Internships for the Aquarium of the Pacific are available in a range of disciplines from Veterinary Externships and opportunities to work with animals as well as audio visual work. The full list of Internships for the Aquarium can be found here:

http://www.aquariumofpacific.org/volunteer/college_internships/

Aquarist Internship

 

The Aquarium of the Pacific has Aquarist Internship opportunities for the Fall, Spring, and Summer terms. These interns will be trained to provide daily husbandry for a diverse collection of marine fishes and invertebrates. Through one-on-one training and hands-on exercises, our interns will become competent in the care and maintenance of each of our exhibits within their assigned gallery.These are not paid positions.Our animal collection is divided into 3 distinct geographical zones. We have a Tropical Pacific Gallery, Southern California Gallery and a North Pacific Gallery. In addition to this exhibitry, the Aquarium of the Pacific also has a changing exhibits gallery coupled with a major elasmobranch exhibit called Shark Lagoon. We have one internship position for each of these areas, two in our tropical area, and one for jelly culture for a total of six available positions.

Commitment/Requirements:

  • Minimum time commitment of 16 hours per week over a 15 week period. (Or a minimum of 240 hours)
  • Must complete our general orientation session, Aquarium 101.
  • Must attend continuing education sessions when applicable.
  • Interest in pursuing a career in marine science fields.
  • Must be currently enrolled or recently graduated from a higher education facility.

Responsibilities

  • Primary responsibilities for our interns will include, but are not limited to:
    • daily food preparation and feeding
    • exhibit and behind-the-scenes cleaning
    • record keeping
    • animal observation
    • guest interpretation
  • Our interns will also be able to participate in a number of “special projects” including
    • veterinary procedures
    • annual animal physicals
    • quarantine procedures
    • animal capture and transfer techniques

Qualifications, Skills, Knowledge and Abilities:

  • Broad knowledge of ecological and biological principles, especially those relating to marine habitats.
  • Must be able to lift and carry 50 lbs on stairs, ladders and catwalks.
  • Some background knowledge of marine aquarium keeping.
  • Desire to work in close proximity to marine fish and invertebrates.
  • Willingness to get wet and dirty.
  • Strong communication skills and the ability to communicate effectively to staff and visitors alike.
  • Ability to manage multiple tasks.
  • Desire to fulfill our institutional mission of instilling a sense of wonder respect and stewardship for the Pacific Ocean, its inhabitants and ecosystems.
  • SCUBA certification highly encouraged.

Selection

All qualified applicants will be contacted by email to schedule a phone interview with our Aquarist Internship Coordinator. Candidates will be competitively selected on the basis of knowledge, abilities, experience, attitude, reliability, and punctuality.

Internships at the Aquarium of the Pacific are structured for college students and recent graduates who are interested in playing a direct role in ensuring our oceans are vital and healthy for generations to come.

Our internships are typically offered in the fall, spring and summer and we accept applications year round. All applicants should be organized, self motivated, and have excellent people skills. All internship positions are on a voluntary basis only; we do not offer paid intern positions. Housing and transportation are the responsibility of the candidate.

Spring term:
Application Deadline: November 13
Proposed Intern period: January-April

Summer term:
Application Deadline: March 11
Proposed Intern period: May-August

Fall term:
Application Deadline: July 15
Proposed Intern period: September-December