Overview:
This program provides unique project opportunities for students looking to complete a bachelor’s level thesis or internship report. Students may choose an available topic from the ‘Working Titles’ below that best aligns with their degree and interests, while supporting Sharklife's overall research goals. Projects have a workload of around 180 hours a month and allow students to enhance their field skills and gain invaluable research experience.
We understand that degrees vary widely around the globe and that each university has different requirements for its students, we are happy to discuss these requirements and meet them if possible.
Prerequisites
Prerequisites
- Be enrolled in a degree in marine biology or equivalent
- Be self-motivated and well organized
- Good leadership skills (communication, delegation, empathy)
- Confident swimming ability and recent diving medical
- Advanced diver certification (only if the project method requires diving)
Current Projects:
Current projects fall under the broader scope of the Sharklife Elasmobranch Assessment Study, there are numerous potential studies for development, so depending on your area of interest a project topic can be outlined and available data assessed.
Elasmobranch Assessment Study (see the full outline here)
The study objectives are to assess elasmobranch species within the iSimangaliso Wetland Park:
- diversity
- relative abundance
- distribution patterns
- habitat associations
- life stages (sizes)
| Working Titles - ASSIGNED: | Student Name: | Level: | Institution: | Primary Method: |
|
Assessment of environmental factors influencing arrival times of elasmobranch species using Baited Remote Underwater Video surveys (BRUVs) (iSimangaliso Wetland Park, Area 1) |
Molly Tarling | BSc thesis | Univ. Nottingham | Stereo Bruvs |
|
Demography of Galeocerdo cuvier (tiger shark) and the influence of environmental factors affecting distribution patterns using Baited Remote Underwater Video surveys (BRUVs) (iSimangaliso Wetland Park) |
D’Asia Hill | Internship Report | NE Univ. Boston | Stereo Bruvs |
|
Describe spatial distribution of elasmobranches in the iSimangaliso Wetland Park using Baited Remote Underwater Video surveys (BRUVs) (iSimangaliso Wetland Park, Area 4, Summer Season) |
Henry Garber | Internship Report | Univ. Edinburgh | Stereo Bruvs |
|
Small-scale habitat characterization of four potential seasonal aggregation sites of Spotted ragged-tooth shark (iSimangaliso Wetland Park) |
Eleanor Gillion Webb | Internship Report | Cardiff Univ. | UVC |
|
Environmental factors affecting ragged-tooth shark movements at Raggie Reef using long term RUV data (iSimangaliso Wetland Park, Area 5) |
Beatrice Terracciano | Internship Report | Univ. Padua | RUV |
| Working Titles - AVAILABLE: | Student Name: | Level: | Institution: | Primary Method: |
|
Demography of Whitespotted Wedgefish (Rhynchobatus djiddensis) and the influence of environmental factors affecting distribution patterns using Baited Remote Underwater Video surveys (BRUVs) (iSimangaliso Wetland Park) |
To Be Confirmed | BSc thesis or Report | To Be Confirmed | Stereo Bruvs |
|
Assessment of environmental factors influencing arrival times of elasmobranch species using Baited Remote Underwater Video surveys (BRUVs) (iSimangaliso Wetland Park, Area 2 or 5) |
TBC | BSc thesis or Report | TBC | Stereo Bruvs |
|
Small-scale habitat characterization of four potential seasonal aggregation sites of Spotted ragged-tooth shark (iSimangaliso Wetland Park) |
TBC | BSc thesis or Report | TBC | RUV/UVC |
|
Seasonal elasmobranch diversity comparisons (winter vs summer) using BRUVS (iSimangaliso Wetland Park, Area 4) |
TBC | BSc thesis or Report | TBC | Stereo Bruvs |
Program Dates:
Depending on your project and data collection requirements you will need between 1 - 3 months.
Costs:
As with many training and experience-building programs, there are costs involved. This program is aimed at undergrad students looking not just for an internship or training program, but rather for the opportunity to produce a scientific report or thesis for their degree.
1 Month - $1995 USD ($498 p/w)
2 Month - $2995 USD ($374 p/w)
3 Month - $3995 USD ($332 p/w)
Included:
The majority of the program cost goes towards the implementation of your research project.
- Airport transfers
- Private room
- Dive gear
- On-site supervisor and mentor
- Office and communication expenses
- Data collection field trips and support
- Basic research equipment (gopros, bruv stations, temp loggers, current meters, etc)
Excluded:
- Scuba Courses: (PADI OW $350 or PADI ADV $250)
- Flights
- Travel Insurance
- Meals *
- Vaccinations
- Weekend Activities: These can be scuba diving or field trips
*Meals - The research camp has a fully equipped kitchen where you can prepare your meals and there are daily trips to the local supermarket where you can purchase food. Alternatively, there is a restaurant on site where you can order lunch and dinner from a large menu.
Would you like to conduct a project with us? let us know! Give us 24hrs to respond
