Shores Region Internship

About the Internship

This internship offers an introduction to the aquatic zoo-keeping field across three distinct areas:

• Aquarium
• Manatee Rescue & Rehabilitation Center
• Corals & Marine Aquaculture

Key Responsibilities (General)

Responsibilities will vary by area but may include:

• Assisting with preparing animal diets.
• Cleaning and maintaining animal enclosures, exhibits, and area grounds.
• Observing animals and reporting any behavioral changes.
• Daily monitoring of filtration systems and water quality testing.
• Upkeep of algae and cope-pod cultures (Aquarium and Corals areas).
• Delivering educational interpretation to guests or the general public.
• Performing other duties as assigned.

Specific Responsibilities by Area

• Aquarium & Corals & Marine Aquaculture:
• General husbandry for marine bony fishes, sharks & stingrays, marine macro-invertebrates, and coral colonies.
• Manatee Rescue & Rehabilitation Center:
• Husbandry for Florida manatees, marine bony fishes, stingrays, and waterfowl.
• Manatee enrichment.

Requirements & Tech Stack

• General Requirements:
• College student (2nd year or higher) or recent graduate (within 24 months of graduation date).
• 3.0 or above accumulative GPA on a 4.0 scale.
• Pre-employment TB test required.
• Ability to balance multiple assignments successfully.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Neat in appearance and maintain courteous behavior at all times.
• Ability to work in varied weather conditions (e.g., extreme heat, cold, rain, snow).
• Flexible schedule including weekends, evenings, and holidays required.
• Manatee Rescue & Rehabilitation Center Specific:
• SCUBA certification required.
• Ability to pass swim test and dive skills test required.
• Physician authorization for diving required.
• Preferred Interests/Experience (Aquarium & Corals areas):
• Interest in corals and aquatic systems.
• Previous fish keeping and aquarium experience.
• Preferred Experience (Manatee Rescue & Rehabilitation Center):
• Previous animal caretaking background.

Internship Details

• Hours: Minimum of 20 hours per week for 12-16 weeks.
• Type: Unpaid internship offered for educational purposes.

Majors Desired (All Areas)

• Zoology
• Marine Biology
• Biology
• Related field

RISE Scholarship Opportunity

• Eligible interns may apply for the Battelle-funded RISE Scholarship ($5,000 award).
• Applicants must be Ohio residents or attend an Ohio college or university.
• Scholarship application windows apply.