Lobster Ecology & Industry Internships: Deadline March 8, 2024

January 24, 2024 Undergraduate internships

The Brady Lab and Lobster Institute are seeking two undergraduate students to assist in the marine science research projects this summer a tht eUniversity of Maine’s Darling Marine Center (DMC). All applicants must be working towards a bachelor’s degree in a Biological Science, preferably Marine Biology, Environmental Science, Fisher Science, Communications or a related field.

Applicants must demonstrate a strong interest in pursuing a career in the marine sciences. All interns will be expected to participate in weekly lab meetings with the research team. On occasion, hours may extend beyond the standard 8-hour work day. The interns will be dividing time between research-related tasks as part of the Deepwater Lobster Settlement project, the eMOLT program, and the Lobster Institute.

Deepwater Lobster Settlement

Description: This science-industry partnership aims to evaluate the relationship between bottom
temperature gradients and the depth-wise distribution of newly settled and older juvenile lobster
along the Maine coast. Vessel-deployed lobster postlarval collectors are placed in a random
stratified design in coordination with Maine DMR’s current ventless trap monitoring across three
depth strata in the oceanographically contrasting east and west segments of Maine’s coast. The
paired sampling approach enables us to evaluate the influence of temperature gradients on the
nursery potential of the seabed for new settlers and movements by older lobsters.

Responsibilities: The interns will be tasked with assisting with the preparation, deployment, and
retrieval of lobster collectors at sea. The interns will also be responsible for data recording and
entry.

Qualifications: The ability to work and communicate effectively in both team settings and
individually is required. Strong applicants will have experience working on/around small
watercraft and a high level of comfort in/around the water. A positive attitude and the ability to
lift at least 50 pounds and withstand long hot/humid or cold/rainy/windy days in the field is
necessary.

Environmental Monitoring on Lobster Traps (eMOLT)

Description: The eMOLT program was established in 1995 to expand the ecosystem monitoring
of the coastal New England continental shelf. The eMOLT program utilizes low-cost sensors
attached to gear used by commercial fishermen to collect bottom water temperatures, water
column temperature profiles, and dissolved oxygen data from their fishing grounds. More than
100 fishing vessels are currently involved in the eMOLT program, and our goal is to increase the
number of participants by Maine lobstermen.

Responsibilities: The interns will be tasked with the preparation and testing of temperature and
dissolved oxygen sensors and traveling along coastal Maine to install systems on fishing vessels.

Qualifications: Strong applicants will have experience working on/around small watercraft, have
a high level of comfort in/around the water, and have a working knowledge of using hand tools.

The Lobster Institute

Description: Since 1987, the Lobster Institute has been a center of discovery, innovation, and
outreach at the University of Maine. Its mission is to promote, conduct, and communicate
research focused on the sustainability of the American lobster fishery in the US and Canada.
The Institute also provides technical and educational outreach, disseminates research findings
in understandable and accessible ways, and convenes conferences and workshops to engage
stakeholders in solving challenges faced by this iconic fishery.

Responsibilities: This work will involve assisting with outreach events, researching news
updates, updating web content, and assistance creating social media posts.

Qualifications: We seek an intern with excellent attention to detail, a strong work ethic, the
ability to problem solve, organization skills, and an interest in outreach and communications.
The ideal candidate will have experience with WordPress webpage editor or other software and
experience with social media content creation.

Other: Interns are expected to participate in the DMC Student Research Symposium. For this,
interns, with supervisor support, will develop an independent research project (this summer
based on their participation in the Deep Water Settlement and eMOLT projects) and present their
findings at a poster session at the Symposium held the first week of August 2024.

Additional Information:

  • Location: University of Maine’s Darling Marine Center, Walpole, Maine 04573
  • Application Deadline: March 8th, 2024
  • Position: Full-time internship
  • Duration: 10-12 weeks, possible start and end dates: May 20-August 15, 2024
  • Stipend: $450-$540/week
  • Housing: Fully covered at the Darling Marine Center dormitory.
  • Meals: Students are responsible for meals during their internship and are provided with shared storage and kitchen facilities for meal preparation.
  • How to Apply: Please send a letter of interest, CV, and two references to Chris Brehme (chris.brehme@maine.edu), Chris Cash (christina.cash@maine.edu), and Andrew Goode (andrew.goode@maine.edu).