Kachemak Bay is a dynamic high-latitude estuary that supports a wide diversity of marine species and habitats, providing valuable services to South Central Alaska. NOAA’s Kasitsna Bay Lab (KBL) located within Kachemak Bay is conducting new and ongoing research to characterize shifts in the oceanography and biology in the region associated with environmental stressors, with a particular focus on kelp habitat and invertebrate assemblages. This internship will provide opportunities to participate in multiple projects including habitat mapping, oceanographic monitoring, marine plastics research, and ecological data synthesis. The expectation is that the intern will participate in all field work, but will develop an independent project that contributes to KBL’s ongoing mission to be determined through collaboration with their mentor. The intern will also be expected to produce a summary report and presentation of their experience at the end of the internship. 

This internship will provide opportunities for the intern to develop skills including: biological and oceanographic field survey methods, drone team operations, experimental design, data analyses in R, and scientific communication.