MOTE Aquarium Sciences Apprenticeship Program

The Mote Aquarium Sciences Apprenticeship Program (Mote ASAP) will provide a one-year extensive, fully-immersive experience giving young professionals the crucial experience and support to enter the Aquarium and Animal Care industries as skilled, qualified applicants. The goals of this stipend-supported apprenticeship program are to lower financial barriers to gaining the minimum-required experience for entry-level animal care employment opportunities, and to increase the odds of retaining underrepresented scientists in the animal care field. Aquarium Sciences Apprenticeships would allow for young professionals (with at least one past animal care internship experience) to obtain professional work experience at an AZA-accredited aquarium. Program participants will receive stipend-support during their Apprenticeship.

• Apprentices will work within Mote Aquarium’s Fish and Invertebrate Husbandry Department, and learn how to provide care for live collections featuring over 100+ species of freshwater fish, saltwater fish, and invertebrates.
• Each Apprenticeship experience will include a variety of professional development and networking opportunities, extensive mentorship, and training.

This includes (but is not limited to):

• Learning to care for 100+ species freshwater fish, saltwater fish, and invertebrates
• Mentorship and training by a team of experienced aquarium biologists
• Skill strengthening workshops: ex. Animal transport, parasite identification and management, water quality testing 
• Opportunities for shadow experiences at other Florida-based Zoos and Aquariums
• Opportunity to earn Basic Open Water SCUBA Certification 
• Opportunity to earn Aquatic Animal Life Support Operators (AALSO) certifications 
• Opportunity to attend an aquarium husbandry conference alongside a conference mentor
• Opportunity to help with the transition to/launch of Mote’s newest facility, Mote Science Education Aquarium (Mote SEA)
• Pre and post-program pathway guidance
• The Mote Aquarium Sciences Apprenticeship Program will run from August 12th, 2024 - August 15th, 2025.
• Daily duties for Apprentices will include cleaning exhibits and behind-the-scenes areas, preparing food and feeding, maintaining life support systems, making exhibit/animal observations and keeping accurate records.
• We will begin reviewing applications on March 1st, 2024.
• Selection will occur when the appropriate candidates are found, and then no more applications will be accepted.​

Eligibility:​

• U.S. citizens or permanent residents of the U.S. or its territories.
• Completed degree program in the last 2 years: Bachelor’s or Associate’s degree
• Available for the full duration of the one-year program, August 12th, 2024 - August 15th, 2025
• Must have an interest in fish and invertebrate animal care
• Must plan to pursue a career in aquatic animal care
• Must be willing/able to work holidays and weekends

Applicants must meet one of the following criteria:

• Completed at least one aquatic animal care internship
• Obtained 3 months or more of zoo or aquarium volunteering experience
• Graduated from an academic program that focuses on aquatic aquarium care