Sea Jelly Intern

Wildlife Conservation Society; New York (NY); On-site; USD 13,000 - 16,000; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

Stipend provided

Job summary

Wildlife Conservation Society at the New York Aquarium offers a Sea Jelly Intern position for Winter/Spring 2027. The program runs January–May with 2 days per week (8:00 am–4:00 pm) on Tue–Sat, excluding Sundays and Mondays.

The role provides hands‑on training in jelly husbandry, artemia culturing, tank maintenance, and data‑driven research projects, culminating in a completed internship with a stipend. Applicants must upload a resume and cover letter.

Qualifications

• Must be 18 years of age or older.
• Current college or graduate student enrolled in a degree granting program.
• Interest in pursuing a career in animal care.
• Be able to lift 50lbs and perform physically demanding tasks.
• Be able to work in all weather conditions.
• Must be eligible to work in the United States.

Responsibilities

• Hands‑on training in sea jelly husbandry and aquatic systems management.
• Learn artemia culture, routine tank maintenance, and safe jelly transfer techniques.
• Maintain a mini jelly tank and Kritter Keeper; assist with juvenile jelly culture (polyp IVF).
• Contribute to a data‑based research project and ongoing aquarium science education.
• Gain experience culturing polyps through IVF and learning filtration concepts.

Skills

Physical stamina

Able to lift 50 lbs

Weather‑proof

Interest in animal care

US work eligibility

Teamwork

Education

College/graduate student

Job description

Sea Jelly Intern - Winter/Spring 2027

Location: New York Aquarium

Department: Animal

Duration: Winter/Spring 2027 (January - May)

Schedule: 2 days per week for 20 weeks (8:00 am - 4:00 pm), with both days falling between Tuesday and Saturday. Please note: we are unable to schedule interns on Sundays or Mondays.

Stipend: $1,325 total stipend to be paid as one lump sum upon successful completion of the position less applicable taxes.

Application Deadline: Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis but must be received by December 15, 2026. The position may be filled before the deadline. Candidates are encouraged to apply early.

Overview

This internship offers hands‑on training in sea jelly husbandry and aquatic systems management. Interns will build core technical skills in live culture, animal care, and applied research, gaining a well‑rounded foundation in aquarium science. Interns will be trained in the fundamentals of artemia culturing, routine tank maintenance, and safe jelly transfer techniques. As skills progress, interns will be tasked with creating a data‑based research project, maintaining a mini jelly tank, creating a holding for juvenile jellies (Kritter Keeper), as well as gaining experience culturing polyps through IVF.

Learning Outcomes

• Interns will learn the role and importance of artemia culture in jelly husbandry, building the foundational live-culture skills needed to support a healthy jelly system.
• Interns will learn how to balance and maintain a jelly system, applying hands‑on tank maintenance skills gained throughout the internship.
• Interns will learn basic principles of fluid and flow dynamics as applied to aquatic environments, a core piece of understanding how jelly systems function.
• Interns will learn techniques for culturing jellies from polyp to adult stage, including hands‑on experience culturing polyps through IVF and maintaining a mini jelly tank
• Interns will learn how to assess jelly health and identify signs of stress or illness, developing the animal care skills central to safe jelly transfer and handling.
• Interns will learn the purpose and function of filtration in aquatic systems, a key component of aquatic systems management.
• Interns will learn how water quality affects jelly health and system stability, tying together tank maintenance, filtration, and overall system

Qualification Requirements

Eligibility Requirements:

• Must be 18 years of age or older
• Current college or graduate student enrolled in a degree granting program
• Interest in pursuing career in animal care
• Be able to lift 50lbs and perform physically demanding tasks
• Be able to work in all weather conditions (rain, snow, heat, cold, etc.)
• Must be able to be around crustaceans & mollusks including having your hands in water where shrimp, crabs, and mollusks are.
• Have the ability to work well in a busy and fast paced environment
• 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.

Salary Range

$1,325