Exploring Dolphin Behavior and Communication in Animal Studies

About the Project:

The study of animal behavior has gained a great deal of traction in recent years. Knowledge of an animal’s behavioral repertoire is critical to our ability to monitor populations in the wild, and provide care through rescue and rehabilitation, and in zoological institutions. Research assistants will work in the Frick Animal Behavior Laboratory on active research projects that focus on animal behavior, communication, and applied behavior analysis, with an emphasis on dolphin species such as bottlenose dolphins, rough tooth dolphins, and Amazon river dolphins.

Dr. Erin Frick is an Assistant Professor of Animal Studies at Eckerd College and leads the Frick Animal Behavior Laboratory. She has worked with a variety of species including bottlenose dolphins, rough tooth dolphins, Amazon river dolphins, sea otters, sea otters, Asian small-clawed otters, tigers, loggerhead sea turtles, and zebrafish.

The First-Year Research Associate Program at Eckerd College honors academically outstanding students with awards of up to $1,000. The program also provides the opportunity, during the freshman year, for the award winners to work closely with a sponsor (faculty or administrative personnel) on a project of mutual interest. Associates might assist with research for faculty publication or new courses, conduct scientific experiments, work with creative artists, or develop projects related to any phase of the academic, cultural, and social life of the college. Scholars are selected on the basis of achievement in high school and on the creativity and depth of responses to items on this application.​

Online submission due no later than 11:59pm est. February 1, 2024.