Terrestrial Research & Conservation Projects in Greece

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In order to monitor the status and the habitat of the key species, the Archipelagos' Terrestrial Conservation Team carries out surveys throughout the year with a focusing mainly on Samos island, but also extending to Ikaria and the small islands of the northern Dodecanese. The data gathered on the given species is used towards assessing the human impacts on their biodiversity and, ultimately, towards Archipelagos’ conservation initiatives and efforts.

This internship will consist of both field work and office work, which will provide interns with valuable skill sets in data collection, data analysis, and report writing for a professional career in wildlife and terrestrial conservation and environmental management.

Research is conducted during land-based surveys, where interns assist in the data collection for ongoing research projects, including:

• Determining the Mediterranean Chameleon population size and distribution using mark-recapture techniques and morphometrical analysis
• Determining the Golden Jackal population size and distribution by using: Passive and Active Acoustics Monitoring, with the aiming to understand the population dynamics, distribution and acoustic characteristics of the golden jackals of Samos (nocturnal and daytime surveys are included, Raven Pro software is used for data analysis);
• Camera Trap Monitoring in areas of high jackals’ activity;
• Jackals’ diet analysis through scat sampling and camera traps (laboratory work is included for the analysis of the samples);
• Jackals’ parasitology with the aim to detect the presence/absence of some parasites found in jackals’ scats (fecal samples collection and laboratory work is included in this research).
• Carrying out observational surveys of various lizard, snake, tortoise and amphibian species
• Carrying out research regarding the extent of anthropogenic impacts and their influence on reptile populations and develop habitat conservation measures
• Assessing the Greater Flamingo migratory subpopulation that inhabits a small wetland in Samos ιsland and studying their diurnal behaviour by using BORIS software.
• Participating in awareness-raising projects aiming to develop community engagement
• Collecting data on bird population through standardised point count methods and transect surveys on the islands as well as through boat-based surveys

These projects provide field-work and hands-on research opportunities for undergraduate and post-graduate students who have achieved a bachelor’s or master’s degree, and who are looking to gain experience outside the classroom. Participants have the opportunity to collect data for producing a thesis and scientific publications (you can view Archipelagos researchers' scientific publications that interns contributed to, here).

The skills and expertise acquired through this internship are useful towards a professional career in environmental and/or zoological research and conservation fields.

Interns have the opportunity to conduct independent research projects, for university credit or for a thesis/dissertation.

This internship program is available to applicants who have completed at least one year of college or university studies in the field of marine, ecological, environmental sciences and/or veterinary medicine.

Applicants must be able to work both independently and as part of a dynamic, multi-cultural, multidisciplinary team. During multi-day boat surveys, the research team lives on the boat, so applicants must be able to live in tight quarters for several days at a time.

Internship duration normally ranges between 3 - 12 months, although shorter or longer internship periods may be arranged to cover the needs of groups or individuals.

Archipelagos’ research bases and stations are in the Eastern Aegean Sea, on the islands of Samos and Lipsi as well as onboard the research vessels. Interns often move between research bases and boats depending on where the surveys will take place.

As a non-profit research institute, the internships we offer are unpaid. This educational/research experience requires a monthly fee of 650 euro to cover living expenses, the cost of training, use of research equipment and travelling with the research vessels, use of the office facilities, as well as insurance.

For internships of less than 3 months in duration the participation fees are raised to 780 euro per month.

Students and recent graduates and researchers are advised to search for possible funding through their universities, by getting in touch with the International Office/ Placement/ Erasmus+ Offices at their Universities or other relevant grant providing organizations in their region.

To apply, please send your motivation letter, your CV, a copy of your resume, cover letter and one reference letter (if available) to admissions@archipelago.gr