Opportunities
We are no longer accepting applications for Fall 2023 opportunities. Feel free to reach out via email and fill out the questionnaire below, but we are not actively recruiting at the moment.
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 hours per week for one academic quarter.
There are currently multiple funded, active projects that we are seeking assistance for:
1) California Coast Coyote Project
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.
2) Marine Mammal Carrion Scavengers Project
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.
3) Sitka Sound Wrack Project
This project explores relationships between seaweed wrack and shoreline invertebrate communities in Sitka Sound, Southeast Alaska. Lab-based tasks associated with this project include identifying, measuring, and weighing microscopic invertebrates at the UCSC coastal science campus.
4) Urban Scavengers Project
This project investigates the impact of urbanization on shoreline scavenging assemblages along the Santa Cruz County coastline. Assisting with this project may be conducted remotely, and involves identifying and enumerating vertebrate scavengers from camera trap videos.
5) Snapshot USA Camera Trap Scoring
This year, we will be sharing data from one of 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, which can be done remotely and asynchronously in October-December 2023.
We encourage all interested undergraduates to fill out the research questionnaire at the bottom of this webpage and contact 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. I am always happy to work with potential interns to 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 hours per week for one academic quarter.
There are currently multiple funded, active projects that we are seeking assistance for:
1) California Coast Coyote Project
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.
2) Marine Mammal Carrion Scavengers Project
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.
3) Sitka Sound Wrack Project
This project explores relationships between seaweed wrack and shoreline invertebrate communities in Sitka Sound, Southeast Alaska. Lab-based tasks associated with this project include identifying, measuring, and weighing microscopic invertebrates at the UCSC coastal science campus.
4) Urban Scavengers Project
This project investigates the impact of urbanization on shoreline scavenging assemblages along the Santa Cruz County coastline. Assisting with this project may be conducted remotely, and involves identifying and enumerating vertebrate scavengers from camera trap videos.
5) Snapshot USA Camera Trap Scoring
This year, we will be sharing data from one of 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, which can be done remotely and asynchronously in October-December 2023.
We encourage all interested undergraduates to fill out the research questionnaire at the bottom of this webpage and contact 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. I am always happy to work with potential interns to 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
