The Virginia Aquarium’s Research & Conservation Division is now accepting Stranding Response Intern applications for Fall 2021. The application deadline is September 12, 2021. Internships will be approximately four months long, starting in October. Internships will be fulfilled in accordance with COVID-19 safety guidelines and positions are subject to change based on the most current recommendations. Please note that all positions are non-compensatory and housing is not provided by the Virginia Aquarium. Interns are fully responsible for fulfilling all requirements of their home institutions to receive academic credit.  

 

Position Overview 

Virginia Aquarium Stranding Response Program (VAQS) interns promote the conservation of marine animal species through research, rescue, rehabilitation, and education. Stranding work is unpredictable, therefore experiences will vary by internship session. VAQS staff will provide as many learning opportunities as possible during each session.  

 

Duties 

• Respond to live and dead marine mammals and sea turtles in the field. 
• Participate in all aspects of post-mortem examinations: cutting and sampling, data collection, photographing, carcass removal, and cleaning. 
• Perform daily husbandry tasks, including food preparation, feeding, and cleaning.  
• Assist staff with new admits and daily treatments of patients. Restrain animals for exams, collect vitals (heart rate, respiratory rate, temperature) and morphometrics, take photographs, administer medications, and perform wound care.  
• Ensure response preparedness by stocking response bags, fueling vehicles, and cleaning gear. 
• Assist staff with daily administrative tasks, including answering hotline calls and completing response paperwork.  
• Assist with freezer inventory and sample dissemination. 
• Assist with water quality sampling.  
• Complete other tasks as assigned by VAQS staff.  

 

Qualifications 

• Must be at least 18 years old. 
• Must be enrolled in an undergraduate or graduate program, or have recently graduated (within last two years). 
• Must be physically fit with the ability to lift 50lbs and walk long distances on the beach in adverse conditions such as extreme heat and cold, humidity, rain, and wind. 
• Must be self-motivated, articulate, mature, reliable, and responsible. Should work well independently as well as with a team. 
• Should be comfortable around dead and decomposing animals.  
• Should be comfortable driving large pick-up trucks and vans (preferred). Willing to learn how to drive response vehicles, if accepted (required).  
• Background in biology and familiarity with stranding response (preferred).  
• Experience with DSLR cameras and Microsoft Access (preferred).  

 

Position Requirements 

• Must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. 
• Must comply with all organizational COVID-19 preventative measures such as mask-wearing. 
• Attend VAQS orientation and City of Virginia Beach Defensive Driving. 
• Possess a valid driver’s license. 
• Pass a City of Virginia Beach background check.  

 

Internship Learning Objectives 

Develop fundamental hands-on stranding response and rehabilitation skills: 

• Attend and assist with post-mortem examinations on sea turtle and marine mammals. 
• Perform basic health assessments of rehabilitation patients, including vitals collection, wound treatment, administering medications, and blood processing. 
• Complete Sea Turtle Stranding and Salvage Network (STSSN) and Level A forms.  

 

Intern Schedule 

Intern is expected to be available 3-4 days per week, 8am-4:30pm. Weekend and holiday coverage is expected. 

 

Minimum Commitment Required 

24-32 hours per week for the duration of the internship.  

 

Intern Supervisor/Mentor 

Stranding & Research Scientist: Field Response & Volunteer Manager  

 

Work Location 

Virginia Aquarium’s Darden Marine Animal Conservation Center 

 

Application Requirements 

If applying via email, please send application to interns@virginiaaquarium.com and copy vaqstranding@gmail.com. A complete Stranding Response Intern packet must include the following components. Incomplete applications will not be considered. 

• Cover letter. There is some flexibility with internship start/end dates; please include any known schedule conflicts in your cover letter. 
• Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center internship application form. 
• Two references; must be academic and/or professional references.  
• Resume 
• College transcript(s) 

 

For more information about the application process, please visit: https://www.virginiaaquarium.com/about-us/Pages/internship-application.aspx