Summer Intern Information 2024
If you’ve been selected for an internship or will be conducting graduate research at the Darling Marine Center this summer, congratulations and welcome! This web page highlights what you can expect and what is expected of you at the DMC.
It is important to establish the start and end dates of your position with your faculty advisor and direct supervisor, as well as housing requirements, as soon as possible. If you are living in the DMC dorm (Brooke Hall) this summer, please plan to move in on a weekday no earlier than May 15th.
Please note: Everyone must complete DMC safety training before you can begin work in the lab or field.
If you have any questions, please contact us at dmc@maine.edu. The Programs and Communications Manager is available to help with logistics if you’d like to reach out to her directly at hattie.stiles@maine.edu.
About the Darling Marine Center
The DMC is the marine laboratory of the University of Maine. It was founded in 1965 upon the donation of a 127-acre farm by Ira C. Darling, a retired Chicago insurance executive, with the purpose of establishing a marine laboratory. Today the Center occupies almost 200 acres of largely wooded property bordering 2km of water frontage on the Damariscotta River.
The Center has two “campuses.” The upper campus is Ira’s old farmstead. The farmhouse and barns have been renovated and converted to offices, labs and library. The lower campus is on the waterfront and includes the flowing seawater laboratories, classrooms, dive building and dorm. There is about a half-mile between the two. A campus map is available here.
Where’s Walpole?
The DMC is located in Walpole, on the eastern shore of the Damariscotta River about six miles from the open waters of Gulf of Maine. The Damariscotta River estuary is a tidally-dominated embayment whose clean salty waters provide excellent research opportunities for DMC scientists and support a thriving aquaculture industry.
Walpole is a very small village that is part of the town of South Bristol, Maine. Walpole has its own post office and a golf course, but that’s about it! Groceries, the occasional movie and restaurants are available in the nearby town of Damariscotta, seven miles away. Brunswick, Rockland and Augusta are less than an hour’s drive and have more to offer for shopping and dining. Portland, Maine’s largest city, is 60 miles from the Center. The Midcoast area is full of opportunities to explore the outdoors, so be sure to bring your running shoes, hiking boots, bikes and binoculars.
Please consult our travel page for helpful tips on how to get here!
Climate
A typical early summer day in Maine is sunny and warm with temperatures in the high 70s to mid 80s ºF. Hot days in July and early August will undoubtedly reach well into the 90s. June is relatively cool, so bring a warm sweater for the evenings. If you are involved in substantial fieldwork, foul weather gear may be appropriate.
Maine is blessed with more than its share of biting insects (black flies, mosquitoes, and deer flies, in approximately that temporal sequence), so hats and light-weight, long-sleeved shirts and pants are useful throughout the summer.
Due to our rural location, summer nights can be dark and many people find having a flashlight handy.
Alcohol, Tobacco and Cannabis Policy
Alcohol is not allowed in public areas of the DMC, including the dining hall and fire-pit picnic area, without appropriate permits. Please be responsible with your consumption.
Cannabis possession and use, regardless of form, is prohibited due to our federal funding. This includes medical cannabis.
University of Maine, including the Darling Marine Center, is a tobacco-free campus. The use of tobacco and all smoking products is prohibited in university building and on university-owned property, including parking areas, walkways, and university-owned vehicles. Tobacco use by definition includes the possession of any lighted tobacco products, or the use of any type of smokeless tobacco.
Parking
You are allowed to bring your car to the DMC. No parking permits necessary, but we do ask for the make and model of your vehicle on the general information form and emergency contact form.
Internet Access
Wireless Internet access is available across campus. UMaine students should be able to access the network without problem utilizing the eduroam network, information for setting up the “eduroam” network for UMaine students can be found HERE. If you are from another college university, you can access the Internet via the UMS Guest network when you first arrive and once you are settled-in, we’ll get you on the full network. Two common use computers are available in the DMC library.
SCUBA Divers
There are a number of specialized training requirements for those who may be involved in scuba related research. The best way to meet all requirements is to enroll in our Summer Scientific Diving Course, SMS 324. Due to changes in faculty, the next SMS 324 course offering is yet to be determined. See the Summer Course/University page for more information as we get closer to spring.
Feel free to contact the Interim Diving Safety Officer at colby.johns@maine.edu for more information.
Safety Training
Prior to beginning work at the DMC, please complete the University of Maine’s Basic Safety Training online. Be sure to print your test results and bring them to the DMC. They must be kept on file in your lab. You will also have to complete a brief Darling Marine Center site safety training annually. This training will be offered several times early in the summer. Dates and times will be announced.
Emergency Protocol
Call 911 for local police, fire, and emergency medical services.
LincolnHealth is the closest hospital, and is located at 35 Miles Street in Damariscotta, roughly a 10 minute drive from the DMC campus.
