Overview

We are looking for enthusiastic, motivated people to join us for our Summer Whale Research Internship Program. This is a fun and exciting opportunity to experience the daily challenges of studying wild marine life on the ocean and also interact with and inspire the public to take action to protect marine life.

The ideal candidate will be outgoing, enthusiastic, detail oriented and have a strong desire both to learn and teach. A desire to practice or improve public speaking skills is essential. Background knowledge of biology is helpful, but prior experience is not necessary. Although all training is provided and weekly meetings are required, we are looking for motivated individuals who can learn on their own and work independently in addition to working with our staff.

Whale research interns work with our naturalists aboard a commercial whale watch vessel, the M/V Granite State .  They collect detailed data electronically and also educate passengers one-on-one about marine life in the Gulf of Maine, a thriving ecosystem known for some of the best whale watching in the country.

Whale watch trips are 4-5 hours each. On these trips, you will be searching for whales and other marine life, recording detailed data on animals, behaviors and marine debris, interacting with passengers of all ages and backgrounds, and explaining teaching tools such as baleen and whale sounds.

Mandatory intern meetings will take place weekly and will include the education interns. Meetings may consist of paper discussions, guest speakers, and additional skill-learning. All interns will also participate in field trips to expose them to other areas of marine science and/or conservation.

Whale research interns will conduct an independent research project with the help of their internship supervisor. A formal scientific paper will be written to practice writing for graduate school and journal publication. In addition, all interns will present their project at our summer Blue Ocean Intern Research Symposium, which has an audience consisting of the general public, Blue Ocean staff and volunteers, and fellow members of the scientific community.

Interns in the research program may be asked to complete other tasks as needed (i.e. when a whale watch is cancelled due to rough seas), including office work, beach cleanups, and microplastics research. They will also have the opportunity to visit our Blue Ocean Discovery Center to learn more about our outreach programs.