Internships
We offer Summer and Fall internships. This is a fun and exciting opportunity to experience the daily challenges of studying wild marine life on the ocean and interact with and inspire the public to protect marine life.
Overview
The ideal candidate will be outgoing, enthusiastic, detail-oriented, and have a strong desire to learn and teach. A desire to practice or improve public speaking skills is essential. A background in biology is helpful, but prior experience is not required, as this is an entry-level position. The internship is specifically geared toward college students, and we do not accept high school students (or anyone under 18). We welcome all majors and degree levels, including undergraduate and graduate students and those changing careers or in-between degrees.
Housing: Interns are responsible for securing their own housing. We will assist by putting interns in touch with each other as soon as possible to find a shared apartment/sublet. The University of New Hampshire (Durham, NH) has dorm rooms available; however dining hall hours are limited.
Transportation: Interns must have reliable transportation. Public transportation is extremely limited in the seacoast area (taxis, Ubers only). Interns will work in a boat at Granite State Whale Watch in Rye, NH and also need to attend training and meetings at our office in Portsmouth, NH.
Applications for Summer and Fall Sessions are due January 15.
*Please note that we cannot accept international students*
Details
Schedule: Positions are available full- or part-time; however, applicants who can commit to 5 days per week will receive priority. Interns must be available on weekends and holidays.
Summer internship: End of May to mid/late August. This is a full-time position (40 hrs/week).
Fall internship: Mid-August to October. This is a part-time position (40 hrs/week until Labor Day; then 10-20 hrs/week).
College Credit: We will help you arrange college credit if desired. It is your responsibility to determine how to obtain credit through your school, but we will complete any necessary paperwork required by your school.
Compensation: A housing and food stipend of $4,500 is available for full-time summer interns. Part-time fall interns will be provided a stipend of $1,500.
Data Collection and Public Outreach
Whale research interns work with our naturalists aboard a commercial whale watch vessel, the M/V Granite State. They collect detailed data electronically and educate passengers one-on-one about marine life in the Gulf of Maine, a thriving ecosystem known for some of the best whale-watching in the country. Whale watch trips are 4-5 hours each, with two trips back-to-back most days. Interns spend the day outside, on deck, in all weather conditions. On these trips, interns search for whales and other marine life, record detailed data on the animals, behaviors, and marine debris, interact with passengers of all ages and backgrounds, and explain teaching tools such as baleen.
Trainings, Meetings and Other Tasks
Mandatory group meetings will occur weekly and may include Blue Ocean Society staff members. Meetings may consist of paper discussions, guest speakers, and additional skill learning. Interns will also participate in field trips to expose them to other marine science and conservation areas. There will be an orientation and supervised whale watch trips to prepare the interns for the season.
Interns may be asked to complete other tasks as needed (i.e., when a whale watch trip is canceled due to rough seas), including office work, beach cleanups, and microplastics sampling and sorting, They may also work a shift at the Blue Ocean Discovery Center in Hampton Beach.
Testimonials
“Every single part of it was amazing. I definitely loved the boat and being with the whales the most. I cried when i saw my first breach and continued to be amazed by every single one.”
Brigid Weedon, 2021 Fall Intern
“I feel as though this internship afforded me an intangible experience. This is a summer I will never forget, and has created a direct passioin for me and my future as a marine conservationist. I have always loved the ocean and knew I wanted to work with marine life, but had no idea that whales would become such a focus for me in my future career. I hope to get to work with these amazing creatures again and wnat to thank Blue Ocean for creating such a knowledgeable, yet fun experience.”
Kayla Kennicker, 2022 Summer and Fall Intern
Where are the now?
Blue Ocean Society interns have gone on to a variety of careers, including as environmental educators (American Museum of Natural History, Blue Ocean Discovery Center, Maritime Aquarium, Racine Zoo, Seacoast Science Center, Sea Camp), researchers (Scripps Institute of Oceanography), aquarists (Aquarium of the Pacific, Seacoast Science Center), veterinary medicine and animal care (Mass General Hospital), observers (National Marine Fisheries, Alaska Fisheries Science Center), right whale researchers (New England Aquarium, NOAA, Clearwater Marine Aquarium, Sea to Shore Alliance, Wildlife Trust, Florida Fish and Wildlife), and whale watch naturalists/crew (Rye, NH, Gloucester, MA, Newburyport, MA, Boston, MA, Bar Harbor, ME, Boothbay Harbor, ME, Kennebunk, ME, Lahaina, HI, Homer, AK).
Other internship programs have accepted our former interns including Georgia Aquarium, Mystic Aquarium, New England Aquarium, Texas A&M, Allied Whale, Center for Coastal Studies, Center for Wildlife, Alaska Sea Life Center, and Shoals Marine Lab.
“My favorite part of the internship was getting to learn about a new ecosystem and experiencing the joy and appreciation through a passenger’s eyes. One day a woman in her late 80s was getting off the boat and she kept thanking us and saying how it was the best day of her life. Best day out of 80-something years. I was so touched I almost cried.”
Julia Wilcox, 2021 Summer Intern
“My last internship did not have a research component, so being able to collect data in the field and then use data to put together a research project was immensely valuable and instructive. Additionally, it was wonderful to interact with a new field that I previously did not have much interest in and open my eyes to all the possibilities.”
Hope Sandlin, 2022 Summer Intern
Learn More
Questions about the Whale Research Internship? Contact Dianna Schulte atdianna@blueoceansociety.org
Interested in Applying?
Please email the following items in PDF or DOC/DOCX format) to Office Assistant Angela Sames (mail to angela@blueoceansociety.org).
• Resume
• Cover Letter - please include:
Which session you are applying for (Summer, Fall, or Both)?
What sparked your interest in whale research?
Why are you interested in pursuing this internship?
How does this internship relate to your future career goals?
What are the key skills you think you bring to this position?
• 2 Letters of Recommendation (emailed directly from your references to Angela Sames at angela@blueoceansociety.org)
WE WILL START ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS ON JANUARY 1. Resume and Cover Letter are due January 15th. Recommendation Letters are due by January 31st.
Please note: All applicants must be at least 18 years old, and we cannot accept international applicants.