The UH Health and Stranding Lab is looking for eager volunteers interested in marine mammal biology, health, and conservation.
This lab responds to dolphin and whale strandings in and around the Hawaiian Islands and conducts fact finding necropsies on deceased cetaceans. They look to their dedicated volunteer workforce to support stranding operations, assist in lab and sample maintenance and contribute to continuous research efforts and student projects.
The lab would like to emphasize that they do not work with any live animals.
Requirements:
Time commitment minimum of one 4 hour shift per week for 3 months
Completion of lab safety trainings, conducted and provided by UH Manoa
Willingness to support stranding lab operations outside of necropsies and personal projects
Ability to provide own transportation into Kaneohe (Bus OK)
US citizenship
Duties:
Assist in day-to-day lab operations and maintenance. This includes but is not limited to, subsampling past necropsy samples, assisting in graduate student research, help with cleaning and yard
maintenance of the lab premises, lab inventory updates, grant and research proposal assistance including primary literature research, occasional necropsy preparation, participation, and cleanup. Research projects currently underway include hormone analysis, marine debris work, PCR and DNA studies, cetacean histology, pathology, and teeth aging. There is potential for our most dedicated of volunteers to pursue individual research projects with this lab.
We have a flexible schedule for volunteers, lab members are on site six days a week during normal business hours. We are willing to work with volunteers to find a schedule that fits both the needs of the volunteer and the goals of the lab.
To Apply:
If you are interested in becoming a volunteer send an email to whaleanddolphinstranding@gmail.com with a short description of your laboratory and research experience as well as why you are interested in becoming a volunteer. No prior experience necessary.