Closing Date: 12/30/2019
Facility: Audubon Nature Institute
Description:
Audubon Aquarium of the Americas is looking for a motivated, hardworking individual to participate in our Marine Mammal Training Internship.

Internship Overview:

The Audubon Aquarium of the Americas is looking for a motivated, hardworking individual to participate in our Marine Mammal Training Internship. We are looking for candidates who are interested in gaining experience working in the marine mammal training field. The intern will work directly with the animal training staff and are exposed to all aspects of the daily care and training of our collection of 0.2 Southern sea otters, Enhydra lutris nereis. Heavy emphasis is placed on essential daily tasks such as food preparation, daily cleaning/facility maintenance, enrichment, and gaining a basic understanding of the principles of training. Interns shadow trainers and learn through observation about marine mammal husbandry and operant conditioning techniques. As interns gain experience, they may have the opportunity to assist with basic behavioral maintenance. (Please note: all contact with animals is contingent upon trainer approval and intern performance)

Essential responsibilities include but are not limited to: food preparation, exhibit maintenance, daily and weekly cleaning tasks, public presentations, daily enrichment, and daily animal observations. Interns will also participate in required reading and coordinating worksheets.

Requirements:

Must commit to the 14 week internship semester
Must commit to a schedule of 24 hours per week, working 7:30am-3:30pm Thursdays – Sundays
Candidates must have completed at least two years of undergraduate education in a Biology or Psychology related field
Able to lift 50 lbs and climb ladders/stairs without assistance
May be asked to work holidays
Must pass a background check and may be subject to random drug testing
Must have strong communication skills and be comfortable engaging a diverse audience.
This is a non-paid internship, interns are responsible for all housing, transportation and living expenses.