Marine Research Intern

Overview: Marine Research Interns will learn about the marine conservation research of WCS’s New York Seascape Program. Interns will be introduced to the marine wildlife of the New York Bight and the conservation challenges they face; collaborate across multiple field research projects and be introduced to a variety of methods used by the New York Seascape team to monitor local marine wildlife. In addition, interns will be introduced to science-based marine management and policy as well as community and stakeholder engagement to understand how field research underpins and informs resource management and protection of marine species and their habitats.

Learning Outcomes:

• You will learn about New York’s marine biodiversity and various monitoring methods used to study some of these species in the wild (e.g., tagging & telemetry).
• You will learn how to construct, prepare, and use monitoring equipment for wildlife and the marine environment.
• You will learn proper capture and handling techniques for species currently being studied by the New York Seascape team (e.g., sharks, etc.).
• You will learn how to collect, manage, and analyze data collected from the field; how these data can be used for community and stakeholder engagement, management, or conservation purposes; and will be introduced to science-based policy mechanisms used to manage and/or protect marine species.
• You will learn how to collect survey data from human subjects in accordance with established protocols to gather information about how recreational fishermen interact with and feel about sharks.
• You will also learn to collate relevant published information and help develop and/or review Seascape materials (e.g., for social media).
• You will support Seascape outreach activities to share our work with the public and other target audiences.
• You will learn about and support WCS efforts to use scientific findings to engage ocean stakeholders and work collaboratively to inform marine conservation policies, including to advance the proposed Hudson Canyon National Marine Sanctuary.
• You will be introduced to animal care within an aquarium setting.
• You will also be invited to join various planning meetings and workshops with our partners.

Minimum Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Must be a current college student (May 2026 graduates not eligible) residing in Queens or Brooklyn
• Students majoring in biology, ecology, or related field strongly preferred
• Must be comfortable in and around water and being on a boat
• Must be comfortable working independently and have the ability to get to field sites in Queens and Long Island (WCS can cover additional transportation costs when applicable)
• Must be able to lift at least 30 lbs.
• Must be eligible to work in the United States
• Must successfully pass a background screening if accepted (provided by WCS)

Duration: Late May-August 2026; approximately 12 weeks; 10-15 hours per week

Pay: $600 Stipend

Tagged as: Internships