To Apply:
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Time commitment:
Spring: 12 Weeks. At least two full days per week (8:00 am-5:00 pm)
Summary:
Interns assist staff with daily husbandry responsibilities of the New England Aquarium’s Temperate Gallery, home to the beautiful and ornate sea dragons, the peculiar, air-breathing ancient fishes, and the hulking goliath grouper. As the most diverse array of exhibits in the Aquarium, including a range of water temperatures and habitats, working in the Temperate Gallery provides the opportunity to learn a wide variety of duties related to animal care.
Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:
- Providing daily care, maintenance, and assisting with the appearance of the gallery
- Diet preparation and feeding
- Participating in operant conditioning and enrichment of various species
- Maintaining animal welfare standards
- Recording and monitoring water quality parameters
- Maintaining exhibit life support systems including protein skimmers, UV sterilizers, and mechanical filtration processes.
- Daily organization and upkeep for associated behind-the-scenes spaces
- Assisting staff with other projects in the gallery
- Potential to observe and assist with veterinary procedures
- Potential to assist in other Galleries (Tropical, Yawkey, Freshwater, Northern Waters)
- Attending professional development sessions with the Volunteer Programs and Internships office
Skills/Qualifications:
- This position requires physical labor. Applicant must be able to lift 50 lbs. Must be able to climb multiple flights of stairs
- Must be able to take in and carry out multiple instructions and execute them in a timely manner
- Must be able to work independently and as part of a team
- Must be comfortable working with animal food items, including raw seafood
- Ability to work in confined spaces of varying temperatures, light, and sound levels
Organizational Description:
The New England Aquarium’s mission is to protect the blue planet through hands-on programs, live animal and interactive exhibits, public lectures and forums, and research and conservation projects.
This mission is fulfilled through exhibits and education, conservation, and research programs. Exhibits showcase the diversity, importance, and beauty of aquatic life and habitats and highlight critical aquatic conservation issues. Programs emphasize species, habitats and issues critical to New England. The Aquarium is also a pioneer in marine animal rescue and a leading ocean conservation organization with research scientists working around the globe.
The New England Aquarium serves as a responsive community resource that attracts and involves the broadest possible audience, seeks a culturally diverse staff and governing board that reflect our community, adheres to the highest standards of animal stewardship, and is committed to delivering the highest quality visitor experience in a welcoming and enjoyable manner that evokes wonder, curiosity, understanding, care, and action.
Department Description:
The Temperate Gallery staff support the New England Aquarium’s mission to protect the blue planet by creating and maintaining exhibits that encourage the public to care about the ocean and to become involved in conservation.
