Shores Region Internship

About the role

The internship offers an introduction to the aquatic zoo keeping field, focusing on husbandry for various marine species and marine mammals.

Responsibilities

• Assisting aquarium staff with preparing animal diets
• Cleaning and maintaining animal enclosures and exhibits
• Observing animals and reporting any behavioral changes
• Daily monitoring of filtration systems and water quality testing
• Upkeep of algae and cope-pod cultures
• Delivering educational interpretation to guests
• Performing other duties as assigned

Requirements

• College student (2nd year or higher) or recent graduate (2 years or less)
• Interest in corals and aquatic systems preferred
• Previous fish keeping and aquarium experience preferred
• Manatee Coast: Previous animal caretaking background preferred

Qualifications

• Must be within 24 months of graduation date
• 3.0 or above accumulative GPA on a 4.0 scale
• Pre-employment TB test required
• Able to balance multiple assignments successfully
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Must be neat in appearance and maintain courteous behavior at all times
• Ability to work in varied weather conditions and a flexible schedule including weekends, evenings, and holidays

Skills

• Attention to detail
• Problem-solving skills
• Communication skills
• Physical stamina

Benefits

The internship provides hands-on learning experiences and exposure to the aquatic zoo keeping field.

Pay

Compensation details are not specified in the job posting.

Schedule

Schedule details are not specified in the job posting.

Benefits

Details about benefits are not provided in the job posting.

RISE Scholarship

The RISE Scholarship, funded by Battelle, is available to eligible interns. Applications are open from May 1- June 30, 2026. For more information, visit https://www.columbuszoo.org/rise-scholarships.