[Taxacom] internships in Chilean Patagonia

Fri Apr 22 20:02:38 CDT 2011

*Hello,*

*I would like to post this internship announcement. I am looking forward to
interesting applications!*

*Cheers,*

*Vreni*

 *Internship** in Chilean Patagonia*

We are a private Foundation that is operating a scientific field station in
Chilean Patagonia. Huinay Scientific Field Station was inaugurated in 2001
and is situated 100 km south of Puerto Montt, in the fjord Comau; it is the
only scientific station in a Chilean fjord. The surroundings are
characterized by steep mountains and volcanoes. Almost 6000 mm annual
precipitation gives rise to extremely lush vegetation characterized by
extra-tropical rain forests.

The small village Huinay with its approx. 25 inhabitants can only be
accessed by a 1-1.5 hour boat-trip (speed boat) from Hornopiren. Most
infrastructure - except some small shops and a rural hospital in Hornopiren
- is located in Puerto Montt, a 3 to 4 h drive or bus trip from Hornopiren.

Knowledge on organisms and ecological functioning of the fjord ecosystems is
very poor in Chilean Patagonia especially in the marine environment. The
goal of the station is-besides carrying out some own projects- to attract
national and international projects which help to fill the existing gaps.

To accomplish this, the field station has basic infrastructure: a dry and a
wet laboratory, diving and lodging facilities (8 rooms for up to 16
scientists/interns).

Projects involve all kinds of terrestrial and marine base-line research but
main focus is on the marine environment and counseling for the establishment
of a network of marine protected areas. In this context we are mainly
promoting inventory studies of the fjord ecosystems and we generally
organize one expedition to remote areas of the fjord region each year.

We recently finished a major project, a scientific field guide for marine
benthic fauna of Chilean Patagonia (see
www.PatagoniaMarina.info<http://www.patagoniamarina.info/>).

We have telephone and internet access via satellite (rarely good enough for
voice or video skype) and power supply by a hydroelectric plant. The
assistants are supervised and report to two biologists in charge of the
scientific operation who are approximately a third of the time on the
station, but can be contacted practically at any time. Besides these two
scientists (the scientific director and a research coordinator) the
permanent staff consists of the two scientific-technical assistants, an
administrator, his wife (and assistant), a replacement of the administrator,
two boat captains, 1-2 persons in charge for cooking and cleaning, and
approx. 3 auxiliary administrative workers. We try to have 1-2 interns at
any time at the station who help the scientific-technical assistants.
Scientists can visit throughout the year, but mostly come between December
and April (in the last years we had approx. 15 groups with a total of 40-50
scientists yearly)

We are looking for *interns* for approx. 6-8 weeks (can be longer, too),
starting NOW or later. We are ideally looking for biologists with taxonomic
knowledge. If you are an experienced dry-suit diver and bring your own
equipment, you might also be able to dive in Huinay.

The interns assist the 2 scientific-technical assistants and the GIS
assistant in the daily work.

Their jobs include:

- assisting visiting scientists (mainly in summer)

- work with our specimen database

- photo-identification of specimens to complete data/our database for a
MARXAN analysis for a proposal of a network of MPAs (interns with taxonomic
experience)

- diving for different scientific projects (e.g. coral recruitment)

- updating our website

- writing posts for Google Ocean

- feedings animals in the aquarium (if we have some at the time)

- doing monthly sampling

-     preserving, logging and shipping of samples (e.g. specimens); possibly
also taking pictures of collected specimens

- giving tours to tourists (mainly in summer)

and much more…

We offer:

-          Free lodging and food on the station and free transport from and
to Hornopiren on regular boat trips (there arise no expenses during the stay
on the station). You can also take the ferry that runs twice a week for
approx. 3 US$ (entering Tiesday and Friday- on theses days you need to take
the 8.00 bus in Puerto Montt)

You can find more information on the website http://www.huinay.cl

We are looking forward to your applications consisting of the filled out
volunteer request form, a cover letter explaining your personal incentive to
apply at Huinay Scientific Field Station, and a CV. Please send the
questions and the application to huinayresearch at gmail.com

-- 
!!NEW RELEASE!!  Marine Benthic Fauna of Chilean Patagonia - illustrated
identification guide
http://www.PatagoniaMarina.info

Dr. Vreni Häussermann
Director of the Huinay Scientific Field Station
Websites: http://vreni.anthozoa.info/homepagevreni/, www.anthozoa.com,
www.fjord-research.net
Field of work: taxonomy and biogeography of Chilean Anthozoa, especially sea
anemones
Present address: Casilla 1150, Puerto Montt
Phone: 0056-65-280368