2025 Maria Mitchell Association Natural Science Museum Internship
The Nantucket Maria Mitchell Association (MMA) is offering two internship positions at its Natural Science Museum during the 2025 summer. The Natural Science Museum is divided into an Aquatics Room housing numerous freshwater and brackish water animals, a Herpetology Room housing snakes, frogs, and turtles, a Collections Room that displays various animal specimens from across Nantucket, and lastly a STEAM Activity Room where guests can learn about science through hands-on activities.
This Natural Science Museum internship is incredibly unique. This paid opportunity immerses interns in all facets of Natural Science Museum operations, which includes, exhibit design, animal collection, signage design, husbandry of 20+ species, educational programming, volunteer management, collections preservation, retail in the gift shop, and more!
The ideal candidates have interest in biology, ecology, and/or environmental education. Many former interns are working in the fields of outdoor education, aquarium husbandry, environmental education, veterinary medicine, K-12 science education, STEM graduate school, environmental technicians, and environmental stewards.
The Natural Science Museum interns work as a team alongside the Natural Science Museum Manager and are responsible for all facets of Natural Science Museum operations, including animal husbandry, leading tours, managing and mentoring volunteers, leading public programs and field trips, designing exhibits, and running the gift shop. Natural Science Museum interns also have the opportunity to learn the art of preserving specimens for the MMA collections and to assist with any fieldwork conducted at the MMA facility. This is a fantastic immersive experience for students interested in ecology, biology, museum science, and/or environmental education.
Nantucket Island is a resort community that swells to over 60,000 people in the summer. There are fifty miles of beaches and over half the land area is conservation land. The mission of the MMA is to inspire people to experience Nantucket’s sky, land, and sea. Programs and facilities focus on environmental education, ecological research, astronomy, and historic preservation.
Key Requirements and Qualifications
Responsibilities and Tasks
Compensation and Duration
This internship runs from May 26, 2025, to approximately August 31, 2025, with the possibility of extended employment through October 31. The end date may be flexible with the possibility to extend until December 15, 2025.
** Natural Science Museum Internship applications are due February 1, 2025, at 11pm EST. **
Completed applications consist of a resume, cover letter, 3 references and 2 letters of recommendation, official or unofficial transcripts and the Internship application.