FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

There are no official requirements for the internship (aside from being 18 or over), however the recruitment team is looking to hire positive and enthusiastic individuals that can thrive in a unique working environment. Candidates must have exceptional communication skills in order to excel at the Shark Lab in the dormitory style living. We accept volunteers with no prior field experience and in the early stages of their scientific career, all the way up to individuals that have completed their studies.

The intern recruitment team will invite a small group of shortlisted applicants to interview around 2-3 weeks after the application deadline (allowing us time to thoroughly review each application). Decisions are usually made within a week following the interview, with approx 4-6 positions available. Recruiting volunteers is a rigorous process, and the internship is highly competitive.

Internship periods will be announced on social media with an open application window of approximately 2 weeks for a specific time period. If applications are marked as CLOSED, please sign up with your email address to be notified when applications are open. You can find the sign up button on the Internships Information page.

Our start and end dates are fixed to enable a smooth running of the Lab. Once dates have been selected, accepted interns will need to be available from start to finish dates.

Unfortunately, due to the investment of time and effort into training new arrivals, we require all interns to stay for approximately two months. We believe it takes this amount of time for an intern to become settled into their role and to learn necessary skills and techniques.

In most cases, it is rare that you will be able to extend your internship as our intern positions are confirmed months in advance. We will be flexible when we can, but it is best not to plan your trip under the assumption you can prolong your stay in Bimini. Note that your performance as an intern will be assessed before automatic acceptance for another period.

Yes, we are excited to offer new scholarship opportunities. Please see the Internship Information page for details. You must fill out the Scholarships section of your application form to be considered.

After arriving in Bimini, all volunteers will be provided with training to allow them to effectively and safely undertake field work. This will include the following classes:

First Aid basics (not a certifiable course)

Map class and orientation of Bimini’s landmarks and the surrounding waters

Boat safety and knot tying

Fishing & fish ID

Radio & GPS use

Data recording

Shark ‘work-ups’ demonstration

You will also sit in on lectures about the Station’s current and past research, among other topics.

At this time we DO NOT guarantee any hands on shark research due to permitting changes in The Bahamas. While we now are occasionally conducting research in the Florida Keys, we cannot guarantee there will be a research trip scheduled for every internship period, and we are unable to make recommendations on when to apply for an internship period in which shark tagging will occur.

The Shark Lab is located in a former Police barracks, and Doc designed the lab to imitate a research vessel. There are five cabins, (each with two sets of bunk beds), two bathrooms, and a communal kitchen and dining area. The lab is very much dormitory style living, with up to 20 people sharing the quarters at any one time.

When possible rooms are allocated by gender, however this is not always possible so we appreciate your flexibility and understanding. There are usually four people/room.

This is not an option for our internships, as part of the experience of interning with the Shark Lab is being fully integrated into the world of a remote research station.