INTERNSHIP
INFORMATION
*NEW* INTERNSHIP INTAKE PERIODS
Please be aware that we will open Internship Applications for seasonal intake periods only. Internship periods are a minimum duration of 2 months, and a maximum of 4 months. We will open applications approximately 6 months prior to the start date, and will advertise upcoming intake periods on Instagram and Facebook (@biminisharklab).
2025 INTERNSHIP INTAKE PERIODS
Winter / Spring Internship - March 1st to June 1st, 2025
Applications Closed
Fall / Winter Internship - Sept 15th - December 15th, 2025
Applications open - March 1st to March 29th, 2025
We are not offering Summer Internships (June/July/August) at this time.
POSITIONS AVAILABLE - UP TO 5 INTERNS PER INTERNSHIP PERIOD
ELIGIBILITY
-
Must be over 18
-
Must have a valid passport and be able to enter and stay in the USA and The Bahamas for at least 30 days
-
Must be available for the entire internship period
-
Able to lift/carry 50lbs
-
Able to live on remote island with limited resources and medical facilities
-
Be comfortable with communal living, sharing rooms, sharing household chore duties
-
Be comfortable around large dogs
-
Be willing to participate in outreach and education initiatives
IMPORTANT INFORMATION REGARDING RESEARCH IN THE BAHAMAS:
The research permitting process in The Bahamas has changed and we have shifted our research activities to our projects located in the Florida Keys. Each Internship period is scheduled to have a FL Keys Research component, as well as a a Bimini, Bahamas component.
“This internship was such an incredible and well-rounded experience. Thanks to this, I'm currently developing educational and informative materials about sharks that I can offer my community.”
- Wanda Ortiz Báez
2021 Intern & MISS Elasmo Fellow
INTERNSHIP
OVERVIEW
The Shark Lab is seeking highly motivated, hard-working people with a desire to gain experience in marine science an remote field station living. Interns are integrated into all aspects of the Station's workload – alongside field activities, they are expected to assist with fixing equipment, cleaning the facilities, and cooking family-style meals. Not only do interns gain practical skills and knowledge throughout their time, but they are given the opportunity to obtain connections in a diversity of disciplines, including photography and videography, research, outreach and more. We believe that interning at the field station is a life-changing experience that not only develops scientists but also helps to create well-rounded people with a drive and passion to succeed in whatever path they choose to follow.
A day in the life of an intern at the Shark Lab can be very dynamic. While a big part of the internship is gaining experience in the field and interacting with sharks, interns should also understand that not every day is spent in the field and days will consist of prioritizing the smooth operation of the Station. Each day interns will complete a morning and afternoon checklist of shared household responsibilities which involves sweeping, mopping, doing the dishes, cleaning bathrooms, doing laundry, and general tidying up. These are essential tasks that keep the Station running smoothly and everyone is expected to contribute.
In the field, interns are responsible for completing deckhand duties, whether out with visiting students or on the water during a day off. Deckhand duties include prepping gear for the field activities, prepping/cutting bait, fueling, assisting with anchoring, tying knots, helping guests, and cleaning the boats and gear at the end of the field activity. Be prepared to get your hands dirty!
It is important to note that an internship with the Shark Lab is not a holiday in the tropics, and should not be treated as such. While the Shark Lab will provide many exciting and once in a lifetime opportunities, we expect all interns to participate in ALL aspects of the work, and to display a strong work ethic and positive attitude.
