Aquarium of the Pacific - Abalone Recovery InternAt — CSU COAST

Aquarium of the Pacific:
Abalone Recovery Internship\u200b
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COAST is offering one (1) internship is available working with the Aquarium of the Pacific's (AoP) Fish and Invertebrate team within the Husbandry Department to directly participate in the AOP’s work with the White Abalone Recovery Program. In partnership with NOAA, the UC Davis Bodega Marine Laboratory, the Bay Foundation, Paua Marine Research Group, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, and various other organizations, to breed and raise abalone. The goal of this conservation program is to ultimately reintroduce captive-bred abalone into their natural habitat.

The intern will aid in daily food preparation, observation of animals, exhibit maintenance, and the production and collection of macroalgae. To support the AOP’s efforts to communicate with the public on the abalone program, the intern will also complete education volunteer training, and actively engage with guests around the AOP for roughly 10% of the internship hours. The intern will work with a team of education volunteers to staff interpretation stations around the AOP such as touch tanks with small sharks, invertebrates, and moon jellies.

The interns will learn about the natural history of abalone, the population dynamics of the species, the permitting requirements related to their management, details of the animal care, logistical components related to the AOP involvement with the recovery program, and public engagement strategies for communicating the work. The interns will gain hands-on experience working with abalone as well as other local California species.

Duties will include:
· Food preparation and feeding
· Exhibit maintenance
· Macro algae collection and production
· Detailed record keeping and data entry
· Assistance with spawns, tagging and outplants if they are available
· Communicating with the public

Additionally, interns will be encouraged to identify a side project suited to their skills, interests, and experience. At the end of the internship, the intern will be asked to present their experience to an audience of AOP staff, board members, supporters, or the public.

Preferred Experience and Capabilities: This internship requires flexibility, time management, organizational skills, willingness to engage with AOP guests, and interest in conservation efforts. Interns must be able to document activities via email and various record keeping systems. Previous experience working with animals is not required.

Eligibility/Requirements: Interns must be able to work independently, interact in a professional manner with the public, and act as part of a team of animal care professionals. Interns must be able to get to the AOP in Long Beach for each shift. Applicants are also subject to general \u200beligibility requirements.

Physical Demands: The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by the individual to successfully perform the essential functions of this position. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
Ability to sit, stand, and walk for long periods of time
Ability to balance bend, squat, climb, kneel, twist
Ability to lift and carry up to 0-75lbs
Ability to pull and push up to 0-100lbs
Full functional range of motion in all major body joints from reaching, twisting, bending, simple and power gripping, fine and gross motor skills

Work Environment: The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those individual encounters while performing the essential functions of this position. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
Food preparation with fish and shellfish
Exposure to various temperatures, humidity, or wetness
Small boating vessels
Wet, dirty, uneven surfaces and walkways
Elevated platforms
Exposed to working with biohazards
Use of hand tools, machinery, and company vehicles
Aquarium habitats and open ocean environments

Mental Demands: The mental demands described here are representative of those that must be met by the individual to successfully perform the essential functions of this role. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. Mental demands include:
Flexibility and adaptability in dealing with high levels of responsibility, empathy, frustration, and patience when it comes to the care of animals with basic needs.
Resilience and ability to prioritize sometimes competing tasks and work under pressure in a fast-paced environment.
Ability to maintain positive and productive relationships with colleagues and guests, even when differing perspectives present potential for conflict.
Strong problem-solving skills to analyze issues and find effective solutions and alternatives.
Flexibility and adaptability to handle changes in schedules or responsibilities.
Critical thinking and decision-making abilities to handle complex situations.
Empathy and emotional intelligence to understand and respond to the needs of colleagues or customers.
Ability to maintain composure and handle difficult situations with professionalism.
Ability to cope with occasional illness, injury, or loss of animals.

Training:

- COAST Orientation in week 1
- AOP hands-on orientation in week 1, including husbandry training, aquatic tech training, lab and safety training, etc
- Weekly professional development workshops led by COAST student success specialist, including Scientific Ethics and responsible conduct of research training, emotional and personal health training, and professional etiquette training

Learning Outcome:

By the end of the academic internship, the student will have learned about the reintroduction of an endangered invertebrate population and the various agencies, partners, and regulations involved in their care. The intern will gain experience working with a team of animal care professionals.