Internship Opportunities

For the summer of 2019, we are currently planning to offer two undergraduate research internships. See below for more information about the internships and how to apply. If you are interested in applying for either internship, you may submit one cover letter that indicates your interest in both positions.

Aquaculture in changing waters: Impacts of ocean acidification on juvenile oysters

Summer 2019, 10 weeks, flexible start/end dates

Mook Sea Farm is offering an internship opportunity through the Sustainable Ecological Aquaculture Network (SEANET) program. The internship will determine calcification rates of juvenile (seed) oysters in an aquaculture nursery setting with ambient and manipulated pH conditions. Pending funding, the internship will also determine differential gene expression of the oysters grown in ambient and manipulated pH conditions. It is well documented that ocean acidification has negative impacts on larval oysters, which can be corrected by buffering the seawater used in hatcheries. A largely unanswered question is to what degree ocean and coastal acidification (OCA) affect juvenile oyster calcification and gene expression. Aside from hatchery operators, oyster farmers have generally not seen impacts of OCA on their seed oyster growth. The objective of this project is to determine the impacts of OCA on seed oysters with a goal of communicating the findings with other oyster farmers.

The intern will be co-mentored by Dr. Meredith White, Head of Research and Development at MSF, and Dr. Damian Brady at the University of Maine’s Darling Marine Center. A stipend based on experience (starting at $11/hour), along with $100/week to help offset housing costs. It is strongly recommended that the intern has access to a car.

Eligible candidates must be enrolled as an undergraduate in a Maine college or university, or be a Maine resident enrolled as an undergraduate at an out-of-state college or university at the time of the internship. This position will include computer and laboratory work as well as physically demanding indoor and outdoor activities. Competitive candidates will have completed the equivalent of two years of college study in sciences, engineering, economics, business, or another area of training relevant to environmental and marine sciences and be capable of working independently as well as in a team.

Applications will be reviewed beginning February 18. To apply, please send a cover letter and 2 page resume with three references to Dr. Meredith White at meredith@mookseafarm.com with ‘MSF OA Juvenile Oysters’ in the subject.

Environmental influence on larval bivalve settlement success

Summer 2019, 10 weeks, flexible start/end dates

Mook Sea Farm and the Damariscotta River Association (DRA) are offering a marine larval ecology internship through the Sustainable Ecological Aquaculture Network (SEANET) program. Building on work done in the summer and fall of 2018, the internship will explore the relationship between larval bivalve abundance and settlement success in the Damariscotta River and environmental variables including carbonate chemistry and food availability. Bivalve settlement in the Damariscotta River is variable year-to-year, with implications for both aquaculture and wild harvest. By relating settlement success to environmental variables measured at Mook Sea Farm and at a SEANET buoy, we hope to determine the factors that are most important to settlement success. The end-product of this internship will be a written SOP for citizen scientist monitoring led by the DRA in future years.

The intern will be co-mentored by Dr. Meredith White, Head of Research and Development at MSF; Sarah Gladu, Director of Education and Environmental Monitoring at the DRA; and Dr. Damian Brady at the University of Maine’s Darling Marine Center. A stipend based on experience (starting at $11/hour) will be provided, along with $100/week to help offset housing costs. It is strongly recommended that the intern has access to a car.