Internship: Animal Care – Polar Play Zone 
Department: Aquarium
Status: Temporary, non-exempt
Pay Rate: $17.00/hr
Location: Onsite
Season: Spring 2026 (3/2/26-5/22/26 or 3/16/26-6/5/26)
Application Deadline: January 18 at 5pm CST
 
Shedd Internship Program
Shedd Aquarium's Internship Program aims to provide meaningful career exploration for those seeking professions in non-profits, animal care, conservation, research, and beyond.  We hope to inspire and develop future professionals as diverse as the aquatic world we care for.

These opportunities are geared toward those that are new to the field and just starting to establish a career. They have the skills and knowledge, but not necessarily the real-world application.

We welcome applications from all levels of experience, including those seeking career exploration or changes, gap year students, freshmen, sophomores, and those seeking first internships.

Department Overview: 
This career learning opportunity is designed to introduce experiences necessary for those looking to pursue a future career in aquaria, fisheries, hatcheries, and the general animal husbandry industry. The Aquarium Team is responsible for all aspects of animal husbandry and habitat maintenance for a wide variety of fish, invertebrates, reptiles, amphibians, and birds.  Interns will assist with animal care, life support, water quality monitoring, and cleaning. Interns may also complete a research or observational project to further their understanding and career goals. This position will work directly with the Aquarium Sustainability team focusing on plankton culturing, animal rearing (fish and echinoderms), and maintenance of cold, saltwater exhibits. 

Environment:
Aquarium Team interns will be working with aquarists behind the scenes of the aquarium habitats. This position may involve working in hot, humid, wet, or cold environments, and exposure to low to moderate noise levels. Interns may need to perform tasks that involve working in and around cold water (~55°F). Interns will be required to spend long periods of time standing, walking, and bending. They may be asked to perform physical tasks such as climbing a ladder or lifting up to 40 lbs. Interns must follow safety procedures for working with hazardous chemicals, working near construction zones, using appropriate PPE, and working with potentially dangerous animals.    
 
Learning Goals: 

• Be able to harvest and quantify copepod cultures. 
• Be comfortable with all necessary husbandry (both animal care and life support) for the Polar Play Zone habitats with supervision. 
• Demonstrate a hands-on understanding of the role in-situ conservation can play on ex-situ animals by working with the Pycnopodia helianthoides project. 

Responsibilities & Projects: 

• Demonstrate commitment to Shedd’s vision, mission and values 
• Complete assigned animal care tasks including diet preparation, feeding, and recording health observations.  
• Assist in all aspects of habitat maintenance for Polar Play Zone habitats including cleaning walls/windows and substrate, performing water changes, understanding large and small aquarium life support systems, and monitoring water quality. 
• Perform daily harvests and counts of plankton species. 
• Aid in bimonthly sunflower sea star fitness tests. 
• Other projects as assigned 

Qualifications: 

Fields of Interest: 
Applicants should be interested in a career in animal husbandry, aquaculture, or conservation. Coursework in the biological sciences or some animal care experience is preferred.   

Skills/Characteristics: 

• Comfortable working closely with a variety of aquatic animals.  
• Have good time management skills and be able to work independently.  
• Attentive with good observational skills. 
• Able to take advice and feedback in a professional manner.  
• Able to communicate effectively with a team (written and verbal). 
• Must be at least 18 years old at time of application.
• Have a high school diploma or GED at time of application. 

Schedule: 

• This internship will run from 3/2/26-5/22/26 or 3/16/26-6/5/26.
  • The first day of the internship will be a full day orientation from 9am-5pm. This is required, even if you will not normally be scheduled on Mondays.
• We anticipate this position will be scheduled for 30 hours per week during this time period, pending business needs and individual performance.
  • Preferred schedule: Availability within a Tuesday-Saturday schedule, beginning as early as 7am.
  • Set schedule based on intern availability and host department needs. 

Reasonable Accommodations:
Shedd Aquarium is committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodations to individuals with disabilities. If you need reasonable accommodations for any part of the employment process, please email us at internship@sheddaquarium.org.
 
We strongly encourage people of color, LGBTQ+ community, Veterans and active duty military, parents, individuals with disabilities, and individuals from all cultural backgrounds to apply. Shedd Aquarium is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes everyone to our team.