"Chance me" Internships? Any ideas?

Career Opportunities & Internships
1

Hi, I was just wanting to get a view on how competitive some internships are and if I have a chance for them.

I’m nervous because i’m mainly interested in aquarium/marine mammal internships, but I live in a landlocked state with no aquariums within 2 hours, so I don’t have much hands on experience.

I’m currently at a well-known and respected CC. I currently have ~40 credits as a biology major. I will be transferring to a university after this academic year for a degree in zoology/minor in animal behavior.

I’m looking into internships that involve wildlife/zoos/animal behavior/animal research, so if anyone has any suggestions let me know. Particularly interested in marine mammals(research side, not training) as well as aquarium husbandry.

GPA: 3.9

ECs: Phi Theta Kappa member, volunteer at rescue for cats with feline leukemia, volunteer at wildlife rehabilitation center,

founder and president of my schools competitive speech and debate team, speech and debate judge, helped organize/run my high school’s annual speech tournament(~50 hours each year, done for 2 years)

I have my own website dedicated to the killer whales of the pacific northwest and environmental issues affecting them, have had aquariums(saltwater/fresh) for around 8 years.

Work history: Summer camp counselor(3 months) , Preschool gymnastics coach(9 months), Aquarium specialist @ Petco(1 year, currently working here)

Basically, I just want to know if I have a chance at any internships, specifically working with marine mammals/aquariums. I know that they are competitive. I’m mainly just looking for what internships look for when hiring people.

Does anyone have any suggestions for internships relating to these? I know of some of the basic ones, but anything is helpful.

Thanks!

2

https://www.nsf.gov/crssprgm/reu/list_result.jsp?unitid=5047 You can check the REU list and see if you can find something you like. REU (research experience for undergrads) is a program funded by the National Science Foundation. The positions are highly competitive, and very well paid. My kiddo is doing an REU at a water research station on the Great Lakes. Her project involves fish behavior, but obviously not marine mammals. The kind of study you’re interested in might exist, though. Take a look at the list and apply to as many as you’d like.

3

http://www.mbl.edu/education/other-educational/reu/ Looks like this one is a marine biology lab. The application for next summer’s program will be out in December.

4

This one is geared to community college students: http://precs.igb.illinois.edu/ and is more of a general biology research REU. But here’s the thing about REU’s…they’ll pay your travel, your room and board, and give you $5000…for ten weeks of your summer. They’re also prestigious and look terrific on your CV. You get to have a summer adventure in a different state, make some money, and learn new things.