The Sea Watch Foundation is seeking Research Interns for the 2025 season at its field office in Anglesey, North Wales, to engage in an exciting citizen science initiative to engage local communities and visitors in observing and recording marine mammals and birds as part of a marine conservation project.
This position will suit volunteers who have a strong interest in marine conservation and recognise the importance of raising awareness of the marine environment by involving the public from all age groups. This position can be very varied, so applicants will need to demonstrate their ability to deal with varied tasks from public outreach to boat-based surveys and scientific data collection and handling. They will be encouraged to take initiatives with education & outreach activities in the region which, due to its natural beauty, receives large numbers of visitors during the summer.
The interns will be responsible for the following duties:
- Raising Sea Watch Foundation’s profile locally (taking part in events, talking to the public)
- Carrying out surveys of marine mammals and seabirds in the area of SW Anglesey and Caernarfon Bay, undertaking watches from land and participating in boat-based surveys
- Engaging with local communities, encouraging and training citizen scientists to collect data on marine mammals and seabirds
- Promoting and organising the National Whale and Dolphin Watch education and outreach activities
- Participating in presentations and creating activities to take to local schools/groups, as well as using our specialised talks at local events
- Assisting in the creation of educational/promotional materials (posters, displays, flyers, social media posts)
- Participating in training courses in Anglesey and Gwynedd
- Representing Sea Watch at public events around Anglesey and Gwynedd
- Training and supervision will be provided by the Project Manager and Research and Intern Assistant for the duration of the intern’s stay.
The field season will run from April to October and for Research Interns it has been split into periods of 6 weeks. Typical office hours are from 10:00am to 17:00 pm, 5 days a week, with field work falling outside of this. Working days will be a mixture of weekdays and weekends.
The interns will be based at the Bodorgan Estate, Anglesey. Accommodation will be provided rent-free in a house shared with the other interns and the Research and Intern Assistant (RIA). Rooms are shared between two people, we will do our best to accommodate single sex rooms however this may not always be possible. The interns are responsible for their own travel and living costs including utility bills of £40 a week. Any travel costs incurred for project work will be reimbursed.
International applications are welcome but it is the applicant’s responsibility to ensure visa requirements are met and we ask applicants to highlight their chosen visa option in their application. Please note that Sea Watch Foundation is unable to sponsor visa applications for Research Interns.
Research Intern periods for summer 2025:
Period 1: April 7th – May 16th
Period 2: May 19th – June 27th
Period 3: June 30th – August 8th
Period 4: August 11th – September 19th
Period 5: September 22nd – October 31st
Important skills/qualifications
Essential:
- a strong interest in marine conservation and education
- outgoing personality, confidence
- excellent verbal and writing skills
- must have initiative, motivation, the ability to bring their own ideas and personality to the position and be able to think on your feet
- strong commitment to volunteering work
- work independently, in an organised and reliable manner and to manage a variable workload
- the ability to get on well with others in a small team and within shared accommodation
- should always represent SWF professionally
- ability to work and live cooperatively with other volunteers in an isolated location
Desirable:
- a background in marine biology/environmental science or similar
- a strong interest and some knowledge of British marine mammals and birds
- boat survey experience
- good IT skills (Office package)
- willingness to work long hours, sometimes outdoors in very changeable Welsh weather
- one’s own transport (travel costs within the project will be covered)
- Welsh language
To apply please send:
- Your CV
- A cover letter outlining:
– why you would like to apply
– what skills and experience you will bring to the project
– the period(s) for which you would prefer to volunteer
– Any medical or physical conditions you have so we can advise you on any precautions you may need to take during fieldwork or anything that we can support you with
Please send all the above to:
Elan Jones (Outreach Officer) – elan.jones@seawatchfoundation.org.uk
Deadline: Midnight 2nd February 2025
Please specify “ANGLESEY RESEARCH INTERN APPLICATION” in your subject title.
We will hold an online information session in early February where applicants will hear more information about the project and there will be a chance to ask any questions. Applicants will then be notified whether they have been successful and for which period by 5pm Friday 28th February.
