Internships
Volunteer Internships provide qualified college students and adults with professional skills in various areas of museum operations and education. While we are not able to offer a stipend, we feel that our internships are credit-worthy should your school allow you to use it in that way. (The development intern listed below is an exception; a modest stipend is offered to qualified candidates.) High school students fulfilling an “internship” for their school should consider job opportunities listed in volunteering.
For a more detailed job description and application information for any of the internships listed below contact: Lois Kuter, Volunteer Coordinator, 215 299-1029, .
For undergraduate, graduate and post-graduate internships and fellowships (which provide a stipend) in the research departments of the Academy go to Research Opportunities.
Current Internship Opportunities
- Botany Department Intern
- Communications & Marketing Intern
- Development Intern
- Dinosaur Education Intern
- Education Intern in Outside-In
- Environmental Biogeochemistry Intern
- Live Animal Center Intern
- Public Program Intern (Education)
- School Program Intern (Education)
- Undergraduate Research Program
Botany Department Intern
Internships of variable duration are offered for undergraduate students. Interested individuals will work with staff members to design an internship of appropriate focus given the student's interests and goals. Opportunities are available to gain curatorial knowledge and skills as well as to work with curators on research projects. The Flora of Pennsylvania Internship is a year-long remunerative opportunity available in collaboration with the Morris Arboretum. For more information and application procedures about this Internship, please visit www.business-services.upenn.edu/arboretum/educationinternshipfloraofpa.html. From time to time, paying internships of other sorts may be available at the herbarium. For information about additional paid and unpaid internships contact the Botany Department.
Communications and Marketing Intern
The intern works with the department staff in a variety of duties in support of the Academy’s marketing and communication goals. Interns should ideally be a Junior or Senior in Communications, Journalism, or Business, or a recent graduate with a degree in such an area of study. Some responsibilities of this position include: Maintaining the Academy Intranet by gathering, writing and posting organization news; writing press releases under staff supervision; updating various databases; helping to develop and implement marketing opportunities; working with local and national media representatives; and some basic office tasks.
Send resume to: Lois Kuter, Volunteer Coordinator, The Academy of Natural Sciences, 1900 Benjamin Franklin Parkway, Philadelphia, PA 19103-1101, or via .
Development Intern
The Development Department is currently seeking an intern or interns to support development efforts and assist in planning special events. Interns should be a Junior or Senior in Communications, Journalism, Business, or Environmental Studies, or a recent graduate with a degree in such an area of study. Responsibilities may include: Researching potential foundations and corporations; calling prospects for annual reports, contact names, etc.; inputting prospect and donor-related information into a software fund raising package and filing donor correspondence and reports; compiling individual giving solicitation packets for Trustees; and assisting with donor-cultivation events.
A modest stipend will be offered to qualified candidates.
Contact Lois Kuter in the Volunteer Office for a detailed job description and an application: 215 299-1029 or via .
Environmental Biogeochemistry Intern
The Biogeochemistry Section of the Academy's Patrick Center for Environmental Research has an opening for a laboratory intern. This is a part-time, temporary position from approximately May/June to September.
Tasks:
Assist in various aspects of the BioGeochemistry Section projects and laboratory maintenance (i.e., glassware and laboratory cleaning). These include field work in wetland and streams, sediment and plant collection as well as water/sediment quality analysis for various chemical and biological parameters. Literature searches and reference database entry will also be a focus of the work. Compile data/information for reports, spreadsheets and graphic analysis. Dependent on the qualifications of the applicant there is an opportunity to complete an independent research project with direction by the EGS Section Head.
Qualifications:
Applicants must have junior or senior college level courses in chemistry, geology, and biology in majors such as environmental sciences, natural resources, or related discipline. Training and experience in a chemistry/water quality laboratory are a plus. Excellent oral, written and computer skills necessary. Database management and spreadsheet experience desirable.
Send resume and letter of interest to by April 15th to:
Office Manager
Patrick Center for Environmental Research,
BioGeochem Intern,
Academy of Natural Sciences,
1900 Ben Franklin Parkway, Philadelphia, PA 19103-1101.
See the Biogeochemistry Program at the Patrick Centers for Environmental Research for more information on our research.
Museum Education Intern in Dinosaur Hall
Dinosaur Education Interns master both informal teaching focused in Dinosaur Hall as well as more formal classes for children in grades K-8 on topics such as dinosaurs, evolution, taxonomy and geology. Working in Dinosaur Hall you can use a variety of hands-on activities to engage visitors and students in the process of paleontology. In the Big Dig you will educate children about the process of excavation and field work using real fossils and cast material. On the main exhibit floor you will learn how to be an informal educator using the dinosaur mounts and touchable fossils to explain issues in paleontology and natural sciences. In the Fossil Preparation Lab you will learn and apply techniques of vertebrate fossil preparation. As an educator in the lab you will explain general methods, processes and principals of paleontology. While focused on the topics visitors explore in Dinosaur Hall, this internship will also introduce you to the work of the Education Department as a whole.
Contact Lois Kuter in the Volunteer Office for a detailed job description and an application: 215 299-1029 or via .
