Research Intern

Internship Opportunities

The Florida Wildlife Hospital offers unique internship opportunities for college students with an interest in native Florida wildlife. Please note, these opportunities are unpaid.

Some colleges and universities allow internships to count towards course credits, but each have slightly different requirements. Please indicate on the application form if you wish to complete the internship for course credits, so that we can discuss this further with those who are selected for the positions.

General Requirements

• Understanding and demonstration of our mission: “Keeping wildlife wild by providing quality, compassionate care”.
• Must be 18 years of age or older.
• Have a valid driver’s license and reliable transportation.
• Enrolled or recently graduated in a related college subject matter (biology, ecology, zoology, environmental science, education, etc.)
• Be willing to work a schedule including weekends, holidays, and all-weather conditions.
• Be in good physical condition with the ability to lift at least 50lbs; able to bend, stoop, and crawl.
• Possess good communication skills, a positive attitude, able to follow directions, and work as part of a team in a fast-paced environment.
• Must provide proof of a current tetanus vaccination.
• A rabies vaccination is not required, though it is preferred.
• No peanut/nut allergies or cleaning chemical sensitivities.
• Please note: individual internships may have additional requirements.

Schedule

We offer both part time (~20 hours per week) and full time (~40 hours per week) internships. This roughly translates to 2 to 4 10-hour workdays a week over the course of 12 weeks. Preference will be given to full time interns during the spring and summer semesters. We will contact all applicants who submitted a complete application shortly after the application deadline to schedule interviews.

Spring Part-time Internships Application deadline: November 15th 12-week commitment 8:00am-5:00pm Start Month: January | End Month: April

Summer Full-time Internships Application deadline: March 15th 12-week commitment 8:00am-6:00pm Start Month: May | End Month: August

Fall Part-time Internships Application deadline: July 15th 12-week commitment 8:00am-5:00pm Start Month: September | End Month: December

Research Intern

We are not accepting research interns in 2026

About the Internship

Interns will:

• Learn more about Florida’s native wildlife through the stories their lives tell us.
• Gain exposure to wildlife conservation and animal-related educational experiences.

Requirements

Applicants should:

• Be comfortable with graphic circumstances involving animals, as exposure to such situations is unavoidable.

Skills Gained

By the end of the internship, participants will have developed practical experience in:

• Knowledge of Florida’s native wildlife and ecosystems.
• Understanding of wildlife life histories and behaviors.
• Increased awareness of conservation and animal welfare issues.
• Ability to handle emotionally challenging situations in a professional environment.