Graduate Research (MSc) Opportunity: Human Dimensions of Rebounding Populations of Seals and White Sharks on Cape Cod, MA.

UMass Boston - Graduate Research (MSc) Opportunity: Human Dimensions of Rebounding Populations of Seals and White Sharks on Cape Cod, MA.

In the spring and summer of 2020, an interdisciplinary, multi-institution research team will undertake a study of attitudes towards seals and sharks among voters, tourists and commercial fishermen on Cape Cod. The study is a collaboration among Salem State University, University of Massachusetts, Boston, Tufts University Center for Animals and Public Policy, Center for Coastal Studies, Atlantic White Shark Conservancy, and the Cape Cod Commercial Fishermen’s Alliance. The project seeks to generate knowledge about stakeholder views and experiences with seals and sharks. This research will provide the basis for an engagement plan in Spring 2021 to enable managers, policy makers, and non-governmental organizations to foster coexistence, enhance public safety, and mitigate seal and shark-related conflicts. The research also will result in academic presentations and publications.

We are seeking a highly motivated Master’s student to join our research team as a graduate research assistant. The student will be enrolled at the University of Massachusetts, Boston, but also spend time at Salem State University and on Cape Cod. This position provides funding through May 2021, including tuition, travel, and salary. For information on admissions requirements and how to apply please refer to the UMass Boston-School for the Environment website: https://environment.umb.edu/graduate-programs.

The student will have primary responsibility for management of the tourist survey and will provide support for data collection for resident and commercial fishermen surveys during the summer of 2020. Suitable candidates must be available to start in mid-May 2020 and to work independently and collaboratively. During the fall of 2020 and spring of 2021, the student will play a major role in data analysis and preparation of reports and manuscripts at the same time that they complete coursework in the M.S. Environmental Sciences program at the UMass Boston School for the Environment. Familiarity/experience with SPSS and Qualtrics a plus.

This project is funded by the Woods Hole Sea Grant program: https://seagrant.whoi.edu/sharks-seals-microplastics-among…/

Interested applicants should send a letter of interest and CV to Dr. Stephanie Wood, stephanie.wood@umb.edu no later than 1 February 2020.