Despite the February chill, the University of Maine’s Darling Marine Center in Walpole is gearing up for a busy summer field season. Applications are now being accepted from undergraduate students for positions posted online at dmc.umaine.edu.

Each summer, undergraduate students at the DMC conduct basic and applied marine research in, on, under, and beside the waters of the Damariscotta River estuary and the Gulf of Maine as well as in flowing seawater laboratories onsite at the DMC. In recent years, students have studied deep sea corals and lobsters, they’ve grown oysters and scallops, and they’ve monitored our coastal waters and ecosystems in partnership with community collaborators.

This summer’s internships run for 10 to 14 weeks and offer competitive stipends and housing at the DMC. Students enrolled in colleges and universities across Maine and around the world are welcome to apply. There are opportunities in the fields of marine biology, microbial ecology, and oceanography as well as fisheries and conservation science, aquaculture, engineering, and science communication. Application deadlines range from late February to early March.

Summer interns at the DMC gain experience in all aspects of scientific research and hone their laboratory and field skills. Depending on the project, interns may also acquire boating skills or become certified as a scientific diver. Students develop engagement and communication skills and represent the DMC at community festivals and events throughout the summer. Many present their research at the August SEA Fellows Symposium, which highlights university-industry collaborations that benefit Maine’s marine economy and coastal communities.

Founded in 1965, the Darling Marine Center’s mission is to connect people to the ocean. DMC researchers, staff and students work alongside fishermen, aquaculture entrepreneurs, marine industry professionals and other members of the community in Maine and around the world. More information is available at dmc.umaine.edu.