the park was established. This internship offers the opportunity to cultivate resource management techniques and explore new career opportunities in an applied, real-world setting.

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 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 a safety ethic, especially when boating, is paramount. Candidates should have a high degree of safety and situational awareness.

Applicants with boating experience and Department of the Interior Motorboat Operation Certification are strongly desired. All applicants must be physically fit - able to list 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 is at least one hour from typical amenities so a personal vehicle is necessary. 

Other desired qualifications include: the propensity 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 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 natural resources professional.

A valid U.S. driver's license and a clean driving record are required, and a background check will be necessary. S/he must also be a U.S. citizen and speak English.

Submit a cover letter (no more than 1 page) and a resume or CV that includes contact information for 3 references (e-mail preferred).

We prefer to get applications as a single PDF with a file name that begins with your last name [e.g., Darwin BioCorps Application 14Dec19.pdf].

We will no longer accept applications after 8AM EDT on December 23, 2019.