Summer Internships

 

Summer internship applications for the 2024 research season can be sent between December 1st, 2023 and February 15th, 2024. We will not be able to consider the dossiers sent after this date.

 

Internship description:

MICS offers 6-week internships during its summer research season from June to September. This internship is the opportunity to learn about marine mammals, their biology, ecology, their ecosystem (the St-Lawrence), etc., and also allows candidates to immerge themselves in all functional aspects of an independent non-profit field research station. MICS welcomes around ten interns per season, 2 to 4 at a time.

 

Team on the boat

 

Intern tasks

Interns are an essential part of the station’s operations due to the tasks they perform. The internship is divided in two main parts: land-based and sea-based work.

 

  • Land-based work (80% of the internship)
    • Assist in the day-to-day operation of the visitor centre (welcoming tourists, managing the shop, taking bookings, maintenance of premises and equipment)
    • Deliver daily guided visits of our museum. MICS offers 4 a day; interns take turns in delivering them
    • Photo-identification: matching whale ID pictures taken in the field to our catalogues (one for each species: blue, fin and humpback whales).
    • Record data into logbooks
    • Data entry into our data management platform
    • Reading and researching information to further your knowledge on cetaceans
    • Preparation of a short talk on a topic of your choice to present to the team and tourists (optional)

 

  • Sea-based work (20% of the internship)
    • Help with equipment preparation for a day at sea
    • Welcoming tourists at the dock
    • Visual surveying
    • Taking research notes and recording data
    • Outreach and education for tourists at sea
    • Introduction to basic navigation skills
    • Research and boat equipment maintenance at the end of the day

 

Recording data

 

Eligibility and candidate profile

This internship is intended mainly for science undergraduates or recent graduates (in biology, ecology, biotechnology, wildlife management, geography, etc.). However, we do occasionally take on students or graduates from other disciplines. We are most interested in your motivation and attitude. On the whole, candidates should have a mature and responsible attitude towards marine mammals and research; be capable of living and working as part of team in a remote location; and be rigorous and conscientious at work. It is also important to have good verbal communication and public speaking skills.

Candidates should be fluent in either French or English, but preferably both, in order to easily communicate with both the staff and the public.

Prior knowledge of marine biology, marine mammals or navigational skills are an advantage, but not essential.

 

How to apply
 
Please send the following documents to mics@rorqual.com
 
  • CV
  • Cover letter (500 words max)
  • 3 reference letters