Duration of Internship: June 2024 – September 2024

Qualifications
BSc Marine Biology, University of Plymouth (2022-expected)

Dom carried out a 3-month long internship doing his placement year at the University of Plymouth. Dom got to participate in a number of different projects during his stay here such as the Mesophos, WFD and marine litter projects assisting in fieldwork for many of these projects. Many of these projects took him all around the island to Paralimni, Protoras, Ayia Napa, Larnanca, Zygi, Limassol and Pafos.

Being at MER Dom was able to explore a new environmental setting that he was not typically used to compared to the UK. In the field Dom participated in many projects doing fieldwork such as water sampling getting to use a CTD, integrated water sample and zooplankton net sampling depths up to 100m deep. He also assisted in the collection of sediment samples collecting macrofauna and physiochemical samples, learning how to operate the crane and boat. Dom improved his sorting skills of marine macrofauna and marine litter. There was also opportunities to participate in desk work creating social media posts for various ongoing projects to educate the public and doing literature reviews. In his spare time Dom explored Cyprus visiting different sites and familiarising himself with the local ecosystem and wildlife.

Dom’s Personal statement: “Working at MER has gave me a broader understanding of my field and given me direction on how to develop my skills further. Getting hands on experience has been very valuable for developing my skills as a marine biologist helping me develop my field and lab skills. Getting to meet the team at MER and hear about their experiences as marine biologists has given me a better idea of where I want to head in the future.”