Student InternAt — Orange County Sanitation District

Under close supervision, the Student Intern performs various tasks that relate to the incumbent’s academic field of study and exposes the incumbent to OC San’s work environment

Safely deploying and retrieving oceanographic equipment from a research vessel. Providing a synopsis of relevant literature and preparing charts or graphs from data samples. Working efficiently with the scientific team to process environmental samples. Working independently on analyzing microplastic samples and preparing lab equipment for toxicity testing.

Training:

Scientific staff will train the intern on using oceanographic equipment to collect environmental samples, preparing laboratory equipment for whole effluent and whole sediment toxicity testing, tabulating and analyzing environmental data using software such as Primer, and processing fish samples, including data recording, data entry, and specimen vouchering. Fish identification resources will be provided to the intern. The intern will receive training from experts on using the FTIR spectroscope to analyze microplastic samples.

Learning Outcomes:

Use a CTD rosette, Van Veen grab, and trawl net to collect seawater samples, sediment and infauna samples, and bottom-dwelling marine animals, respectively, on a research vessel. Sort, identify, measure, and weigh marine fish samples, including data recording, data entry, and specimen vouchering. Set up and dismantle laboratory equipment for whole effluent and whole sediment toxicity testing. Perform scientific literature searches, as well as tabulate and analyze environmental data, for reports and special projects. Use a Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscope to analyze microplastic samples.