Mote Aquarium Sciences Apprenticeship Program

This fall, Mote Aquarium is launching a year-long, stipend-supported Aquarium Apprenticeship program! This opportunity will give 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. Our Aquarium Sciences Apprenticeships would allow for young professionals (with at least one past animal care experience) to obtain professional work experience at Mote Aquarium, an AZA-accredited aquarium.

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. 

The goal of this program is to provide financial support, mentorship, and pathway guidance to historically underserved, underrepresented groups in the aquatic animal care field including underrepresented minorities. (NSF-defined underrepresented minorities are African Americans, Hispanics, American Indians, Alaska Natives, and Native Hawaiians or Other Pacific Islanders). However, college graduates of any race, ethnicity or identity are welcome to apply.