Be sure that you qualify! If you do not meet the qualifications, your application will not be evaluated.

Qualifications

1) You must have an undergraduate degree in physical or biological science, or science education, from an accredited college or university, awarded since 2006. You can apply as a senior, before graduation, but your degree must be awarded to you before you begin the internship (Sept.2, 2008). A dual major in science or science education, with another subject, is acceptable. However, if you only have a minor in science or science education, with a major in another subject, then you do not qualify.

2) You do not have to have training or experience in marine science. However, lab courses in biology, invertebrate zoology, and ichthyology are helpful.

3) Previous experience teaching or working with children/students is a plus. However, if you have held a full-time position as a naturalist, or intern that lasted for one year or more, then you are not eligible to apply for one of our internships.

4) You must be physically able to carry out the internship duties, which includes teaching in the field and aboard a boat.

5) You must be fluent in English, since you will be teaching classes of all age levels (after appropriate training).

6) You do not have to be a U.S. citizen, but if you are not, you have to obtain a visa that will allow you to teach and reside in the U.S. for the full period of the internship. If you are accepted for an internship, MECA will provide documents to allow you to apply for a visa, but cannot guarantee that you will obtain one.

APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS - PLEASE READ THOROUGHLY

1) An application letter. In the letter, tell us why you want the internship, what you hope to gain during a year with us, and why you feel that you are qualified for it. Try to give us a clear picture of who you are and why you feel that the internship would be an appropriate job for you at this point in your life. Your letter should include both home and school telephone numbers (and e-mail addresses that you check regularly) so that we can always get in touch with you after you graduate. If you are moving someplace else for a summer job, give us that telephone number also.

2) A full résumé, describing all of your education, activities, and work experience, and any other information that would be important in giving us a clear picture of you. Include names, addresses, phone numbers, and e-mail addresses of 3 individuals that you are using as references.

3) A transcript of your college/university work, including courses in progress (if any) and grades. If your college or university is not in the U.S., an explanation of the grading system must be included. Any material not in English must include a translation.

4) Request three letters of recommendation from the three references listed in your résumé. The letters should be mailed to us directly by these individuals, or included in your application packet, in a sealed, signed envelope.

(As a matter of courtesy, provide each of your references with a description of the internship from our website, so they can comment on your suitability for this position. Be sure to give them plenty of time to prepare the letters (university faculty members, in particular, are often asked to write many recommendation letters), so request your letters as soon as possible.
The best reference letters come from individuals who can comment on your academic or work-related accomplishments, particularly if you have work experience in some sort of position where you had to instruct others. Letters that are very brief, or "generic" ones, are of little use to us in comparing you to other applicants, no matter how favorable the comments might be. A letter from an employer, who could provide an honest appraisal of your work habits and strong points, would be far more useful to us than a letter from a professor who could only evaluate your performance in one class).

5. Your application packet, and the 3 letters of recommendation, should be mailed to:

All of these materials must arrive by April 5, 2008.  Email applications are NOT accepted. Postmarks do not count. It is your responsibility to make sure that your application materials are received by the deadline. If anything is missing, we will have to discard your application. Missing recommendation letters are often the problem, so be sure your references know what the deadline is. Check with them to be sure the letters have been sent.

Internship Search Committee
UGA Marine Education Center & Aquarium
30 Ocean Science Circle
Savannah, GA 31411

We will process applications as soon as possible. In recent years, we have had 40-60 applications per year for the 3-4 available internship positions. We will generally be able to select about 10 finalists within 4 weeks after the deadline date, and non-finalists will be notified by mail at that time. Members of the selection committee will contact the finalists to set up telephone interviews. The interview process will be complete, and internship positions offered, by late May.

Finalists who are not offered internships may be asked if they wish to be put on a waiting list, in case one of the selected candidates drops out. This may not be possible for some people, who must make decisions on other employment. However, dropouts do occur, and in two recent cases a member of the waiting list was offered (and accepted) an internship when a selected candidate withdrew.