Support Letter

OMB Control No. 0648-0719

Expiration Date: 08/31/2021

NOAA-UH Research Internship Program

NOAA's Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument (PMNM), Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center (PIFSC), and the University of Hawaiʻi (UH) are proud to announce research internships for 2022.

Internships will include:

1. Dive training to conduct coral reef surveys using NOAA methodologies

2. Participation on a 10-30 day long research expedition to the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands or other NOAA managed area aboard a NOAA ship, NOAA partner vessel and/or NOAA chartered vessel

3. Development of an independent research project with UH faculty and NOAA scientists using data from the expedition

4. Presenting the results of the research project to NOAA offices

Applicants must meet the following criteria (see checklist at end of application):

1. Passed Quantitative Underwater Ecological Surveying Techniques (QUEST) field course (MARE 264 or 364)

2. Active scientific diver at UH, with ability to qualify for 100ft. depth rating prior to internship

3. Be able to obtain a letter of reciprocity from the University of Hawaii Diving Safety Program (UHDSP) for diving activities to be completed under this internship

4. Nitrox certification through the UHDSP

5. Dive computer authorization through the UHDSP

6. Be proficient with identifying Hawaiian fish and coral fauna

7. Have completed at least 30 fish or invertebrate SCUBA surveys

8. Be available in the month prior to the expedition for training (training dates TBD - dependent on cruise dates)

9. Be available to participate on one or two legs of 10-30 day long NOAA research expeditions with PMNM or PIFSC (Schedules TBD).

10. Possess medical insurance that is valid through the end of the internship

11. Have access to SCUBA equipment (BC, power inflator, regulator and alternate air source) with up to date servicing through the end of the internship (through relevant date TBD)

12. Be able to obtain medical clearance to dive off a NOAA vessel; this includes obtaining a TB clearance

The following materials must be included with your application:

• Internship Application Form

• NOAA-UH Research Internship Interview Questions Answers

• Character Reference Sheets from two separate educational or professional references (to be submitted by persons recommending you for this internship)

• Letter of support from a Marine Option Program (MOP) faculty or staff member from your campus who has agreed to sponsor you

NOAA-UH Research Internship Application Form

A Federal agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required to respond to, nor shall a person be subject to a penalty for failure to comply with an information collection subject to the requirements of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 unless the information collection has a currently valid OMB Control Number. The approved OMB Control Number for this information collection is 0648-0719. Without this approval, we could not conduct this information collection. Public reporting for this information collection is estimated to be approximately 1 hour per response, including the time for reviewing instructions, searching existing data sources, gathering and maintaining the data needed, and completing and reviewing the information collection. All responses to this information collection are voluntary. Send comments regarding this burden estimate or any other aspect of this information collection, including suggestions for reducing this burden to the Brian Hauk, NOAA National Ocean Service, 1845 Wasp Blvd, Bldg 176, Honolulu, HI 96818, or [email protected].

Privacy Act Statement

Authority: President George W. Bush established the Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument (PMNM) by Presidential Proclamation 8031 to ensure the comprehensive, strong, and lasting protection of the coral reef ecosystems and related resources of the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands (NWHI).

Purpose: NOAA collects information from applicants for research internships for National Monument annual coral explorations, for the purpose of evaluating their qualification and experience, and from references, to assist in this process.

NOAA Routine Uses: NOAA will use this information to determine what improvements can be made to the program. . Disclosure of this information is permitted under the Privacy Act of 1974 (5 U.S.C. Section 552a) to be shared among NOAA staff for work-related purposes. Disclosure of this information is also subject to all of the published routine uses as identified in the Privacy Act System of Records Notice GSA/GOVT-9, System for Award Management.

Disclosure: Furnishing this information is voluntary; however, failure to apply may prevent the opportunity for an internship.

Submit the following no later than 5 pm, Date TBD to B[email protected]. Reference sheets and letters of support should be e-mailed separately by persons recommending you for the internship. You will be notified by end of April if you have been accepted into this internship program.

• Completed application form

• Character reference sheets from two references

• Letter of support from a Marine Option Program (MOP) faculty/staff member from your campus who has agreed to sponsor you

1. General information

Name: Click here to enter text. Phone: Click here to enter text.

E-mail address: Click here to enter text.

Mailing address: Click here to enter text.

City: Click here to enter text. State: Click here to enter text.

Postal code: Click here to enter text.

UH college attending: Click here to enter text. Major: Click here to enter text.

GPA: Click here to enter text. Expected graduation date: Click here to enter text.

Year completed QUEST: Click here to enter text.

High school attended (name/ location): Click here to enter text.

2. Supporting coursework

Please list all marine-related or research courses you have taken that may be relevant to this internship (attach additional sheets if necessary).

Course: Click here to enter text. Grade: Click here to enter text.

