The Environmental Institute of Houston (EIH; https://www.eih.uhcl.edu) at the University of Houston-Clear Lake (UHCL) is seeking a dedicated professional to assist with Galveston Bay Dolphin Research Program (GDRP; https://galvestonbaydolphin.org/) activities. The GDRP is a collaborative initiative led by the Galveston Bay Foundation, with EIH-UHCL as a founding partner. Work will entail the collection and management of bottlenose dolphin population data in Galveston Bay, Texas. The position includes a combination of field and office work and requires an 18-week commitment.  

Salary:          $3,120 per month (temporary full-time, not benefits eligible; $18.00/hour equivalent) 

Dates:           June 01 – October 04, 2026

Specific Duties

• Act as the person-in-charge for vessel preparation and operations during photo-id surveys.
• Assist in the collection of photo-identification survey data of bottlenose dolphins in Galveston Bay.
• Assist in managing a database of dolphin survey photos and associated data.
• Perform photo-analysis of dolphin data.
• Assist with a variety of data organization tasks (with Excel, FinBase, and Adobe Lightroom).
• Assist with the development and preparation of maps, reports, literature reviews, and newsletters.

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in biology, zoology, marine science, wildlife studies, or related field.
• Previous experience with small boat handling and trailering.
• Previous experience with marine mammal field research, including photo-id of marine mammals.
• Ability to work long field days on a small boat in Texas heat, often in inclement or challenging conditions.
• Competency using word, data and image processing software including Microsoft Office.
• Ability to carefully follow instructions, work independently on sometimes tedious and/or repetitive tasks, and pay close attention to detail.
• Be an excellent team member able to communicate and work with others in person and remotely.
• Flexibility to be available Monday-Sunday for field work for the duration of employment.
• Have a willingness to occasionally work on other environmental research related projects at EIH.
• Ability to provide own lodging and transportation for in-person work at the EIH office located in the Clear Lake area of Houston, TX.
• Must be a United States citizen or have permanent resident alien status.
• Successfully pass a criminal background check prior to hiring.

Desired Qualifications:

• Previous experience with Finbase and FinFindR
• Previous experience handling a vessel during small cetacean photo-identification operations