Spring Aquarist Intern

Job Title/Position: Spring Reiman Aquarium Internship

• Reports to: General Aquarium Curator and Aquarists
• Schedule: 8am-4pm, two days per week for a maximum total of 200 hours over a 4-month period from January - April.
• Pay Rate: $12.50 per hour

JOB SUMMARY

An internship in the Reiman Aquarium Aquatics Department is a semester long, hands on, career-based learning experience. Interns will assist the Aquarium Staff in all aspects of the daily care of all exhibit and quarantine animals housed at the Reiman Aquarium.

This will include water quality testing, food preparation and animal feeding, LSS equipment maintenance, among other husbandry tasks. We prefer, but do not require, our internship applicants to be Open Water SCUBA certified prior to the start of their Internship program.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. Other minor duties may be assigned as needed.

• Prepare animal diets
• Feed Aquarium animals
• Monitor and test water quality on Aquarium systems
• Observe animals for disease and injury
• Monitor and maintain life support equipment
• Make and store saltwater
• Help maintain Aquarists’ daily husbandry logs and task lists
• With assistance from an Aquarist, oversee the daily care of 1-2 Aquarium Exhibits, drafting and completing an SOP for each system
• Presents weekly educational and interactive programs to the public
• Complete a research project of your choice and present the results to the Aquarium Staff and other Interns
• Conduct feeding and cleaning dives (if dive certified)

Depending on the current needs of the Aquarium Team, additional responsibilities may or may not include:

• Administering medical treatments as directed by General Curator and Veterinarian, while supervised by an Aquarist
• Assisting in animal collection and subsequent quarantine procedures, while supervised by an Aquarist
• Other duties as assigned

WORK ENVIRONMENT

Listed below are the key points regarding the environmental demands and work requirements of the job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the job. The normal setting for this job is in the Aquarium or in a quarantine space.

• Physical effort in handling objects over 50lbs and repetitively carrying and lifting heavier items
• Physical occupational risk exposure (such as cuts, burns, exposure to toxic chemicals, animal bites, envenomation risk, etc.)
• Frequent walking, bending, kneeling, climbing ladders and stairs, etc.
• Exposure to environments which involve fresh and saltwater, dirt, odors, noise, and a variance in hot and cold room temperatures. If SCUBA dive certified, diving in saltwater and freshwater exhibits of temperatures between 60°F - 84°F
• Motor coordination with finger dexterity most of the workday
• Ability to fit into smaller spaces when needed

Qualifications

JOB QUALIFICATIONS

The requirements listed below are representative of the qualifications necessary to perform the job.

Education and Experience

• Currently enrolled (completed freshmen year), or recently graduated from a Biology-related program at an accredited college or university
• Preference will be given to individuals with prior animal husbandry experience
• Prefer, but do not require, applicants to be SCUBA certified by a nationally recognized institution (PADI, NAUI, etc.)
• Must own your own dive gear if certified
  • Required gear includes:
    • Wetsuit (5mm minimum), mask, dive boots and dive gloves - The Aquarium does not use BCDs, fins, or snorkels

Note: Interns are responsible for any wear/tear on personal gear

Discovery World only provides air tanks/regulators, weights, and weight belts.

Note: Discovery World does have extra dive gear (wetsuits, boots, and gloves - sizes vary) that can be borrowed, if needed, once discussed with Aquarium Curator and Dive Safety Officer

Other Knowledge, Skills, or Abilities

• Applicant must be organized and detail-oriented
• Applicant must be able to neatly and accurately record data both handwritten and digitally
• Applicant must be able to work well both individually and as part of a team