Internship Assignment

Internship questions

What do you hope to gain from an internship with the New England Aquarium?

My ultimate career goal is to work with marine animals at an aquarium and help build public awareness of conservation issues. I hope this internship will provide me with real-world experience at an aquarium and connections with professionals in the field to help me reach that goal. I also want to get more hands-on experience working with marine life and enhance my skills in interacting with visitors to an aquarium under the guidance of professionals.

Why are you currently pursuing an internship with the New England Aquarium?

I have applied for three internships at the New England Aquarium that match my interest in marine animal conservation,

As part of my job at PetSmart, I am responsible for cleaning both saltwater and freshwater tanks. This includes wiping the main and comet sumps in the morning, cleaning/changing prefilters/ filter socks in the main and comet systems, cleaning loc-lines and strainers to allow better output flow of water, and wiping down all aquarium outer surfaces, tops, and fronts. I am also responsible for removing deceased or diseased fish and plants, vacuuming the gravel, algae scrubbing, water changing, and decoration soaking and scrubbing with sodium thiosulfate. I also wipe-down any areas from water spills around the tank.

Do you have any past animal husbandry, care, and/or handling experience? If so, elaborate and be specific.

As a Pet Care Specialist at PetSmart, I have responsibility for the proper housing of the animals, fish, and aquatic plants in the store, including making sure they have healthy and comfortable environments and preparing food for all animals according to their schedule. I am responsible for monitoring their behavior and making sure they do not express unusual behavior and that they get the best quality veterinary care when needed. This includes removing any dead fish from aquariums and observing the fish to identify any that need to be isolated due to

My focus is mainly on the environment and helps protect aquatic life through education and public awareness. I want to gain experience with animal stewardship while giving visitors an extraordinary experience. I have never been an intern at an aquarium, especially one of the world's first modern aquariums, and I want to gain experience for my career in which I am hoping to work at an aquarium and with marine mammals. I have had a passion for aquariums since my childhood of taking care of fish tanks. The more I learn about marine life, the more I am dedicated to continuing in this field.

Please elaborate on your cleaning experience here.

As part of my job at PetSmart, I am responsible for cleaning both saltwater and freshwater tanks. This includes wiping the main and comet sumps in the morning, cleaning/changing prefilters/ filter socks in the main and comet systems, cleaning loc-lines and strainers to allow better output flow of water, and wiping down all aquarium outer surfaces, tops, and fronts. I am also responsible for removing deceased or diseased fish and plants, vacuuming the gravel, algae scrubbing, water changing, and decoration soaking and scrubbing with sodium thiosulfate. I also wipe-down any areas from water spills around the tank.

Do you have any past animal husbandry,