Detailed guidelines for emergencies are listed in the Emergency Action Plan.
Mailing Address & Phone Number
The DMC gets daily service from the U.S. Postal Service, UPS and FedEx. If you need to have items delivered to the DMC your address will be:
“your name”
Internship Program
Darling Marine Center
193 Clarks Cove Road
Walpole, ME 04573
DMC main phone number is 207.563.8144. In case of an emergency, family members can dial extensions to the administration at 563.8220 and 563.8202. Staff at these extensions are often at their desks during work hours and can relay messages. The Outreach and Residential Life Coordinator at 207.735.6837 lives in the dorm and can be reached off hours, as well as our Facilities Manager at 563.8192.
If Housing is Available:
Arrival and Departure
Housing assignments will be posted in Brooke Hall. You DO NOT need to stop at the Horse Barn/Admin Building to sign in. Sam Annable, the Outreach and Residential Life Coordinator, lives in the dormitory and will be on hand to greet you when you arrive with your room assignment and key. He is also a great resource and can field many questions about the DMC. To contact, email samuel.annable@maine.edu or through his work phone at 207.735.6837.
Also note that if you are paying your housing bill yourself this summer, your payment is due prior to arrival and due again the 1st of each month. Expect to receive your first housing bill by May 1 and to pay it by phone or in person before receiving your room key.
You are expected to vacate your room within 24 hours of your last internship responsibilities or by 5:00. All rooms must be empty by August 23rd at the latest to ensure enough time to prepare for our fall semester undergrads.
If you need to arrive sooner or depart later please contact dmc@maine.edu to see if that is possible.
Dorm Rooms
The dorms are triple or quadruple-occupancy rooms, each with two sets of twin-size bunk beds, one desk, two wardrobes, and two bureaus that must be shared. Residents are responsible for keeping their rooms and common areas clean. Housekeeping supplies such as brooms and dustpans are available for your use. If you require accommodation please contact dmc@maine.edu.
- One compact refrigerator, 1.8 cubic feet or smaller, is allowed in each room.
- Do not bring a microwave; one is available for use in the upper campus kitchen
- Coin operated laundry facilities are available in the dorm.
Brooke Hall is a multi-use facility. Throughout the year various groups visit the DMC. Conferences and visiting groups are scheduled in Brooke Hall, so interns and summer researchers must share the space with other DMC guests. Please be conscious of the multi-use nature of this facility and considerate of others. Do not leave personal belongings in common areas, and be respectful of groups utilizing the dining hall and conference space.
Residents at the DMC are expected to act in accordance with the code of conduct and policies outlined in the University of Maine’s Residential Life Student Handbook. Please take special note of the following:
- see section on Alcohol, Tobacco and Cannabis policy.
- The possession and/or use of fireworks is prohibited on DMC property.
- The Darling Marine Center community is committed to maintaining a respectful, fair educational and work environment, free from discrimination and harassment. We have an equal opportunity complaint procedure to deal promptly and fairly with concerns about discrimination and harassment. If you have questions or concerns, please contact the Residential Life Coordinator or the DMC Director.
Keys
Upon arrival dorm residents will receive a key to their room. If this key is not returned upon departure you will be charged $85.00 for a lock replacement.
Cooking & Meal Plans
New this year, the DMC will be providing an optional meal plan for summer interns. We will be offering lunch Monday-Friday throughout the summer, and dinner Tuesdays & Thursdays. Occasional breakfast will also be an option, depending on concurrent visitors and their requested catering needs. Meals will take place at a certain time (TBD) and be shared alongside other DMC visitors. To-go meals and à la carte items will also be available. More details coming soon.
As always, access to the shared upper campus kitchen is provided, where you will be assigned a limited amount of cupboard and refrigerator space. This is a shared resource for which all dorm residents are responsible.
What to bring
Pack as you would for living on a college campus with respect to clothing and bedding (x-long twin sheets, blankets, pillows and towels). In addition, please be prepared to work in the field under inclement weather conditions. We recommend that you bring full rain gear, rubber boots, and layers of warm clothes. You may also want to bring binoculars for getting better views of seals and seabirds. Bicycles, kayaks and other recreation equipment also are encouraged.
What not to bring
DO NOT BRING: pets, toasters, hot plates, microwave ovens, candles, or incense.
Security
The Darling Marine Center has a long tradition of being a safe place for students. However, we cannot be responsible for your personal belongings. We suggest that you decide what to bring based on these guidelines. We view theft and vandalism as intolerable and would act swiftly and severely if such activity were to be uncovered.
General Policy: The Darling Marine Center is part of the University of Maine and we follow the same safety and residential regulations, as detailed in the online Student Handbook umaine.edu/handbook.