Aquarist Intern

Role Overview

OdySea Aquarium is looking for an Aquarist Intern to join its Animal Care team. During the internship, you will move through the aquarium’s four gallery areas as well as the quarantine facility, gaining hands-on exposure in a closely supervised setting. The role offers the chance to support a wide range of aquatic life, including sharks and rays, freshwater and marine fish, invertebrates, and selected freshwater and marine reptiles such as green sea turtles and loggerhead turtles.

This position supports day-to-day aquarium operations through animal care tasks, cleaning, food preparation, and guest-facing education. The internship is structured as 40 hours per week, spread across four 10-hour days, for one full semester.

Key Duties

• Take part in educational demonstrations and interactive aquarium programming.
• Help create engaging and positive experiences for guests every day.
• Maintain records of learning activities and completed hours.
• Complete an assigned project and present it orally, using visual aids, to peers and staff.
• Comply with all aquarium policies and procedures at all times.
• Carry out additional tasks, worksheets, quizzes, tests, or projects required by the internship program.

Employee Promise

• Take initiative and look for ways to go beyond expectations.
• Stay alert to guest needs and focus on the details.
• Treat internal and external guests respectfully.
• Be presentable and maintain a welcoming smile while on duty.
• Work with gratitude and a positive mindset.
• Strive to do things correctly on the first attempt.
• Act in an honest, moral, and ethical way.
• Offer alternate solutions when needed.
• Keep learning about the organization’s products and services.
• Use the 10/5 guest acknowledgment approach with a smile and greeting.
• Use people’s names whenever possible.
• Take responsibility for the condition of shared spaces.
• Be accountable for tools and resources.
• Respect the value each team member brings.

Requirements

• You must be a current college student or a recent graduate.
• You need to follow the aquarium’s grooming standards.
• You must comply with departmental standard operating procedures.
• You must successfully pass a background check and drug screening.
• You should be available for at least 3 to 5 days per week during the assigned semester.
• You must be willing to work different operating hours, including evenings, weekends, and holidays.
• You should feel comfortable speaking in front of groups.
• You must be able to speak into a microphone and interact with guests.
• You should be adaptable, eager to learn, and able to multitask.
• You need a positive attitude, strong work ethic, teamwork mindset, responsibility, enthusiasm, and flexibility.
• You must be able to lift up to 50 pounds.
• You need the ability to access animal exhibits, enclosures, and pools.

Application Materials

• Completed brief application form.
• Cover letter limited to one page.
• Resume limited to one to two pages.
• Three reference letters, with at least two coming from a former teacher or supervisor.

Semester Schedule

Spring Semester: Applications are due by December 1, and the semester runs from January through April.

Summer Semester: Applications are due by April 1, and the semester runs from May through July.

Fall Semester: Applications are due by July 1, and the semester runs from August through December.

Working Schedule

This internship requires full-semester participation at 40 hours per week, arranged as four 10-hour workdays.