Sea Jelly Intern - Fall/Winter 2026

Overview

This internship offers hands-on training in sea jelly husbandry and aquatic systems management. Interns will build core technical skills in live culture, animal care, and applied research, gaining a well-rounded foundation in aquarium science. Interns will be trained in the fundamentals of artemia culturing, routine tank maintenance, and safe jelly transfer techniques. As skills progress, interns will take on an independent, data-driven research project, design and maintain a mini jelly tank (Kritter Keeper), and gain experience culturing polyps through IVF.

Learning Outcomes

• Learn the role and importance of artemia culture in jelly husbandry, building the foundational live-culture skills needed to support a healthy jelly system.
• Learn how to balance and maintain a jelly system, applying hands-on tank maintenance skills gained throughout the internship.
• Learn basic principles of fluid and flow dynamics as applied to aquatic environments, a core piece of understanding how jelly systems function.
• Learn techniques for culturing jellies from polyp to adult stage, including hands-on experience culturing polyps through IVF and maintaining a mini jelly tank.
• Learn how to assess jelly health and identify signs of stress or illness, developing the animal care skills central to safe jelly transfer and handling.
• Learn the purpose and function of filtration in aquatic systems, a key component of aquatic systems management.
• Learn how water quality affects jelly health and system stability, tying together tank maintenance, filtration, and overall system.

Qualification Requirements

• Must be 18 years of age or older.
• Current college or graduate student enrolled in a degree granting program.
• Interest in pursuing career in animal care.
• Be able to lift 50lbs and perform physically demanding tasks.
• Be able to work in all weather conditions (rain, snow, heat, cold, etc.).
• Must be able to be around crustaceans & mollusks including having your hands in water where shrimp, crabs, and mollusks are.
• Have the ability to work well in a busy and fast paced environment.
• Must be eligible to work in the United States.

Schedule

2 days per week for 20 weeks, with both days falling between Tuesday and Saturday. Please note: we are unable to schedule interns on Sundays or Mondays.

Pay

$1,325 total stipend to be paid as one lump sum upon successful completion of the position less applicable taxes.