ABOUT THE INTERNSHIP: BIMINI, THE BAHAMAS
The majority of the Internship will take place at the Bimini Biological Field Station in Bimini, The Bahamas. While in Bimini, no hands-on research will take place, however this is where the learning happens! Below are some of the skills and activities interns will learn and assist with in Bimini:
FIELD TECHNIQUES
-
Standard boating knots
-
GPS navigation
-
Basic VHF radio usage
-
Boat safety, and basic boating protocols
-
Fishing using a variety of techniques from trolling to pole spear fishing
-
Snorkeling and basic freediving safety
-
Fish ID & Fishing Regulations
-
Basic First Aid
FIELD ACTIVITIES
-
Interacting with juvenile lemon sharks in pristine mangrove habitat
-
Snorkeling and freediving with Caribbean reef sharks, blacktip sharks, lemon sharks and nurse sharks
-
Interacting with southern stingrays on a white sand beaches
-
Snorkeling and freediving with Great Hammerhead sharks during the winter months
-
Snorkeling a variety of coral reef, mangrove and seagrass habitats
-
Snorkeling with sea turtles at the famous SS Sapona shipwreck
-
Potential encounters with spotted eagle rays, Atlantic spotted dolphins, or bottlenose dolphins and more marine wildlife
COURSES
-
Assist with the running of visiting College/University Courses
-
Network with professors and students in the field of Marine Science
-
Meal prep & Station upkeep
-
Equipment prep and loading/unloading boats
-
Assist students while out on field activities
-
Sit in on scientific lectures
LECTURES
-
History of the Bimini Biological Field Station
-
Project lectures
-
Maps and Navigation of Bimini and surrounding areas
-
Photo Identification of Great Hammerheads
-
Species ID
-
Ecology and Evolution of Elasmobranchs
-
Research Methods: including a thorough shark "workup" lesson and demonstration with our model hammerhead
WORKSHOPS & MISCELLANEOUS SKILLS
-
Critical analysis of research papers
-
Science Communication - Disseminating Research, Lightning Presentation
-
Outreach - giving a Shark Lab tour, presenting as a Request A Speaker guest to classrooms
-
Photo editing instruction and demonstration
-
Scientific writing opportunities through blog writing
-
Cooking for large number of people
-
Remote field station maintenance
ABOUT THE INTERNSHIP:
FLORIDA KEYS RESEARCH TRIPS
As we have adjusted to changes regarding the research permits in The Bahamas, our research has now shifted to the Florida Keys. This has allowed us to create new research projects as well as continuing on with projects that have close connections to Bimini.
Research trips to the Keys are scheduled two to four times per year, and are typically two to four weeks in duration. We try our best to schedule research trips during internship periods so that interns can experience our outreach and education efforts in Bimini as well as our research efforts in the Florida Keys. It is important to note, however, that these trips require a lot of planning and logistics by our team, and unforeseen circumstances can sometimes alter the plans we have made.
Our research trips are very rewarding but also very demanding. They consist of back to back strenuous work days in all types of extreme weather. Everyone is expected to help out and participate until ALL work is done. This not only includes work on the research vessel but also cleaning, prepping gear and bait, cooking, fixing gear, organizing samples and maintaining our living quarters.
RESEARCH METHODS
-
Block-Rig shark surveys
-
Longline shark surveys
-
BRUVS (Baited Remote Underwater Video Systems) deployments
-
BRUVS video analysis
RESEARCH PARTICIPATION
-
Pack/Unpack and organize ALL gear
-
Handle and prep bait
-
Set survey lines and retrieve hooks
-
Participate in various roles during shark workups: writing data accurately, organizing samples, taking samples, organizing equipment, maintaining space and a clear work space
-
Clean vessel and maintain safe workspace between each survey set
-
Clean and repack all equipment and vessel after each day
-
Process samples (blood, fin clips, etc)
-
Repair gear
COST
Room & Board Fee
Our room & board fee is $1250 USD per month. This fee is inclusive of ALL internship activities (including research trips to the Florida Keys), accommodation at the Station, three meals a day, laundry, internet, and all field activities & training. This cost works out as roughly $41/day. Please note that the room & board fees paid by interns makes up less than a quarter of the total running cost of the Station annually and the BBFSF relies on grants and donations to subsidize these rates. All fees go directly into the Station's operating costs during the internship. We appreciate your understanding on this matter.
We understand that financial barriers can limit opportunities and we are pleased to offer partial or full scholarships to those who qualify. Please see Scholarship Opportunities below for scholarship information.
