Summer Internship National Marine Fisheries Diversity Program

The Northeast Regional Office (NERO) of the National Marine Fisheries Service in Gloucester, MA
Internship Program Information
We’re seeking talented undergraduate and graduate students to work in challenging internship positions throughout the organization including Sustainable Fisheries (SFD), Protected Resources (PRD), Habitat Conservation (HCD), Office of Law Enforcement (OLE), Information Resources Management (IRM), and Operations and Budget (OBD). We offer hands-on opportunities to learn about NERO’s work in planning, organizing and implementing programs for fishery management, resource allocations, and habitat and protected species conservation. We work with our interns to help them learn about marine resource management, develop skills in their chosen areas, and network with staff and individuals in their professions at our offices in Gloucester, MA.
NERO seeks to widen and deepen the applicant pool it draws from for its workforce by developing new contacts and relationships with a diverse group of students, educators, and employers throughout the country. The promotion of the program and solicitation of applicants will target minority serving institutions, other educational institutions having a diverse student body, and multicultural student organizations. Students from minority serving institutions are encouraged to apply, however, no applicant will be denied an opportunity for review.

General Information
NERO offers a 10-week internship beginning on June 6th, 2011. Interns are expected to work full time, 40 hours per week and are offered a stipend of approximately $580 per week for undergraduate students, and $650 per week for graduate students. Housing and transportation will not be provided, but housing is available at nearby Salem State University and other locations on Cape Ann. Students are encouraged to bring a car to Massachusetts for the summer for transportation to/from work and outside of work hours. A candidate must be a current undergraduate or M.S. level graduate student, and be enrolled in a college program for the Fall 2011. Internship applicants must be authorized to work in the United States.

Application Procedures
Candidates must complete an application form and submit it with a cover letter, resume, unofficial transcript for all post-secondary institutions attended, and a letter of enrollment from your current university. If graduating before the Fall 2011, an enrollment letter from your future university is also required. Applications must be received by MARCH 1, 2011, incomplete applications will not be reviewed.

Email (preferred), mail or fax applications to:
Additional Information
Mr. Brett Alger 55 Great Republic Drive Gloucester, MA 01930 HUbrett.alger@noaa.govU FAX: (978) 281-9135
Students can read more about the internship at the following link: http://www.nero.noaa.gov/nero/jobs/Intern_Welcome/index.html. Please contact us if you have any questions, we look forward to hearing from you!

Aquaculture Reference Cataloguing (OBD)
The intern will work with the Northeast Aquaculture Coordinator, the NOAA Aquaculture Program in Silver Spring, MD and with the National Ocean Service laboratory in NC. NOAA’s Aquaculture Program has a directory of more than 900 aquaculture publications such as journal articles, government reports, NGO reports, internal reports, etc. Currently, they are not filed in an organized manner and are difficult to use. Therefore, the project consists of cataloging various aquaculture articles in a database to create a searchable virtual library, print reference lists, and for general program use. The database will be used for research on topics related to aquaculture policy, outreach, regulatory and international components and will aid in writing papers and preparing speaking engagements. The intern should have a good knowledge of various aquaculture methodologies, ability to quickly read and comprehend documents, and understand electronic databases.

Aquaculture and Enforcement (OBD and OLE)
Cultured seafood products have become a common place in U.S. markets and play a major role in the food chain. This affects wild fishery harvest and sale, therefore existing enforcement and regulation efforts need to be researched and examined to see if existing protocols address potential changes in the fishery and seafood marketplace. The intern will work with the region Aquaculture Coordinator and OLE to interview agency enforcement personnel and aquaculture industry participants, then investigate possible existing protocols (e.g., the Interstate Shellfish Sanitation Plan) that might be adapted to address the issues. We will also investigate protocols in other countries and international protocols that are currently dealing with the issue. A final report and presentation will look at the costs, species managed, effectiveness of the protocols in current use, a comparison of the protocols, and other points of interest that might arise during the investigation of these issues.

Habitat Conservation (HCD)
We are seeking an intern to help look at effects of ocean renewable projects on marine habitats. The types of ocean renewable projects would include wind farms, wave, current, and tidal energy, and ocean thermal energy conversion technologies. To do this, we need to complete a synthesis of peer-reviewed and gray literature which would include a summary of unpublished reports and scientific journal articles. The intern should be familiar with searching for and obtaining scientific and gray literature and have strong writing skills.

Public Outreach for Fishery Management (SFD)
Multiple regulations govern Federal fisheries activities in the Northeastern United States, however, regulations can be difficult for the general public to find and understand. Outreach materials have been produced to help the fishing industry better understand these rules. Interns will review current outreach materials and consult with staff to identify needs for updated and new outreach materials; for example, develop an info sheet that details regulatory processes and explains opportunities for fishing industry to get involved in regulatory development.

Educational and Outreach for SCUTES (PRD)
We are seeking a motivated and creative intern with interest in elementary and/or high school science education. The intern will develop curriculum, activities and lesson plans to be used with SCUTES (Students Collaborating to Undertake Tracking Efforts for Sturgeon) which brings teachers, students and Atlantic sturgeon researchers together to track sturgeon, and learn about their life history and importance along the East coast. These activities will increase the current educational offerings through the program to be used in schools and classrooms that are participating with SCUTES. The intern will have the opportunity to creatively apply ideas for successful education and public outreach.

Information Resource Management (IRM)
The IRM team and IT Help Desk in the Regional Office has a perfect opportunity to learn more about how a local network provides IT resources. Additional opportunities include configuring computers and troubleshooting end user issues and computer repairs. We have a team of IT professionals available to work with, by the end of your 10 weeks, you will have an understanding of how a typical IT shop operates. You will work with a variety of departments and people in the Regional Office. Therefore, not only will you need to have an interest in IT, but also a "service" attitude and enjoy working with customers to solve IT related problems.

Conservation of River Herring and Cusk (PRD)
We are seeking an intern to identify proactive conservation activities for species of concern such as river herring (alewife & blueback herring) and cusk. PRD promotes efforts to conserve species for which NMFS has concerns regarding status and threats, or those for which insufficient information is available to indicate whether listing under the HEndangered Species ActH (ESA) is warranted or identifying it as a “candidate species”. Proactive efforts taken to conserve species of concern, such as river herring and cusk, can help NMFS ameliorate current and future threats to these species. This project will involve reviewing available information on the species, including potential risks and environmental threats, as well as talking with species experts to develop a list of proactive conservation activities that NMFS should consider undertaking.