Candidate
Employer
University
Sharks Internship
Are you applying to the internship?
Job Description
Sharks Internship
Location: New York Aquarium
Department: Animal
Duration & Schedule: Summer 2026 (May-August)
- Current students: 3 days per week for 20 weeks, 4 days per week for 15 weeks, or 5 days per week for 12 weeks ($2000 stipend)
- Non-students (including recent graduates): 4 days per week for 10 weeks ($1,280 stipend), or 5 days per week for 10 weeks ($1,600 stipend).
Stipend: $1,280-$2,000 total (varies depending on schedule) to be paid as one lump sum upon completion of the position, less applicable taxes.
Application Deadline: Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis but must be received by March 15, 2026; the position may be filled before the deadline. Candidates are encouraged to apply early.
Overview
The New York Aquarium Shark Internship is an in-depth program designed for future animal care professionals. This program focuses on developing the essential skills and knowledge required to enter the competitive field of aquatic animal husbandry. Interns will gain hands-on experience in the ‘Ocean Wonders: SHARKS!’ exhibit, caring for a diverse range of species including sharks, rays, sea turtles, and saltwater teleosts.
Candidates will collaborate with experienced animal care staff, learning critical skills related to aquatic animal husbandry. These skills encompass:
- Dietary preparation
- Quarantine procedures
- Exhibit and life support maintenance
- Record keeping
- Feeding techniques
- Fundamentals of training and enrichment
Interns will also have valuable opportunities to observe routine veterinary procedures and animal transfers.
Learning Outcomes
- Interns will acquire vital scientific concepts essential for maintaining animals in an aquarium environment.
- Interns will develop an understanding of aquarium system design, filtration, water quality maintenance, and problem-solving.
- A significant focus will be placed on comprehensive animal husbandry, including dietary needs, overall animal health observations, operant conditioning, enrichment strategies, quarantine procedures, and detailed record keeping.
- Interns will complete reading assignments and conclude their internship with a final project, which will be presented to the animal care staff.
Qualification Requirements
Eligibility Requirements:
- Must be a rising college junior or above.
- Must be a current college student or recent graduate.
- Proficiency in swimming is required.
- Must be able to commit to the outlined schedule, including the ability to work weekends and holidays.
- Demonstrated interest in pursuing a career working with sharks and rays.
- Ability to thrive in a busy and fast-paced environment.
- Physical capability to perform laborious tasks, potentially in extreme weather conditions.
- Ability to lift 50 lbs.
- Capable of completing all daily tasks independently.
- Must provide own housing and transportation.
- Must provide one letter of recommendation (preferably from a previous animal care experience).
- Must be eligible to work in the United States.
Important Information about the Application
To be fully considered for this role, applicants must upload both a resume and cover letter. Additionally, applicants must submit a letter of recommendation (preferably from a previous animal care facility or coworker), which can be combined into the same document as your cover letter. For assistance with combining your cover letter and recommendation letter into a single PDF file, please refer to these free PDF merge options:
This internship is part of the WCS Career Lattice, an integrated careers pathway program designed to provide New York City youth from historically excluded groups with expanded entry points to opportunities at WCS parks and equal access to professional services and supports. Due to specific grant funding for this program, applicants from New York City will be prioritized for this role.
Salary Range
Stipend: $1,280-$2,000
