Behavioral Research Internship – Summer 2026

Job Description

Behavioral Research Internship – Summer 2026 | WCS

The Tone:
This is an internship at WCS, located in New York, NY, across the Central Park Zoo, Queens Zoo, or Prospect Park Zoo. WCS operates premier zoological parks dedicated to saving wildlife and wild places through science, conservation action, education, and inspiring people to value nature. This internship offers a unique opportunity to contribute to animal welfare and understanding by conducting behavioral research, providing valuable insights into the lives of zoo-housed animals and informing best practices in their care.

The TL;DR
• Role: Internship
• Type: Seasonal, Temporary (16-24 hours per week for 12-14 weeks)
• Location: New York, NY (In-person)
• Pay: $750–$1300 yearly
• Team: Animal Department
• Mission: This person designs, executes, analyzes, and presents observational animal behavior studies to deepen understanding and inform recommendations for zoo animal welfare.

What You’ll Actually Do
• Study Design: Design and execute comprehensive animal behavior studies within a dynamic zoo environment, encompassing various study designs and data collection methods specifically tailored for zoo-housed animals.
• Data Collection: Conduct rigorous observational data collection, applying best practices to ensure accuracy and reliability across all phases of the study.
• Data Analysis: Receive training and support in data analysis techniques to interpret results from collected behavioral observations.
• Reporting & Presentation: Prepare a final presentation or report summarizing research findings and providing future recommendations based on the study’s conclusions.

The Must-Haves
• Background: Must be a current student actively enrolled in a degree-granting program. Candidates must be 18 years of age or older and eligible to work in the United States.
• Experience: No specific prior work experience or years of experience are required beyond current student status.
• Skills: Foundational understanding or aptitude for observational research; strong attention to detail for rigorous data collection; ability to learn and apply data analysis techniques; effective verbal and written communication skills for reporting findings; capacity to operate effectively in a busy environment.