Welcome To Friends of the Moss Landing Marine Laboratories

This special internship opportunity has been created by the Friends of Moss Landing Marine Laboratories (MLML) and Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute (MBARI) to honor the life and memory of Drew Gashler who was an MLML graduate and an MBARI employee. A current MLML graduate student will have the opportunity to participate in an Autonomous Underwater Vehicle (AUV) project at MBARI. MBARI will define the project and identify an MBARI mentor for the MLML student. Friends of MLML and MBARI will provide the stipend to theMLML student. Initially, the student will be an employee of MLML. This practical work experience is tremendously valuable and may serve many functions for an MLML student. For a first year student, it may jumpstart his or her master's thesis project; for any student, it may launch a rewarding career. The primary project for this intern will likely be the AUV Docking System as detailed below.

AUV Docking System: This project will contribute to the development of a docking system capable of supporting an extended deployment of an AUV (severalmonths). Realizing the full power of the seafloor observatories under development at MBARI demands realizing the synergies between systems fixed to the seafloor and mobile platforms (Autonomous Underwater Vehicles). Seafloor cabled systems distribute power and communication tothe interior of the ocean, while networks of AUVs provide dense, adaptable coverage. A docking system is required to provide an AUV access to seafloor observatories power and communication infrastructure. Future observatory programs will be vastly improved by leveraging the fixed infrastructure to realize sustainable, flexible AUV presence. A simplified version of MBARI's current CTD AUV will be used as the docking platform. To provide focus, an initial event response science mission is being selected. A favored option is to detect and respond to tidally generated high-current events in the canyon. The system will be implemented incrementally, the intent being to provide ascientifically useful platform with a subset of the docking capabilities in order to demonstrate the importance and usefulness of docking. This project is open to all applicants.

Eligibility Requirements

1) Currently enrolled student at MLML

2) Available for ten weeks, June 12- August 18th, 2006

Application Requirements:

1) Cover Letter detailing interests and statement of why you would like to participate in this particular project.

2) Three letters of recommendation

3) Curriculum Vitae

Stipend: $500/week

APPLICATIONS MUST BE RECEIVED BY FEBRUARY 16, 2006