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# 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.