Volunteer
Florida Atlantic University Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute (FAU Harbor Branch) welcomes your enthusiasm, experience, and energy as a volunteer. Anyone interested in volunteering may complete the application. If you are interested in volunteering at the Ocean Discovery Visitors Center, please complete this form in addition to the volunteer application. Consideration is given to all applications and placement is based on the Institute’s needs which may include short-term and on-going opportunities.
Current volunteer opportunities:
Harbor Branch Seagrass Nursery Volunteer Opportunity
The Harbor Branch Seagrass Nursery (https://www.hboiseagrass.org) is looking for volunteers for Spring 2025 and beyond. The nursery is undergoing an expansion that will quadruple the amount of seagrass we can produce for restoration efforts. As the construction is completed, the amount of effort needed to maintain the plants will also increase. We expect to have the construction fully completed by June 2025.
We are looking for volunteers to help with a variety of tasks- both indoor and outdoor. For outdoor tasks we need volunteers to help us clean and monitor the seagrass tanks. Indoor tasks may include data entry, organization of samples or files, development of social media posts, or sample processing using basic laboratory skills that we can teach you.
Hours of operation for the nursery are Monday – Sunday 8-6 p.m.
If you are interested, please contact:
Dr. Rachel Brewton
Assistant Research Professor
Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute
Florida Atlantic University
brewtonr@fau.edu
Ocean Discovery Visitors Center
Volunteers are needed to staff the welcome desk at the FAU Harbor Branch Ocean Discovery Visitors Center.
The Visitors Center is a destination where the community can come to learn about the research conducted by FAU Harbor Branch marine scientists and engineers. The welcome desk attendant has a very important job; as the first person to receive guests entering the Visitors Center, they are responsible for making a great first impression and promoting our offerings. The attendant’s primary duties include greeting guests as they arrive, collecting basic visitor tracking data, providing information about current outreach programs, keeping a watchful eye on the Visitors Center while staff members are busy, and assisting with various organizational tasks as needed.
In addition to being a part of our outreach team, volunteers will receive a complimentary Immersion Tour, 15% off at the FAU Harbor Branch Gift Shop, and access to special events.
The Visitors Center is open Tuesday - Saturday from 10- 4 pm. The welcome desk attendant is required to fulfill a minimum of one three-hour shift each week (10 am - 1 pm or 1 pm - 4 pm). If you would like to volunteer but are unable to do so on a regular basis, other opportunities may be available. The number of visitors that come to the center each day is highly variable. While some days are very busy, others are quiet; volunteers must be able to remain seated at the welcome desk for the entirety of their shift and be prepared to greet visitors as they arrive. For this reason, volunteers are encouraged to bring a book or other quiet activity and will have access to a computer with internet to use during slow periods.
FAU Harbor Branch Indian River Lagoon Research Boat Tour Volunteer
Training will be provided for activities, props, tools, and any other specific tasks.
Volunteer Duties:
- Willing to lead hands on activities with water quality tools (Secchi disc, a DO/temp. meter, refractometer, etc.)
- Comfortable handling props (shells, pSAT tag, live specimens from net, etc.)
- Willing to work with guests of all ages (children- seniors)
- Help usher guests off boat to parking lot after tours
- Help reset props/tools on boat after each tour
- Help control ROV tether (optional)
- Deploy plankton net (optional)
- Able to stand for up to an hour
- Able to lift up to 25 pounds
- Able to walk unassisted and go up and down stairs
- Ideally volunteers would commit to at least 1 boat tour per week (2.5- 4 hrs.) for at least one semester (4 months)
Ocean Discovery Experience (ODE) Volunteer
The outreach department is looking for volunteers who are interested in assisting with the Ocean Discovery Experience (ODE). ODE is a program that happens before or after school in partnership with the Boys and Girls club. Volunteers helping with this program will be working with our staff member to teach students about marine science and lead hands on activities! Right now, we the most help is needed for the middle and high school sessions which are scheduled for the month of October. If you are a looking for a high energy volunteer opportunity working with students this could be a great opportunity for you!
Volunteer Duties:
- Be comfortable helping with easy science experiments
- Hand out papers and supplies
- Help students with crafts
- Carry bins and supplies
- Lift up to 50 pounds
- Use crafting tools
- Assist educators with other small, simple duties
Nayak Lab Volunteer Opportunity
Volunteer Role: Image Data Analysis Assistant
We are looking for dedicated and curious volunteers to assist in our image data analysis projects. This is an excellent opportunity to get involved in hands-on marine science research. No experience is required! We’ll provide all the training and guidance you need.
Why is plankton research important?
Plankton are crucial to marine ecosystems, producing much of the Earth's oxygen and serving as a primary food source for many marine animals. They also indicate ocean health, helping us understand the eDects of climate change and pollution. By joining our research, you'll contribute to vital knowledge about these essential organisms and their role in sustaining life on Earth.
What You'll Be Doing
- Analyzing plankton images captured through advanced imaging systems from various ocean environments
- Assisting with data organization
- Learning image analysis software
Why Join Us?
- Gain experience in marine science and data analysis
- Make a real impact on research projects exploring vital marine ecosystems
- Be part of an interdisciplinary team of scientists and engineers
- Flexible hours to accommodate your schedule
- Remote or on-campus positions available
- Opportunities for growth and involvement in other research projects
Interested? Contact:
Dr. Aditya Nayak
Email: anayak@fau.edu
Phone: (772)-242-2427
Olivia Ruchti, Ph.D. student
Email: oruchti2019@fau.edu
Phone: (561)-383-1387
The Harmful Algae Bloom Lab Opportunity
The Harmful Algae Bloom Lab is looking for enthusiastic volunteers to come join the team. Our volunteer opportunity will provide basic laboratory experience including grinding algae samples, washing glassware, and filtering water samples. The lab's hours of operation are from 9-5, Monday through Friday.
Contact:
Greer Babbe
772-242-2223
gbabbe2020@fau.edu
Jessica Pettingill, HBOI Volunteer Coordinator
jessicap@fau.edu