Hospital Internship (Winter 2026)

Marine Life; Florida; On-site; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Discount pricing in gift store

Free or reduced program pricing

Discounts on SCUBA certifications

Ongoing training and classes

Community service hours

Job summary

A marine conservation organization in New York is seeking interns to support sea turtle rehabilitation. Interns will prepare diets, maintain hospital cleanliness, assist in procedures, and more. Ideal candidates are undergraduates or recent graduates with a passion for marine science and conservation. This unpaid internship requires physical stamina and availability for at least three days a week, including weekends. Gain invaluable experience in a professional environment focused on ocean conservation.

Qualifications

• Must be at least 18 years old.
• Available to work at least three full days including weekends.
• Passion for marine science and conservation.

Responsibilities

• Prepare daily diet for sea turtle patients.
• Aid hospital staff with daily operation.
• Assist in sea turtle treatments and procedures.
• Maintain cleanliness in the hospital.
• Record patient data in electronic medical record system.
• Assist in sea turtle strandings and releases.

Skills

Marine biology knowledge

Animal care experience

Attention to detail

Commitment to conservation

Education

Undergraduate enrollment in relevant field

Job description

Join us after hours for a lecture series featuring local scientists, conservationists, and photographers with brews!

Loggerhead Marinelife Center’s Guided Tour allows visitors to get a guided experience of our outdoor sea turtle hospital and meet our patients.

You can support Loggerhead Marinelife Center by “adopting” a sea turtle patient starting at just $40. Your adoption directly benefits the continued care and treatment of our sick and injured sea turtles.

As a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization, we rely on the generosity of our supporters. You can support our mission financially, by volunteering, or by spreading awareness.

Loggerhead Marinelife Center's Unwrap the Wave Initiative allows for students and community members to get into the "spirit" of conservation by collecting their candy wrappers from Halloween and recycling them.

We offer four society levels, including the Gordon Gray Circle and the Blue Friends Society. Explore all your options.

Loggerhead Marinelife Center offers exciting and rewarding career opportunities and internships.

The Hospital Internship at Loggerhead Marinelife Center (LMC) is open to students (undergraduates or recent graduates) with a focused interest in animal care or veterinary medicine. Students will have the opportunity to learn all aspects of sea turtle rehabilitation through hands‑on experience while working directly with Loggerhead Marinelife Center hospital staff. The internship is unpaid and housing is not provided. Interns are responsible for locating their own living situations and transportation for the duration of the internship.

Hours

25–30 hours a week, with a commitment of 3 days a week minimum. Days and hours are flexible.

Core Responsibilities

• Daily diet preparation and feeding of sea turtle patients
• Aid hospital staff with daily operations of the hospital
• Assist hospital staff with sea turtle restraint during treatments and procedures
• Maintain cleanliness in indoor and outdoor hospital (cleaning/disinfection of tanks and equipment, water quality, stocking hospital supplies, etc.)
• Accurately record patient data in LMC’s electronic medical record system
• Prepare oral medications for administration
• Assist in sea turtle strandings and releases as needed
• Assist in sea turtle necropsy.

Qualifications

• Undergraduate enrolled in a 2- or 4-year college/university OR recent graduate
• Majoring or interested in marine biology, environmental science, animal science or a related field
• At least 18 years of age
• Interest and passion for marine science and conservation
• Available to work at least 3 full days during the week including the weekend

Why Intern With Us?

Being an intern at Loggerhead Marinelife Center comes with some exclusive perks!

• Discount pricing in LMC gift store
• Free or reduced pricing on LMC programs
• Discounts on SCUBA certifications, boat fees, and gear at Jupiter Dive Center
• On‑going training, lectures, and classes with professionals in related content
• Work experience and/or community service hours for education requirements
• Opportunity to grow and acquire essential skills in a professional environment
• Take an active role in ocean conservation alongside people with similar interest

Physical Demands + Work Environment

The physical demands described herein are representative of those that must be met by an intern to successfully perform the essential functions of this internship. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions. While performing the duties of this internship, the intern is regularly required to work long hours in the sun and at night in extreme conditions. The internship requires frequent sitting, squatting, standing, lifting, kneeling, bending, and stooping for long periods of time. The intern must frequently lift and/or move up to 50 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close‑up vision, long‑distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an intern encounters while performing the essential functions of this internship. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions. While performing the duties of this internship, the intern is frequently exposed to outside weather conditions. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

This internship description in no way states or implies that these are the only duties to be performed by this intern. He or she will be required to follow any other instructions and to perform any other duties requested by his, her, or their supervisor.

Application Period

Accepting applications for Fall 2026 from March 29-April 26, 2026

Founded in 1983, Loggerhead Marinelife Center is a leading cultural attraction in South Florida that provides open access to all guests. Today the Center is a global leader in the research, rehabilitation, and protection of sea turtles, serving our broader mission to promote ocean ecosystem conservation. Annually we reach 900,000 guests with our transformational education programs and partner with nearly 100 organizations across six continents and 16 countries in ocean conservation. In early 2022, we opened a new 27,500 square‑foot campus that greatly expands our exhibition, education, and convening space and doubles our medical facilities.

We love welcoming individuals who are also passionate about ocean conservation and sea turtle rehabilitation, and we'd love for you to explore donating your talents and time.