Fall 2026 Marine Mammal Stranding Internships (Unpaid)

The International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) is currently accepting applications for fall 2026 Marine Mammal Stranding Internships.

Program Background

IFAW is an international non-profit organization. This internship is based out of our International Operations Center in Yarmouth Port, Massachusetts, USA. IFAW’s Marine Mammal Rescue and Research program is a federally authorized program dedicated to marine mammal stranding response on Cape Cod and southeastern Massachusetts. Our program strives to promote the conservation of marine mammal species and their habitat by improving the rescue and humane care of stranded marine mammals, advancing stranding science, and increasing public awareness through education. Cape Cod is a marine mammal stranding “hot spot,” with an average of over 264 strandings occurring each year. These strandings include live and dead seals, whales, porpoises, and dolphins. In addition to stranding response, IFAW’s MMRR division is introducing the Cetacean Intensive Care Unit (CICU) located at the Dolphin Rescue Center in Orleans, MA. CICU is a short-term holding facility (96 hours) that aims to provide rehabilitative care to dolphins and porpoises experiencing acute effects of stranding.

Stranding Intern Duties

• Stranding hotline coverage: answer calls, document reports, educate callers, dispatch volunteers, complete associated paperwork and enter data.
• Marine mammal stranding response & necropsy: assist staff with all aspects of marine mammal stranding response, including live animal health assessment and supportive care, biological data collection, post-mortem examinations and sampling in both field and laboratory settings.
• CICU operations: assist staff with aspects of CICU operations, including animal care (i.e. in-water support, assist during procedures, monitoring animal behavior etc.), CICU education and outreach, CICU readiness and cleaning, etc. Please note experiences will be opportunistic as cases arise. We do not have a long-term rehabilitation program or animals on-site regularly.
• Stranding & necropsy readiness: cleaning, organizing and maintaining stranding response and necropsy gear, equipment and facilities, restocking kits and supplies.
• Data entry & sample processing: assist in entry of stranding data. Assist in organizing, cataloging, disseminating and archiving of photos, videos, datasheets, samples, etc.
• Outreach: assist staff with training and outreach material preparation and organization, participate in opportunistic outreach at stranding sites, participate in community events.

Stranding Internship Information

In addition to the operational duties the stranding interns will hold, they are also paired with staff members as mentors and may be given individual tasks and projects to complete under their mentor’s guidance. All interns will be cross-trained in stranding response and necropsy and every effort will be made for interns to gain a wide range of experiences.

Requirements

• Must be at least 18 years old.
• Must possess a valid driver’s license and secure reliable transportation.
• Be enrolled in an undergraduate or graduate program, have completed an undergraduate or graduate study of biology, zoology, ecology, conservation or related field (preferably within 2 years of graduation), or equivalent experience.
• Able to follow written and oral staff directions and protocols effectively and able to work in teams and individually.
• Must be able to commit to 3 or 4 days per week, which includes 1 weekend day, for the duration of the internship session. As cases arise, interns may be able to assist with overnight coverage in up to 12-hour shifts when patients are in-house at CICU.
• Working knowledge of Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint.

Preferred candidates

• Previous marine mammal stranding response/research experience.
• Previous necropsy experience (marine mammal or other taxa).
• Experience caring for or handling animals.
• Experience driving large trucks.
• Experience in photo-ID.
• Flexible daily schedules (Stranding events are unpredictable. Our days may start early or end later than scheduled). As cases arise, interns may help provide overnight coverage and care when patients are in-house.

Tagged as: Internships