Exploring Internship Opportunities at Mystic Aquarium

Mystic Aquarium offers a variety of internship programs designed to provide students and recent graduates with invaluable hands-on experience in marine science, animal care, research, and conservation. These internships cater to diverse interests and skill levels, ranging from high school students to veterinary professionals. By participating in these programs, individuals can contribute to the Aquarium's mission of inspiring people to care for and protect our ocean planet through conservation, education, and research.

High School Internship Program

Mystic Aquarium provides an intensive afterschool course for high school students in grades 10 to 12. This 12-week program introduces students to a diversity of careers and career pathways, leveraging the unique assets of the Aquarium while learning about the husbandry, biology, and ecology of animals in their care. Participants work and study alongside professionals who advance the Aquarium's mission.

Program Highlights

Job shadow opportunities with animal care and conservation specialists.
Engagement in authentic research projects.
Educational experiences to learn more about marine biology and ecology.
Completion of a study project to fulfill service-learning requirements.

Veterinary Externship Program

The Mystic Aquarium veterinary team, composed of board-certified aquatic animal veterinarians and credentialed veterinary technicians, offers a veterinary externship program for fourth-year veterinary students. This program provides the opportunity to gain experience in aquatic animal medicine.

Exposure and Responsibilities

Students are exposed to the veterinary care and husbandry of a diverse range of species, including:

Belugas
Seals
Sea lions
Fish
Invertebrates
Sea turtles
Terrestrial reptiles
Penguins
Amphibians
Sharks
Stingrays

Externs assist the aquatic veterinary specialists with the medical management of aquarium animals and sea turtles and marine mammals in Mystic Aquarium’s Animal Rescue Program. They also participate in necropsy evaluations and clinical case rounds and are responsible for completing a research project or literature review on an aquatic veterinary topic for presentation to veterinary staff.

Read also: A Sanctuary for Wildlife

Program Details

Duration: 3-4 weeks
Offered: September through May
Application Deadline: October 1st (one year prior to the planned externship)

Application Materials

Resume/Curriculum vitae
Letter of intent, including:
- Past experience in zoological medicine
- Ultimate career objective and how the externship will help in achieving it
- Three specific and realistic goals for the externship program
Veterinary school transcripts (unofficial is acceptable)
Two letters of reference from veterinarians familiar with the applicant's clinical experience and dedication to aquatic animal medicine, submitted directly by the letter writer.

Veterinary Internship in Aquatic Animal Medicine and Research

Mystic Aquarium offers a post-graduate training position for veterinarians looking to specialize in aquatic animal medicine through a Veterinary Internship in Aquatic Animal Medicine and Research. The internship is a one-year position; however, in select cases extension to a second year is possible.

Read also: Internship Opportunities

Veterinary Technician Externship

Veterinary Technician students and recent graduates of accredited veterinary nursing/technology programs can gain experience in aquatic animal medicine. Students are exposed to the veterinary care and husbandry of a diverse range of species. Externs assist the veterinary team with the medical management of aquarium animals and for sea turtles and marine mammals undergoing rehabilitation in Mystic Aquarium’s Animal Rescue Program. Externs also participate and assist in necropsy evaluations, laboratory sample collection and diagnostic processing, surgical monitoring, annual preventive health and wellness exams, and clinical case rounds. Acceptance to this program is on a rolling-basis and interested and qualified candidates are encouraged to apply by submitting the desired application materials.

Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) Program

Mystic Aquarium collaborates with the University of Connecticut, Avery Point, to offer a Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) program. This program provides undergraduate students with access to both Aquarium and University resources and expertise.

Program Focus

Cutting-edge marine research
Professional development training
Teamwork skills
Insight into the world of research

Program Structure

All research projects are carried out at UConn, while professional development activities, seminars, and job shadows take place at Mystic Aquarium. Each REU student focuses their research on an individual link in the food chain under the guidance of their mentor. Students develop their own research question and project, with independence and support to complete it. They are trained in lab work and skills relevant to their project.

Student Responsibilities

Day-to-day responsibilities include:

Background research/reading
Lab work
Data analysis

Throughout the program, students come together to discuss how their results relate to those of their classmates in addressing the overarching question. Each week students will participate in a different professional development workshop. The topics range from ethics, scientific writing, to data analysis. Each week, dedicated trips to the Aquarium will further reinforce the interrelatedness of each student’s project. Each trip will be led by a different mentor paired with an expert curator from the Aquarium, who will use the resources of the Aquarium to show how environmental changes can affect different systems.

Financial Support

Roundtrip travel expenses to Groton/Mystic, Connecticut (up to $650/student; supplemental funds are available for students traveling from Alaska/Hawaii)
Housing is covered by the program
Total stipend of $700 per week plus $175 for living and food expenses

Animal Rescue Program (ARP) Internship

Mystic Aquarium’s Animal Rescue Program (ARP) and Veterinary Services Team seeks qualified intern candidates to assist in the rescue and rehabilitative care of sick and injured sea turtles. Mystic Aquarium responds to and cares for sick and injured marine mammals and turtles along the shores of Connecticut, Rhode Island, and Fishers Island, New York.

Internship Details

Full-time (40 hours)
Sun-Weds OR Wed-Sat (5 days/week)
8-4:30 (8 hours/day) commitment
Unpaid
Housing is NOT provided

*Please note: the number of animals under rehabilitation care will depend on the time of year; therefore, primary intern responsibilities may be altered during slower seasons.

Other Internship Opportunities

Mystic Aquarium offers various other internship opportunities in different departments, including:

Foxwoods Marine Theater: Interns assist staff in feeding, training, and caring for the Aquarium’s California sea lions.
Department of Fish and Invertebrates: Interns assist with system maintenance on exhibit and holding systems, animal feeds, and maintaining clean work areas.
Penguin Colony: Interns work with the colony of African penguins to assist with day-to-day operations.
Research Team: Interns conduct research in many aspects of marine animal health, husbandry, and ecology. Duties vary depending on the intern’s principle focus during the internship.
Environmental Quality Lab: Interns assist with water quality testing of more than two million gallons of exhibit water. Interns must have a flexible schedule and work four days per week, working 7am-3:30pm.

These are unpaid positions with flexible schedules based on the candidate’s availability and may be completed for college credit based on the college’s guidelines.

General Information for All Internships

Mystic Aquarium’s intern program is designed to provide college students and recent college graduates with a dynamic educational opportunity while simultaneously providing career experience.

Application Process

Interested candidates should submit their resume or application through the Mystic Aquarium website.

Equal Opportunity Employer

Mystic Aquarium is an equal opportunity employer and strives to create a welcoming environment that is accessible to all. It is the Aquarium's policy to provide equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, sex, color, religion, national origin, gender identity, gender expression, age, disability, veteran status, or sexual orientation.

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