About the role#
This internship is part of the Monterey Bay Aquarium Internship Program in collaboration with the CSUMB Undergraduate Research Opportunities Center. Interns work with the Husbandry Operations Fish and Invertebrate team, focusing primarily on the Drifters and Schooling Fishes galleries. The role provides hands-on exposure to jelly biology and culture, including training in husbandry protocols, animal handling, and data recording. Interns will conduct a husbandry-related research project to be presented at the end of the term.
What you'll do#
- Perform daily exhibit maintenance, including acrylic care, siphoning, cleaning, and aqua-scaping.
- Maintain aquatic animal holding systems and jelly culture systems.
- Prepare diets and feed aquatic animals, including live and frozen food items.
- Culture and harvest live food such as brine shrimp larvae, rotifers, and copepods.
- Clean and organize service areas and behind-the-scenes workspaces.
- Conduct a research project on laboratory culture methods or general aquaculture.
- Observe animal health and interact with aquarium guests.
What you'll need#
- Must be at least 18 years of age.
- Current student at an accredited college or university, or a recent graduate from the preceding term.
- Minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0.
- Ability to lift and carry up to 40 lbs.
- Proof of current tetanus and COVID-19 vaccination.
- Ability to work in wet, dirty, and cold environments (approximately 52F).
- Commitment of at least 16 hours per week.
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications is preferred.
- Experience with tools such as Image J and R is a plus.
Location & details#
- Location: Monterey, California.
- Term: Fall 2026.
- Modality: On-site.
- Compensation: This is a paid internship at $18.00 per hour.
How to get in at Monterey Bay Aquarium
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