Marine Mammal Team Leader/Research Assistant

Would you like to join the multidisciplinary team of Archipelagos Institute to promote applied field research and conservation in the Aegean Sea, Greece?

We are looking for dedicated and proactive people with Marine Biology background and fieldwork experience in marine mammal boat surveys, but also good communication/organization skills, to lead and inspire and/or coordinate our Marine Mammal team to pursue Archipelagos conservation goals.

Archipelagos conservation projects are multidisciplinary with the participation of different research teams, therefore the successful candidate must be a strong team player wable to focus on the common goal of the project and its conservation outcome.

The Marine Mammal Team Leader will work closely with the Project Managers and the Scientific director to take part in the phases of project design and implementation that require its field of expertise.

The Marine Mammal Research Assistant will work closely with the Team leader to ensure that tasks and projects assigned to the Marine Mammal Team run smoothly. This is a key role to act as a coach to Archipelagos interns to get experience in field work and data collection methodologies.   

This position will also support the Operations Manager on the day to day operation at the bases.

The role would be perfect for someone looking for a challenging opportunity to gain scientific field work experience to continue developing their career in the field of Marine science and Environmental conservation.

Duties and responsibilities:

Marine Mammal Supervisor:

-          Act as a team leader planning the Marine Mammal field work and boat surveys and leading daily meetings with the team to coordinate activities at the base.

-          Supervise and coach Marine Mammal interns on their projects, scientific writing and reports, to ensure that work carried out and data collection is accurate and to a high scientific standard.

-          Proactive attitude to research for funding and scientific publication opportunities.

-          Act as a leader for Samos base management.

-          Have a good understanding of the Archipelagos Institute of Marine Conservation goals to be able to design new projects in line with them.

Marine Mammal Research Assistant:

-          Suport on Research team leader on: 

-          Direct supervision of Intern’s work.

-          Giving scientific writing feedback.

-          Coordination of survey activities.

-          Coach interns to improve their fieldwork and scientific skills.

-          Conduct Induction/Welcome briefings to new interns.

-          Direct supervision during boat surveys as required.

-          Cooperate on Samos Base management.

Required skills:

Marine Mammal Team Leader: 

-          MSc Degree in marine sciences, with experience in marine mammal research.

-          Field research skills: knowledge of data collection methods and research and analysis principles and techniques.

-          Previous experience in marine mammal field research and risk assessments.

-          Experience managing and training students and/or volunteers.

-          Demonstrated leadership, supervision and team building skills.

Marine Mammal Research Assistant:

-          BSc Degree in marine sciences, with experience in marine mammal research

-          Previous experience in marine mammal field research and risk assessments.

-          Experience managing and training students and/or volunteers.

For both positions:

-          Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships.

-          Ability to conduct fieldwork in all weather conditions.

-          Ability to write scientific reports and papers.

-          Fluency in English.

-          Fluency in Greek ( desired).

-          Excellent computer skills.

-          Some knowledge of statistical analysis and R Studio.

-          Sincere interest in issues related to the protection of the environment.

-          Willingness to occasionally work during weekends and holidays.

Benefits:

• Marine Mammal Team Leader: Salary according to the experience, accommodation and full board.
• Marine Mammal Research Assistant: Accommodation, full board, and flights  (This is an unpaid position, but can be later extended to also include financial compensation.)

How to apply: Please submit an up-to-date resume, two references and one page cover letter expressing your interest to info@archipelago.gr as soon as possible. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis and positions will remain open until filled.

About Archipelagos Institute of Marine Conservation:

Archipelagos Institute of Marine Conservation is a non-profit, non-governmental organization committed to researching and defending the biodiversity of the Greek seas and islands, as well as the entire eastern Mediterranean.

Since its creation in 1998, Archipelagos has been focusing on the combination of multidisciplinary scientific research and efficient conservation work in which local communities play an active part.

This strategic cooperation enables and strengthens Archipelagos' actions at local, national and European level, allowing it to protect aquatic and terrestrial life against ever-increasing human destructive activities.

About our Microplastics Laboratory Team:

One of Archipelagos' primary goals since its establishment has been to create the first non-governmental, non-profit, independent laboratory in Greece. Archipelagos’ lab can assess potential sources of pollution that may be harmful to marine and terrestrial ecosystems, which can also impact public health.

The goal of Archipelagos’ Microplastics Lab Team is to identify the primary sources of microplastics in the Aegean and to quantify the extent of their contamination.

In our laboratories, we investigate the abundance of microplastics from different sources including water, sediment, Posidonia oceanica seagrass, sea urchins, wild and farmed fish and marine fauna, but also we collect data coming from macroplastic during our campaign of beaches cleaning activities in Lipsi and Samos in order to gather the information and increase the knowledge about the potential microplastics spatial distribution and biomagnification in the trophic net, from the sources to the plankton and all the way to humans.

Furthermore, in order to actively support the environment, Archipelagos promotes the installation of Water Desalination Systems stations in different islands to avoid the exaggerated use of plastic bottles in the Greek islands, and the lab is involved in water quality analysis to confirm the safe use of this water as drink water.

About the location:

Archipelagos Bases are located on the islands of Samos and Lipsi, in the heart of the Eastern Aegean Sea. The Aegean Sea is one of the most important marine biodiversity hotspots in the Mediterranean, with some of the most extensive and pristine ecosystems, hosting populations of keystone species. Far away from mass tourism, these remote Aegean islands offer the most authentic  Greek lifestyle with welcoming local communities, rich culture, and beautiful landscapes.

Find out more about our bases at:

https://archipelago.gr/en/about-us/research-bases/