Student Mentorship & Research Projects
Student Mentorship &
Research Projects in Costa Rica
I work with a small number of motivated students who wish to develop and carry out independent research projects in Costa Rica, with a focus on sea turtles and applied marine conservation. These are student-led projects, meaning you take the lead in developing the research question, planning the study, and committing the time needed to obtain research permits, organise logistics, and secure funding.
My role is to provide scientific guidance, local context, field-based training, and access to field sites and collaborators where appropriate, as well as honest feedback on feasibility and study design. This pathway is best suited for students who are organised, self-motivated, and willing to plan well ahead, and who want their work to contribute meaningfully to conservation rather than simply gaining short-term field experience.
STEP 1
Getting to Know You
The first step is a short questionnaire that helps me understand your background, interests, skills, and timeline, as well as the kind of research you are hoping to pursue. It also gives you the opportunity to reflect on your motivation and whether this type of student-led research pathway fits your current situation. This step helps both of us assess whether moving forward makes sense.
STEP 2
Project Scoping
If there is a good fit, we will discuss potential research directions, field sites, and feasibility in more detail in a 1:1 call. This conversation will focus on aligning your interests with realistic data availability, conservation priorities, and the practical requirements of working in Costa Rica, including permits, timing, and logistics.
STEP 3
Mentorship Agreement, Project Development & Preparation
Once a project direction is agreed upon, we enter into a formal mentor–mentee agreement that outlines roles, expectations, timelines, and responsibilities on both sides. From there, we move into detailed project development, including refining the research question and methods, preparing research permit applications, and planning logistics and funding. This structure helps ensure that mentorship and project work proceed in a clear, transparent, and productive way.
The Application Process
Research Priorities & Meaningful Project Ideas
Not all sea turtle research contributes equally to conservation outcomes.
Over the past decade, it has become increasingly clear that some questions, regions, and species are already well covered, while other areas that are critical for management and protection remain under-studied.
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For this reason, I encourage students to develop project ideas that are grounded in current conservation needs and realistic data availability.
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To support this process, I am encouraging potential mentees to review the articles below, which highlight key research gaps and priority areas. These articles provide a useful starting point when thinking about potential project ideas and study questions:
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Hamann et al. (2010). Global research priorities for sea turtles: informing management and conservation in the 21st century. Endangered Species Research. 11(3):245-69 PDF
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Rees et al. (2016). Are we working towards global research priorities for management and conservation of sea turtles?. Endangered Species Research. 31:337-82. PDF​
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Wildermann et al. (2018). Informing research priorities for immature sea turtles through expert elicitation. Endangered Species Research. 37:55-76. PDF
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Wallace et al. (2011). Global conservation priorities for marine turtles. PloS One. 6(9):e24510. PDF
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Students are expected to engage with this literature and use it to inform their own ideas, rather than arriving with a fully fixed project concept. Project directions are refined collaboratively, but the initial thinking and engagement with existing knowledge should come from you.
Field Sites, Species & Seasons
Research feasibility in Costa Rica depends strongly on matching research questions to the right field sites, species, and seasons. Species presence, densities, and data availability vary widely across regions and throughout the year, and not all sites are suitable for student projects that require meaningful sample sizes.
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I work at and collaborate with a limited number of field sites where long-term monitoring, local partnerships, and permitting pathways are already in place. These sites support research on several sea turtle species and offer realistic opportunities for data collection across different life stages, depending on season and study design. Projects are developed with these constraints in mind to ensure that data collection is both feasible and scientifically robust.
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An overview of current field sites, focal species, and typical seasons is provided below to help guide early thinking about potential projects. Final site selection and timing depend on project scope, permits, and alignment with ongoing work.
Site Type | Focal Species | Region | Typical Season |
|---|---|---|---|
Important Considerations
All student research projects require advance planning and flexibility. In Costa Rica, research permits are mandatory and typically take several months to obtain, which means projects cannot be arranged at short notice. Timelines, field access, and data collection periods are shaped by seasonality, weather, and permit conditions.
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Students are responsible for securing their own funding, including travel, accommodation, insurance, and living expenses. While I provide guidance on feasibility, logistics, and local context, this is not a funded internship or volunteer programme.
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Projects are expected to be designed and conducted to a standard that allows results to be analysed rigorously and, where appropriate, developed into a scientific publication or other formal research output. This expectation informs project scope, data quality requirements, and the level of commitment required during and after fieldwork.
Is this Experience the Right Fit for You?
This Experience is a Good Fit if You..
This Experience may NOT be the Right Fit if You..
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Are developing a Bachelor’s, Master’s, or early PhD research project
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Are comfortable shaping your own research question and study design
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Can plan several months in advance
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Can secure your own funding for travel and living costs
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Work independently and take responsibility for organisation
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Are interested in applied research with conservation relevance
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Are looking for a ready-made or pre-funded project
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Need to start fieldwork at short notice
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Expect accommodation or expenses to be covered
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Are primarily seeking a short-term volunteer experience
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Prefer highly structured programmes with fixed tasks
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Are not yet ready to manage project planning independently
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In this case, you might be interested in taking a look at my summary of available internship opportunities in Costa Rica: XXXXX