In addition to the room & board fees, we require a one time payment to cover your flights between Fort Lauderdale and Bimini. This price will depend on duration of the internship and number of flights between Bimini and Florida throughout the internship period. The internship fees do not include your personal travel costs, personal equipment, or personal insurance.
USD and BSD are of equal value and are used interchangeably in the Bahamas. Please allow for additional spending money to cover optional outside expenses such as: Shark Lab t-shirts, meals out, snacks, drinks, souvenirs etc. Most snacks are 3x as expensive as the US due to importation fees and taxes, so keep this in mind.
SCHOLARSHIP OPPORTUNITIES
Doc Gruber Memorial Scholarship
We are pleased to announce continued scholarship opportunities for 2025 thanks to the support of the McPZ Foundation. We understand that financial barriers can limit opportunities for people in the early stages of their careers.
To be considered, please fill out the entire Internship Application Form, including the section marked Scholarships.
Doc Gruber Memorial Scholarships are available for Bahamian & international applicants who are 18 years of age and up.
Rain or shine, every day was either making progress or making memories!
- Shane White
2021 Intern
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
ENTRY TO THE USA - REQUIRED
It is imperative that all interns are eligible and able to travel within the United States, as Florida is where we travel to and from in the case of an emergency, evacuation due to a hurricane, or any other unforeseen circumstances. You must be able to stay in the USA for at least 30 consecutive days in order to participate in Florida Keys Research. It is YOUR responsibility to check and meet the requirements to enter the USA (visa, ESTA, waiver program, etc.)
PREPARE FOR YOUR APPLICATION
Please be prepared to attach PDF versions of your CV, cover letter and two letters of recommendation with the application form.
AFTER YOU SUBMIT YOUR APPLICATION
Once the open application period closes, we will begin our thorough review of each application. We are a small team, and it takes time to complete the review process, so we appreciate your patience. There are a limited number of placements available, and positions are highly competitive. Only short-listed applications will be contacted and invited to interview. If you do not hear from us within ~three weeks of the application period closing it means you have not been selected for an interview at this time. We encourage you to reapply in the future. Thank you for your understanding!
More Questions?
Check out our Internship FAQ Page.
“During the course of my internship at the Shark Lab, I learned valuable skills in fieldwork, statistical analysis, and professional development. Additionally, the connections I made at the lab have helped me pursue my current Master's degree where I am comparing stable isotope values in juvenile lemon sharks within their coastal and island nurseries, using Bimini as my island nursery site.”
JACK DALES - INTERN 2021
“I searched for knowledge and experience in the field but left with so much more: an extended family, numerous stories to tell, motivation to push forward, and, of course, knowledge and experience in the field.”
WANDA ORTIZ BÁEZ - INTERN & MISS ELASMO FELLOW 2021
"My time at the Bimini Shark Lab as a volunteer intern remains one of the most memorable experiences of my life, both personally and professionally. Working in the field with these magnificent creatures in their own element and working with the lab's scientists and staff provided me with a plethora of skills learned and connections made. The crew of the Shark Lab during my time there remains the coolest group of people I have ever had the privilege to work with. If I were given a chance to go back to the Shark Lab, I would do so without hesitation. I hope to be able to collaborate with the Bimini Shark Lab and the crew I met and worked with during my future career in shark science. For aspiring shark scientists, there is no better place to get world-class supervision from experts in the field, as well as develop skills in the field of shark research."
ETHAN DEWALD - INTERN 2021
WHERE ARE THEY NOW?
PADDY BURKE
One of the most beneficial aspects of being a volunteer at the Shark Lab is that the harder you work and the longer you are there, the more responsibility you are given.
DR. LAURAN BREWSTER
The experiences I gained at the Shark Lab have been instrumental in my life, both professionally and personally.
DR. JAMES LEA
I have no doubt that all of the experience working with sharks I had gained at the Shark Lab was invaluable for getting the position.