Announcements for Internships and Employment:

Internships

Interns are asked to apply during one of three time periods listed below. Internships are normally for 1-2 months.

Applications should be submitted well in advance, according to the schedule listed below:

We offer free food and lodging for interns. Everyone needs to sign a liability waiver and bring their own health, accident and diving insurance.

Decisions regarding these applications will be made within 2 weeks of the submission date (by the end of the month) and applicants will receive notification thereafter.

Please send us your complete application form, which you can either send directly from the pdf file or use the email link below.

Application Form

Paid Positions

No paid positions available.

About Huinay:

The San Ignacio del Huinay Foundation is a private entity operating a biological field station in Chilean Patagonia. The Huinay Scientific Field Station (HSFS) was inaugurated in 2001 and is situated 100 km south of Puerto Montt, Chile, in the Comau fjord; it is the only biological station in any Chilean fjord. The surroundings are characterized by steep mountains and volcanoes. The almost 6000 mm of annual precipitation gives rise to an extra-tropical rain forest with extremely lush vegetation. The small village of Huinay with its approximate 30 inhabitants can only be accessed by a 1 hour boat-trip (speed boat) from Hornopiren. Most infrastructure - except some small shops and a rural hospital in Hornopiren - is located in Puerto Montt, a 3 to 4 h drive or bus trip from Hornopiren.
Although the fjords of Chile maintain ecosystems with a very high biodiversity and biomass, beautiful examples of deep water emergence, and a long list of new species, knowledge on organisms and ecological functioning is very poor. The goal of the station is to carry out both our own projects and attract national and international projects to help fill these existing gaps. To accomplish this, the station has a dry and a wet laboratory, diving infrastructure and lodging facilities. We have telephone and internet access through satellite and power supplied by hydroelectric plant. In charge of the scientific operation are the Scientific Director, Verena Haussermann and Scientific Manager, Gunter Forsterra, who are at the station half of the time. Permanent station staff consists of two scientific-technical assistants (this position), an administrator, his wife (and assistant), a boat captain, a yard worker/carpenter and at least one person in charge of cooking and cleaning. Scientists are visiting throughout the year but most come between December and April.
Projects involve all kinds of terrestrial and marine basic research. Currently our main focus is with the marine environment, especially inventory and ecosystem studies of the fjords. As of January 2009 we will be distributing our newly completed Chile Marine Benthic Field Guide and already a second edition is in the works. Another immediate goal is to establish a local marine protected area, of which there are minimal in Chile and non in the fjords. The summer season of 2007-2008 marked our busiest season to date and growth is not expected to stop.

About the Technical-Scientific Research Positions:

This position may be one of the best entry level biology positions out there in that it gives perfect perspective on the unwritten requirements needed to succeed as a field biologist. The successful candidates will understand that flexibility is among the highest attributes for a field station, especially located in such a remote setting and operating in a Latin culture. The recorded hours of work are not always the true reflection of the day but other benefits may outweigh any extra efforts.
A remote four season paradise comes with trade offs and trials. Busy times pass very quickly but slow times balance the equation and make personal initiative and self motivation priceless. In every small community the smooth and reliable operation of the team is the only option for success but stress and confined space are bound to bring up conflicts. Resolution of problems and patience with others will promote longevity.
The technical-scientific assistant is the “go-to” person for the station regarding science on a daily level and is responsible for the maintenance and well being of all scientific activities. In this position you are both the boss and the employee, who needs to be able to follow instructions exactly while leading and motivate others at the same time. Harder moments of the job include: being assertive and diplomatic in the face of cultural, language, age, education and political differences; managing many tasks and people at one time; self organising to remain busy during the “off season” (don’t mistake this for there ever being a lack of work); adapting to delays and surprises in projects; and all the time keeping personal health and well being in high priority. Days off may be accumulated when necessary due to the science schedule which allows for longer trips from the station. Around the station there are many things to occupy free time as well, such as: camping, hiking, fishing, bird watching, kayaking, mountaineering and use of our tiny gym.
The scientific team in Huinay is operating well, therefore the selections for these positions will weigh heavily on personality as well as ability. Our team needs people with a desire to be here and will to perceiver. This is a “stepping-stone” job not an intermediate position en route to better things. What we offer in return is a learning experience and participation in important baseline studies which add to and change the view of fjord regions throughout the world, all the while in possibly the most beautiful setting you’ll ever see. And most importantly a lot of good clean fun!          

Application