Education Intern in Outside-In
Outside-In is a hands-on discovery center on the museum's third floor designed for children with hundreds of natural artifacts as well as live animals. Interns work side by side with volunteers and a staff manager to help children with the many activities in this room and you will learn to work with a variety of live animals (snakes, rabbits, turtles, guinea pigs and insects). While your work will focus on the hands-on educational techniques used in this particular exhibit space, interns will be introduced to the work of the Education Department and the range of education programs it offers.
Contact Lois Kuter in the Volunteer Office for a detailed job description and an application: 215 299-1029 or via .
Live Animal Center Intern
The Live Animal Center (LAC) maintains a collection of approximately 100 live animals used as a vital part of the education program at the Academy of Natural Sciences museum. These animals, which are mainly non-releasable wildlife or exotic pets, (including raptors, parrots, skunks, rabbits, turtles, snakes, lizards, and more) are used in programs for schools and museum visitors dealing with natural history and environmental education. Interns assist the full-time keepers in the care and handling of the collection, developing an Individualized Training Plan and Independent Project. Interns are trained on-the-job by skilled LAC staff and work with a training manual, and are evaluated on handling, husbandry, and natural history knowledge to move to more complex levels of training.
Contact Lois Kuter in the Volunteer Office for a detailed job description and an application: 215 299-1029 or via .
Public Program Intern (Education)
Public programming interns work with the Public Programs Manager to develop and implement natural science based activities and experiments for museum visitors. Three to six hours per week will be spent observing Academy public programs, revamping and creating new programming and activities. Working with the Public Programs Manager, intern will develop a draft activity manual, gather supplies for activities or experiments, train other staff on the activities and finally, implement activities at the museum.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities:
- Create and implement public friendly science activities and experiments including lesson plans and background information for use in the museum.
- Assist in development and staffing of visitor friendly interactive stations to accompany exhibits at the museum
- Other duties as assigned
Knowledge/Skills:
- Natural science knowledge preferred
- Knowledge or experience with working with the public
- Basic knowledge or interest in curriculum development and lesson planning.
- Demonstrated ability to work as a team member.
- Excellent writing skills.
- Highly self-motivated with the ability to work independently.
- Computer literacy, including word processing and desktop publishing.
Education and Work Experience:
- Working toward an undergraduate or master's degree in science (particularly natural science), education, or a related field with a grade point average of at least 2.5
- Past experience working with the general public
- Formal or informal teaching and curriculum development experience preferred.
Dates of Internship:
Negotiable
Schedule:
Minimum of 8 hours per week during Fall, Winter and Spring, and a minimum of 16 hours a week during the summer months. Interns can work between 9:30 and 4:30 on weekdays and 9:30 and 5 on weekends.
To Apply:
Interested applicants must submit a completed application (download pdf) or resume along with copies of transcripts to:
Lois Kuter, Volunteer Coordinator
Academy of Natural Sciences
1900 Benjamin Franklin Parkway
Philadelphia, PA 19103-1195
School Program Intern (Education)
School program interns train to teach all non-animal lessons that the Academy offers to visiting school groups. Lessons include classes on dinosaurs, invertebrates, watersheds, and classification of organisms. Lessons are hands-on and inquiry based science programs. This internship is an excellent opportunity to gain skills in the development and implementation of inquiry-based, informal science programming for children. Additionally, intern will gain experience working in natural history museum setting.
In addition, interns work with the Education Manager to develop and implement pre and post visit materials for school groups visiting the museum. The activities are designed to enhance the schools’ visit and engage the students while visiting the Academy’s exhibit halls.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities:
- Observe and train on school program lessons. Teach lessons to school groups.
- Help create an age appropriate lesson and activity guide for school groups visiting the museum.
- Other duties as assigned
Knowledge/Skills:
- Natural science knowledge preferred
- Knowledge or experience with children (age groups may vary)
- Excellent writing skills.
- Basic knowledge or interest in curriculum development and lesson planning.
- Demonstrated ability to work as a team member.
- Highly self-motivated with the ability to work independently.
- Computer literacy, including word processing and desktop publishing.
Education and Work Experience:
- Working toward an undergraduate or master's degree in science (particularly natural science), education, or a related field with a grade point average of at least 2.5
- Past experience working with the general public
- Formal or informal teaching and curriculum development experience preferred.
Dates of Internship:
Negotiable
Schedule:
Minimum of 16 hours per week during Fall, Winter and Spring, and a minimum of 8 hours a week during the summer months. Interns can work between 9:30 and 4:30 on weekdays.
To Apply:
Interested applicants must submit a completed application (download pdf) or resume along with copies of transcripts to:
Lois Kuter, Volunteer Coordinator
Academy of Natural Sciences
1900 Benjamin Franklin Parkway
Philadelphia, PA 19103-1101
Undergraduate Research Program (REU)
We have developed a series of new opportunities for undergraduates to obtain research experience in preparation for graduate school in the biological sciences. Our Undergraduate Research Program is dedicated to training students in collections-based research with an emphasis on systematics, natural history, and ecology. All research programs involve fieldwork opportunities and are designed to expose students to research careers in organismal biology.
Go to Undergraduate Research Fellowships (REU) web page for additional information.