The atmosphere and level of professionalism was top tier
What I wish was different
A little more in person expectations of the position rather than reading a handbook
Advice
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Environmental health intern
May - August 2021 • Sarasota, FL
What I liked
Mote is an amazing research facility doing essential work in ocean conservation.
What I wish was different
N/A
Advice
Don’t be afraid to learn!
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Sea Turtle Conservation and Research Intern
May - August 2019 • Sarasota, FL
What I liked
I loved getting to know the staff and the other interns in the program. I also liked walking the beach every day looking for activities and not being stuck in the office. I loved getting to know more about Sea Turtles and being able to inform and educate the public every day.
What I wish was different
I wish there was less busy work when we were in the office waiting for the other keys to finish but, and also that we could work on different keys more often. I think it would have been a good opportunity to have us rotate keys, but I get why they do it the way they did. This would have also been a good opportunity to get to know more staff instead of just knowing your key leader very well.
Advice
Be prepared for the heat and having to walk on the beach in it. Also, be prepared for long days such as 10-12 hour days where you will feel exhausted. Make sure to always have water on you and stay hydrated. Also, make sure to eat so that you are prepared for the next day. Tons of sleep are also helpful for some days you will have to be on the beach at 6:00 am and may have a drive. Side note, another thing to be prepared for is it is a lot of walking in the sand for a few hours. Another part of this internship, there will also be fire ants and you will have to clear up destroyed eggs from raccoons. There will also be dead hatchlings.
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Coral Reef Restoration intern
May - August 2019 • Summerland Key, FL
What I liked
Lots of learning experiences, very neat environment, lots of very knowledgeable people working on a variety of projects
What I wish was different
Little do to day to day, more structured internship program
Advice
Go in with an open mind, ask questions, and feel free to explore other areas. There's a lot of people who are doing important work in regards to the future of coral reefs, take time to learn from them and their experiences.
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Biology Research Intern
May - August 2019 • Longboat Key, FL
What I liked
Working in the field with hands on experience and learning about conservation
What I wish was different
The internship being paid
Advice
There are many different branches to intern with, the sea turtle program is an awesome experience but also very physically demanding
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Informal educator
May - August 2019 • Sarasota, FL
What I liked
This internship opportunity was amazing . Great team filled with opportunities for many different experiences.
What I wish was different
Advice
Be prepared for early mornings and hot days.
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Marine Biologist Intern
May - August 2018 • Sarasota, FL
What I liked
I loved the diverse and enthusiastic mentors who served as both incredible role models and advisors, the opportunity to do a broad variety of work and learn useful skills, and the field work component!
What I wish was different
I can't imagine the summer having been better or more pleasant.
Advice
Remember to ask for the tasks you want! Being proactive got me opportunities I never would have anticipated if I'd stuck with the limits I thought were prescribed for me.
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Sea Turtle Conservation and Research Intern
May - August 2018 • Sarasota, FL
What I liked
I loved being able to work outside on the beach everyday and working with a group of passionate people. It was amazing to see one by one the sea turtle nests I had marked and recorded hatch! I was able to directly see my actions at work! Mote is a fantastic place to work it offers so many opportunities for new experiences.
What I wish was different
I wish the internship was either paid or provided housing.
Advice
You need to be prepared to work hard during hot Florida summers and be passionate about the work you are doing.
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Biology Laboratory Assistant
May - August 2018 • Sarasota, FL
What I liked
I loved the atmosphere, the wide variety in day to day work, and the experience gained, as well as the opportunity to work with incredible mentors in variety of fields.
What I wish was different
I couldn't imagine a better experience!
Advice
More Wellesley students should pursue internships and other positions at Mote - it's an incredible opportunity to cultivate field research experience and science/lab career mentorship.
