Traineeship title: Conservation of seabirds in the Azores
Reference: N155438/20/ACORESRegion
AzoresCountry
Portugal
Traineeship start date:
01/07/2026Traineeship end date:
31/12/2026Traineeship Duration:
Approximately 6 monthsDeadline
30/04/2026Work Schedule
Flexible working schedule with remote work from Ponta Delgada, according to 7 daily working hours, as 35 hours per week.Fieldwork will require camping nights on islets and working at night-time schedule, with duly days off accordingly applied. Fieldwork may occur in other islands of the archipelago.
Location
S. MiguelTraineeship Area:
Biology & EnvironmentPeriod and duration of the language course:
From 01/07/2026 to 31/07/2026Practical Information
Language Course: from 01/07/2026 until 31/07/2026Practical Traineeship: from 03/08/2026 until 31/12/2026
Includes Trips
YesDescription of the tasks to be undertaken by the trainee(s):
The trainee will join the marine conservation team of SPEA-Azores and will accompany and assist the technicians on field and desk work tasks, as described below.
The trainee will contribute to conservation actions for seabirds in the Azores, within the Project ‘LIFE Natura@night’(1), providing support on:
- fieldwork for monitoring of seabirds’ breeding colonies on islets, providing support on data collection on nest occupancy, breeding success, ringing, biometrics, capture-mark-recapture, mist nets;
- data entry and database maintenance.
The trainee will also take part in the Campaign “SOS Cory’s shearwater”(2) in São Miguel Island, providing support on:
- rescue patrols of Cory’s shearwater juveniles;
- scientific data collection;
- promotion of the activity and its communication;
- recruitment, logistic and management of volunteers;
- awareness-raising activities for general public;
- data entry and database maintenance;
- elaboration of summary reports.
(1)LIFE Natura@night (LIFE20 NAT/PT/001098): project aimed at light pollution mitigation, knowledge-acquirement on its impacts, and conservation actions on affected species | https://naturaatnight.spea.pt/
(2)Campaign SOS Corys’shearwater: a local rescue program of Cory’s shearwater juveniles affected by light pollution, coordinated by the Azorean Government | https://portal.azores.gov.pt/en/web/drpm/sos-cagarro
Profile of the Trainee
Qualifications
Degree in Biology, Ecology, Natural and Environmental Sciences, or similar areas.
Personal and Social Skills
- High sense of responsibility, autonomy and organization for task performance and schedule compliance;
- Resourceful and critical thinking;
- Capacity of cooperation, teamwork and interpersonal relationships;
- Communication competences and social skills at ease;
- Willingness to learn and motivation to improve;
- Capacity to work in rough terrains and slopes, and endure night shifts, during fieldwork weeks.
Language Skills
Speaking and writing competences in English. Preference to competences also in Portuguese (not mandatory).
Information Technology (IT) Skills
Computer skills and office tools from user's perspective.
Preference to basic knowledge on spreadsheets, databases and data analysis, e.g. Excel, R and/or GIS.
Other Skills
- Basic knowledge on seabirds’ ecology;
- Capacity to elaborate reports, data entry and communication materials;
- Availability to live in São Miguel Island.
Other Skills