Aquarium Penguin & Otter Internship
About the Penguin & Otter Internship
The Greensboro Science Center is looking for qualified interns for a penguin and otter specific internship with our aquarium team. Interns will assist aquarium staff in all aspects of daily animal husbandry and care working with our African penguin colony and Asian small-clawed otters. Interns should expect to learn AZA skills to prepare them for a full-time career in this highly competitive field.
All staff, volunteers, and interns may be required to wear masks in certain animal areas and while preparing animal diets.
- Winter/Fall: nesting/chick season; Spring/Summer: molting season
- completing daily observations of animals
- cleaning exhibits and holding tanks
- preparing diets and assisting with feedings
- Life Support System maintenance
- record-keeping
- water quality testing and evaluation
- ensuring personal and animal safety by following established protocols
- learning modern practices that adhere to USDA and AZA standards
Aquarium Interns, when possible, are typically on-site for a 40 hour, 5-day schedule. Still in school? We’ll work around your schedule, as long as you have at least 3 full days available during the week/weekend. A minimum of 380 hours and a maximum of 400 hours are required during that time frame for the successful completion of an animal care internship. Please note that in order to receive credit as a GSC intern, you must complete that number of hours regardless of any school or program requirements which may be less than that.
- Sarah Halbrend, Aquatics Curator
- Lyssa Torres, Senior Aquarist
- Sarah Richards, Penguin/Otter Lead Aquarist
- Full and part-time aquarists
- Interns must be able to work in a team environment as well as independently, and must have good communication skills
- Interns must be detail oriented, excellent listeners who can abide by rules and protocols for their own safety—as well as the safety of the animals in their care
- Interns must be able to lift 60lbs, climb ladders, and be able to perform physical work outside in wet conditions
- Interns must complete all intern paperwork and pass a background check
- Interns must have proof of a current negative TB test that will not expire during the course of your internship (i.e. must be less than 1 year old)
- Ideal candidates must have college level schooling in marine biology or any other animal related field and 6 months related animal care experience
- Preference will be given to senior level or recent college graduates pursuing a career in the public aquarium industry
To apply, please complete this application (you will need a resume, cover letter, and list of the names and contact information of three people who can provide professional references for you) by the application deadline for consideration.
Incomplete applications will not be considered. You will receive a bounce-back email to confirm receipt of your application materials. No phone calls, please. Should you have any questions, please send them to internships@greensboroscience.org. Due to the large number of applications we typically receive, only selected applicants will be contacted for interviews. We are unable to contact all applicants directly.
Internship opportunities are unpaid and housing opportunities are unavailable. Completion of an internship at the GSC does not come with the promise of future part-time or full-time employment.