Spring Water Quality Internship

Spring Water Quality Internship

Title / Estuarine Water Quality Monitoring Intern
Summary / The South Slough National Estuarine Research Reserve (Reserve) monitors water column parameters related to ocean/estuarine acidification to understand long-term trends in water quality as part of the NERRS System-Wide Monitoring Program (SWMP). Two new instruments were added in 2015 to measure the partial pressure of carbon dioxide (pCO2) and high-resolution pH at the Valino Island SWMP station in the South Slough estuary. In addition, the Reserve added four new long-term SWMP water quality stations in the Coos estuary. By participating in this project, the intern will assist the science team with gathering samples via boat, analyzing data, and maintaining equipment.
Major Tasks / The Estuarine Water Quality Monitoring Intern will assist South Slough Reserve staff with the following projects:
  • assist the science team with deployment and recovery of water quality instruments by boat
  • collect water grab samples for lab analyses
  • compare datasets from the instruments to look at pCO2 and pH trends
  • assist with calibration and maintenance of the equipment
  • assist with field and laboratory work associated with the Reserve’s water quality monitoring program.

Benefits to
Intern / The Intern will gain hands-on experience in estuarine and marine science. They will be exposed to field sampling protocols, data collection, and data management. Interns will receive focused training and gain work experience in the following areas:
  • The intern will learn how to program and deploy a variety of water quality instruments, collect scientific samples and analyzedata that contribute to a national database of long-term estuarine water quality information
  • Collaboratewith the Reserve research and monitoring team, and participate in other Reserve science and education projects in field, laboratory and office settings

Desired Skills / The intern should be: willing to work outside, in small boats, and in a wetsuit during sometimes rough weather conditions; able to work as part of a team and independently; and understand basic laboratory and field data collection techniques. Experience with water quality equipment and data analysis software (e.g. MS Excel) is preferred. Because our fieldwork schedule is often determined by the tide, some of this work will take place in the early morning and/or early evenings. The Intern should be willing to work a varied schedule and be flexible when changes arise.
Time Commitment / 6-16 hours/ week for 10 weeks, depending on fieldwork schedule. $500 stipend award upon the completion of 100 total hours. Start week: April 4-End Week: June 4
Work Station / South Slough ECOS Lab (on the Oregon Institute of Marine Biology campus)
63466 Boat Basin Drive, Charleston, Charleston, OR 97420
Evaluation / The Estuarine Research and Monitoring Intern will be assigned a mentor at South Slough. Mentors associated with this internship position are the Estuarine Water Quality Monitoring Program CoordinatorAlicia Helms, 541-888-8270 ext. 304 The project Mentor will work directly with the intern and provide formal feedback to the intern on a weekly basis and less formally on an as needed basis. This is an informal relationship that allows the student to ask questions and the mentor to make suggestions. A final evaluation will be conducted by the program supervisor with input from the intern’s mentor and other staff and volunteers who have worked with the intern.
Contact / Deborah Rudd, SSNERR Public Involvement Coordinator
(541) 888-5558 ext. 158