Course: Click here to enter text. Grade: Click here to enter text.

Course: Click here to enter text. Grade: Click here to enter text.

Course: Click here to enter text. Grade: Click here to enter text.

Course: Click here to enter text. Grade: Click here to enter text.

Course: Click here to enter text. Grade: Click here to enter text.

Course: Click here to enter text. Grade: Click here to enter text.

Course: Click here to enter text. Grade: Click here to enter text.

3. Fieldwork and research experience

Please list any projects you have been involved with that included scientific diving, boating, field surveys or other research experience. Briefly describe your assigned duties and responsibilities (attach additional sheets if necessary).

Project name: Click here to enter text. Location: Click here to enter text.

Dates: Click here to enter text. Supervisor: Click here to enter text.

Assigned duties and responsibilities:

Click here to enter text.

Project name: Click here to enter text. Location: Click here to enter text.

Dates: Click here to enter text. Supervisor: Click here to enter text.

Assigned duties and responsibilities:

Click here to enter text.

Project name: Click here to enter text. Location: Click here to enter text.

Dates: Click here to enter text. Supervisor: Click here to enter text.

Assigned duties and responsibilities:

Click here to enter text.

4. SCUBA diving history

Please enclose a photocopy of both sides of all SCUBA certifications, first aid and CPR cards.

Highest SCUBA certification: Click here to enter text.

Certifying organization: Click here to enter text.

Year certified: Click here to enter text.

Other SCUBA certifications (name, certifying organization and date):

Click here to enter text.

Total number of SCUBA dives to date: Click here to enter text.

Number of dives in the last 12 months: Click here to enter text.

Expiration date of latest first aid course: Click here to enter a date.

Expiration date of latest CPR: Click here to enter a date.

5. UH scientific diver status

AAUS authorizing institution: Click here to enter text.

UHDSP depth rating: Click here to enter text. Nitrox certified (yes/no): Click here to enter text.

Dive computer authorization (yes/no): Click here to enter text.

Dive Safety Officer: Click here to enter text. Phone: Click here to enter text.

E-mail address: Click here to enter text.

6. Medical insurance information:

Please enclose a photocopy of both sides of your medical insurance cards.

Company: Click here to enter text. Insurance number: Click here to enter text.

Special medical conditions or allergies (describe): Click here to enter text.

7. Divers Alert Network insurance:

Please enclose a photocopy of both sides of your DAN insurance card. If you do not yet have DAN insurance, you can get this at: http://www.diversalertnetwork.org/insurance/

DAN ID#: Click here to enter text.Valid until: Click here to enter a date.

8. Interview questions:

Please briefly answer the following questions, being as specific as possible (attach additional sheets if necessary).

1. Describe your educational and long-term professional goals, and how this internship will help you in attaining these goals and become a steward of ocean resources in Hawaii, the Pacific Islands or other parts of the world.

Click here to enter text.

2. Briefly summarize your scientific diving experience, as well as your experience conducting fish and benthic surveys. Please include any boat experience and time aboard research vessels.

Click here to enter text.

3. What experience do you have with working independently on a research project? Please include experience with data management, scientific writing, oral presentations, etc.

Click here to enter text.

4. Briefly describe your experience working closely with other people as part of a team.

Click here to enter text.

Checklist for UH–NOAA Research Internship

To qualify for this internship program you must have the following qualifications:

• Completed the QUEST field course (MARE 264 or 364)

• Active scientific diver at UH with ability to qualify for a 100ft. depth rating

• UH Nitrox certification

• UH dive computer authorization

• Have UH scientific diver authorization through the end of the internship (through date TBD)

• Be proficient with Hawaiian fish and invertebrate fauna (you are expected to be able to identify local marine fish and corals by sight and scientific name before internship and pass an ID exam)

• Have completed at least 30 fish or invertebrate SCUBA surveys

• Be available for a week long training prior to the departure of the research expedition (training dates TBD based off expedition dates)

• Be available to participate on one or two legs of 10-30-day long PMNM and/or PIFSC expeditions to the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands (NWHI) or other NOAA managed marine areas (Dates TBD)

• Possess medical insurance that is valid through the end of the internship (through date TBD)

• Provide a copy of Divers Alert Network (DAN) insurance. If you do not have this, you can get this at: http://www.diversalertnetwork.org/insurance/

• Provide proof that your SCUBA equipment (BC, power inflator, regulator and alternate air source) was serviced or purchased new within one year of the end of the internship (and/or through date TBD)

• Be able to obtain medical clearance to dive off a NOAA vessel; this includes obtaining TB clearance

• Be enrolled at UH through the summer or fall of 2022

By signing this application, I agree to all of the statements listed above.

Signature: Click here to enter text. Date: Click here to enter text.