Opportunities
Note: we are no longer currently accepting applications to join our research team for the 2024-2025 academic year. However, I am always open to discussing opportunities for motivated undergraduates to take on independent research projects under my guidance focused on land-sea connectivity.
I typically work with a team of 4-6 undergraduate interns, and together we conduct coastal ecological research focused on marine and terrestrial ecosystem connectivity, social-ecological systems, intertidal community ecology, and related topics. These projects have various levels of commitment, with the typical minimum time commitment being ~3-5 hours per week for one academic quarter.
There are currently multiple funded, active projects that I occassionally seek assistance for:
1) California Coast Coyote Project (fieldwork + photo scoring)
This research project investigates marine resource consumption and dietary diversity of coyotes along the California Coast. Primary fieldwork tasks include collecting carnivore scat and deploying motion-triggered camera traps, and lab-based work involves data entry and camera trap photo/video scoring. Fieldwork for this project involves strenuous hiking (sometimes 10+ miles/day), lifting heavy items, carrying a backpack full of equipment, and occasionally overnight camping trips. We only conduct fieldwork trips for this project every 1-2 months, which involves travelling to Point Reyes and staying at a field station from Friday afternoon to Sunday evening.
2) Marine Mammal Carrion Scavengers Project (fieldwork + photo scoring)
This research project examines assemblages of marine mammal carrion scavengers at several sites across California, particularly at Año Nuevo State Park. Fieldwork involves hiking short distances on uneven terrain (sand dunes, scrambling up/down ledges) and deploying motion-triggered camera traps, and lab- or home-based tasks involve camera trap photo/video scoring. We conduct fieldwork for this project weekly from July-November, typically for ~3-4 hours on one weekday evening.
3) Snapshot USA Camera Trap Scoring (no fieldwork)
This year, we will be sharing data from our camera trap deployments at Point Reyes National Park through a coordinated, national camera trap sampling effort: Snapshot USA. As part of this effort, I am recruiting students who are interested in scoring camera trap images through Wildlife Insights (and not participating in any fieldwork), which can be done remotely and asynchronously in October-December 2024. I am also hoping to recruit one student to lead the data processing component of this effort, which will lead to student co-authorship on the resultant data paper.
I encourage all interested undergraduates to fill out the research questionnaire at the bottom of this webpage and contact me (frankie) directly via email.
Depending on intern interest and compatibility, there may be opportunities for undergraduate interns to lead synergistic research projects and/or participate as a co-author on peer-reviewed publications.
I prefer that interns working in with me are compensated with either academic credit or a stipend, but do not currently have stipend funding available. I encourage potential interns to communicate with me about put together funding proposals that can cover stipends and other research-associated expenses. Funding opportunities for UCSC undergraduate students that may be applicable include: federal work study, Koret Scholarship, UROP, CAMINO, Doris Duke Conservation Scholars, Deans’ Chancellors’ or Steck Awards, and others.
I typically work with a team of 4-6 undergraduate interns, and together we conduct coastal ecological research focused on marine and terrestrial ecosystem connectivity, social-ecological systems, intertidal community ecology, and related topics. These projects have various levels of commitment, with the typical minimum time commitment being ~3-5 hours per week for one academic quarter.
There are currently multiple funded, active projects that I occassionally seek assistance for:
1) California Coast Coyote Project (fieldwork + photo scoring)
This research project investigates marine resource consumption and dietary diversity of coyotes along the California Coast. Primary fieldwork tasks include collecting carnivore scat and deploying motion-triggered camera traps, and lab-based work involves data entry and camera trap photo/video scoring. Fieldwork for this project involves strenuous hiking (sometimes 10+ miles/day), lifting heavy items, carrying a backpack full of equipment, and occasionally overnight camping trips. We only conduct fieldwork trips for this project every 1-2 months, which involves travelling to Point Reyes and staying at a field station from Friday afternoon to Sunday evening.
2) Marine Mammal Carrion Scavengers Project (fieldwork + photo scoring)
This research project examines assemblages of marine mammal carrion scavengers at several sites across California, particularly at Año Nuevo State Park. Fieldwork involves hiking short distances on uneven terrain (sand dunes, scrambling up/down ledges) and deploying motion-triggered camera traps, and lab- or home-based tasks involve camera trap photo/video scoring. We conduct fieldwork for this project weekly from July-November, typically for ~3-4 hours on one weekday evening.
3) Snapshot USA Camera Trap Scoring (no fieldwork)
This year, we will be sharing data from our camera trap deployments at Point Reyes National Park through a coordinated, national camera trap sampling effort: Snapshot USA. As part of this effort, I am recruiting students who are interested in scoring camera trap images through Wildlife Insights (and not participating in any fieldwork), which can be done remotely and asynchronously in October-December 2024. I am also hoping to recruit one student to lead the data processing component of this effort, which will lead to student co-authorship on the resultant data paper.
I encourage all interested undergraduates to fill out the research questionnaire at the bottom of this webpage and contact me (frankie) directly via email.
Depending on intern interest and compatibility, there may be opportunities for undergraduate interns to lead synergistic research projects and/or participate as a co-author on peer-reviewed publications.
I prefer that interns working in with me are compensated with either academic credit or a stipend, but do not currently have stipend funding available. I encourage potential interns to communicate with me about put together funding proposals that can cover stipends and other research-associated expenses. Funding opportunities for UCSC undergraduate students that may be applicable include: federal work study, Koret Scholarship, UROP, CAMINO, Doris Duke Conservation Scholars, Deans’ Chancellors’ or Steck Awards, and others.
Photo Credit: Lindy Fung. All content © Frankie Gerraty