Intern

Internship positions available for students with strong interest in the MBL’s Cephalopod Program animal care operations and research. This is an incredible opportunity to gain invaluable hands-on experience with mariculture systems for multiple cephalopod species, from feeding animals to collecting data. As part of this program, students will be exposed to a wide variety of cephalopod species as well as cutting edge husbandry methods and techniques. Interns will also assist with ongoing studies to be submitted for publication, providing students with a great opportunity to collect/analyze data and participate scientific publication process. Some ongoing studies include developing a species’ ethogram (total cataloged behavior or activity observed in a given organism), describing a species life cycle, optimizing reproductive potential, improving prey cultures, and maximizing hatchling survivorship, among others.
The Intern has the overall responsibilities:
• Daily cleaning and maintenance of live animal exhibits
• Assist with routine assessment rounds to check tank conditions, animal health, and life support systems status
• Feeding and general caretaking of animals
• Harvesting eggs/raising hatchlings/broodstock management
• Life support design and maintenance
• Live food culture
• Live food field collections
• Routine laboratory cleaning/organizing/upkeep
• Data entry
• Monitoring of system alarms and system functionality
Basic Qualifications:
• Strong interest in aquatic life and species characteristics.
• Ability to perform physical work.
• Ability to ask questions for clarification of what is being asked.
• Confidence in identifying potential areas of concern for animal health and exhibit systems functionality (as competency increases).
Human Resources
7 MBL Street, Woods Hole, MA 02543 USA | p: 508.289.7422 | humanres@mbl.edu | www.mbl.edu
• Ability to work in a team setting with diversity of personalities and work methods.
• Ability to concentrate, work deliberately and carefully with delicate animals
• Must be tolerant of ‘messy and wet’ work environment. Occasionally work in cold environments and handle live animals/plants.
• Proven ability to maintain objectivity under potentially emotional animal care issues.
• Must be able to handle dead food items such as frozen fish or shellfish and feed cephalopods live food items such as shrimp and crabs.
Preferred Qualification:
• Ability to address and solve experimental challenges.
• Prior experience and knowledge of basic aquarium maintenance and animal care encouraged but not required.
• Ability to work in a team environment.
• Excellent communication (oral and written) skills.
Physical Requirements:
• Must be able to lift (unassisted) 40 lb. Must be physically able to walk and work around lab spaces carrying buckets (10L ) of zooplankton, prey, and/or cephalopod species.
• 35-40 hours/wk, between hours of 9am-5pm.