Buck Island Sea Turtle Research Program Research Assistant (Intern)

The National Park Service at Buck Island Reef National Monument (St. Croix, USVI) seeks applicants for the Sea Turtle Research Intern position. This internship supports the 38th year of the Buck Island Sea Turtle Research Program (BISTRP), a long-term conservation and monitoring initiative. a long-term monitoring, research, and conservation project supported by the National Park Service (NPS), Buck Island Reef National Monument. BIRNM is a nesting beach for hawksbill (Eretmochelys imbricata), green (Chelonia mydas), leatherback (Dermochelys coriacea), and loggerhead (Caretta caretta) sea turtles.

 Program Details

• Duration: Mid-July to late October 2026 (15 weeks; possible extension)
• Location: Buck Island Reef National Monument, accessible only by boat
• Conditions: Physically demanding, nocturnal shifts up to 12 hours, rugged terrain, minimal facilities. Interns must work equally effectively as a team and individually.

Responsibilities

• Conduct night and day patrols to monitor nesting turtles at Buck Island
• Collect biometric and nest data; tag turtles; relocate imperiled nests
• Excavate nests to assess hatch success
• Perform data entry, equipment maintenance, and QA/QC
• Assist with outreach at The Buccaneer Hotel and support other NPS projects (forest restoration, tagging studies, snorkel surveys, stranding response)

Compensation

• Lodging and two meals daily provided
• Weekly stipend (~$200)
• Travel costs covered by NPS

* Applicants need to seriously consider their finances before applying to these openings; it will not be possible to   work locally while conducting intern duties.

 Required Qualifications

• Biology background and prior fieldwork experience (≥1 month)
• Communicate effectively in English, orally and in writing
• Ability to work in challenging conditions, including nights and weekends
• Strong work ethic, physical stamina, and swimming ability
• Walk in the sand up to 10 kilometers/night; climb rocks; stoop, kneel and stand on soft substrate and in cramped conditions
• Operate and maintain communications equipment properly (cell phone, hand-held VHS radio, marine radio)
• Have a valid US driver’s license

Preferred Skills

• Microsoft Access/Excel, statistical software (R), ArcGIS
• Public outreach and science communication
• Interest in documenting science and research for social media and public awareness posts
• Experience with sea turtle monitoring and tagging