General Description

The Center for Whale Research (CWR) is seeking applications for two research interns for  the summer of 2026. This is a three-month position, working with the CWR research and  education staff on San Juan Island, Washington, to conduct on-the-water field work,  catalog and analyze data, and communicate scientific information to the public. The  successful applicants will be provided with housing, training by CWR research and  education staff, and a $1,000/month subsistence stipend. 

 

About the Center for Whale Research

The Center for Whale Research is an internationally recognized non-profit research institution based in Friday Harbor, Washington, USA. For the last four decades, the CWR has conducted rigorous, non-invasive demographic and behavioral research on killer whales in the Pacific Northwest, with particular emphasis on the endangered southern resident killer whales. As part of our primary research project, Orca Survey, the CWR completes an individual-level photo-ID census of the SRKW every year. Additionally, the CWR conducts behavioral studies of killer whales using unoccupied aerial systems (UAS) to understand their foraging, movement, and social structure. More information about the CWR, including our mission, goals, current research, and past publications, is available on our website (whaleresearch.com).

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Role and Responsibilities

This internship aims to provide training and experience to students and early career  researchers who hope to pursue a career in marine mammal research and conservation.  Interns will participate in the CWR’s Orca Survey and Aerial Observation research  programs, both on the water and in the office. The successful applicant will gain training  and experience in: 

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• Small boat operations and safety

• Cetacean photography for individual identification and health assessment

• Killer whale behavioral observation and sampling 

• Unoccupied aerial system (UAS) operations for behavioral observation

• Data cataloging and management, including photographs, videos, and behavior notes

• Identification of individual resident and Bigg’s killer whales 

• Communicating science to the public 

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This work will involve early mornings, long days on the water in a small, open boat, and long  hours of computer work cataloging and analyzing video and photographs. 

Interns will spend one day per week in the CWR’s Orca Survey Outreach Center in Friday  Harbor, communicating research and delivering short presentations to the public. Interns  will receive science communication training from the CWR’s education and outreach staff. 

 

Duration

The internship will begin on June 15, 2026, and end on September 15, 2026.

 

Eligibility

Applicants must either hold or be pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field (i.e. life or environmental sciences). All applicants must be at least 18 years of age, hold a valid driver’s license, and be able to live and study in the USA.

 

Required Skills and Experience

• Experience being part of a collaborative research team in field or laboratory settings

• Able to live in a communal setting

• Good teamwork and communication skills

• Highly motivated and eager to learn

• Computer literate, particularly with Microsoft Office and file management systems

• Comfortable communicating information to the general public, both one-on-one and in presentations

• Physically able to lift equipment up to 50 lbs and spend long days on a moving vessel with significant wind and sun exposure

• Comfortable with a flexible work schedule - will likely include early mornings and late evenings on the boat for fieldwork

 

Application Process

To apply for this internship, please fill out this form: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/18gSl7pnzSE-_V1BWGg4MvT5Eik24KAiEaM9qfomTaWU/viewform?edit_requested=true

 

In addition to answering some basic questions, you will be asked to upload a cover letter,  CV, and contact information for two references. In your cover letter, please clearly outline  why you would like to undertake this internship, what you hope to accomplish in your  career more generally, and any challenges or barriers you’ve faced in your career and  education. Applicants from backgrounds underrepresented in marine and life sciences are  highly encouraged to apply. 

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Applications close on January 15th, 2026 at 11:59 PM, Pacific. Applicants will be notified  whether they have been short-listed in early February and be invited to a short interview.  Short-listed candidates will be informed whether they were selected by the end of  February. 

 

If you have any questions, please email Michael Weiss: michael@whaleresearch.com