If interested, please apply for Red Tide Program in your internship application, but specify one or both of the following programs or projects in your statement of interest.
Red Tide Institute - Dr. Cindy Heil
Mote’s Red Tide Institute is focused on mitigating the adverse impacts of Florida Red Tide on public health, coastal marine ecosystems and Florida’s economies. Experimental efforts within the institute include testing a variety of compounds to determine the efficacy of destroying red tide cells and toxins in order to mitigate red tide blooms. The Institute also researches the physiology of Karenia brevis using PAM-fluorometry, molecular identification using qPCR, and performs monthly ECOHAB cruises where chemical, physical, and biological parameters are measured. The duties within this internship would include assisting with mitigation experiments, filtering water samples, cell microscopy, spectrophotometric analysis, extensive field work up to 40 miles offshore on a research vessel, and general laboratory duties such as acid washing. Individuals with an interest in harmful algae, as well as some laboratory experience are preferred.
Red Tide Initiative
The Red Tide Mitigation and Technology Development Initiative was established to develop prevention, control and mitigation technologies that will decrease the impacts of Florida red tide on the environment and economy in Florida. The Initiative currently funds internal (Mote) and external projects from various organizations, universities and private companies around the U.S. Each project follows a tiered approach starting in the lab, then moving to large-scale mesocosm testing, and eventually conducting field studies. Projects in the mesocosm-stage will conduct research at the Red Tide Initiative Facility located at Mote Marine’s Aquaculture Research Park in Sarasota, FL. The intern will work with Mote biologists at the facility to aid with experimental testing of mitigation compounds and technologies. Activities include water quality testing, setup and maintenance of seawater tanks, general laboratory duties, culturing Karenia brevis, cell microscopy, and data collection and analysis. Students will become familiar with K. brevis biology, Initiative policy and funding, and current scientific literature. Applicants with environmental science background and laboratory experience recommended.