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Coral Research Internship

Coral Research Internship

This specialized internship is designed to provide valuable hands-on experience working and collecting data at a world-class land-based coral nursery producing corals for reef restoration in Florida. This internship is funded through a grant and intern will be paid a monthly stipend.

 Responsibilities:

The Coral Research Intern will be responsible for the care of adult and juvenile corals that are being raised at The Florida Aquariums Conservation Campus in Apollo Beach.  Intern responsibilities include cleaning aquarium systems and cleaning coral settlement tiles using a dissecting microscope.  The intern will also assist coral nursery staff with gathering health assessment data, collecting coral settlement and survival data, as well as assisting with coral spawning observations and gamete collection. The intern will complete a project involving data collection and interpretation that benefits both TFA and the intern.

Desired Qualifications:

  • Previous experience with reef aquarium husbandry and knowledge of basic coral and marine invertebrate biology.
  • Experience using dissecting microscopes and ability/desire to work using a microscope for many hours.
  • Ability to work in hot and humid conditions.
  • Ability to lift 30 lbs.
  • Strong attention to detail and ability to work independently.

Learning Objectives:

  • Perform Daily Routine checks of aquarium systems in coral greenhouses and identify problems
  • Clean juvenile corals using the dissecting microscope
  • Conduct water changes and weekly cleaning of aquarium systems
  • Feed adult corals and coral recruits
  • Test water quality parameters
  • Cut and re-mount corals to new ceramic bases

We are not currently accepting applications.