Jackie Bither

Brunner Internship Scholarship Reflection

Over the past four months, I have been working as an intern at the Tampa Museum of Art. My internship consisted of working as a curatorial intern for the antiquities curator, Branko van Oppen, and working as a Visitor Experience and Engagement Representative (VEER) under Denice Esquibel-Rangel. My responsibilities for this internship included peer-reviewing and writing labels, helping set up incoming exhibitions, organizing and researching collections, engaging with visitors face to face, protecting the artwork and artifacts in the galleries, and more. Through this internship, I was able to assist in setting up four different exhibitions, all of which were in different stages of development. This experience was an incredibly rewarding one; it supplied me with the knowledge I set out to learn when coming to this internship, the activities helped bolster my studies as an Ancient Studies major, and it helped prepare me for my future goals and career.

I first found out about the internship possibility through Prof. Goyette a couple of years ago. Prof. Goyette had shown Branko van Oppen the research I had done on disabled women in Ancient Greece. Van Oppen, who was in the beginning stages of creating his exhibition for Identity in the Ancient World, was very interested in it, and so Prof. Goyette connected us to each other. We started an email conversation where he asked me to participate in some of his focus groups for his upcoming exhibitions at the Tampa Museum of Art, which I was able to virtually attend. However, it took a long time for us to meet in person, let alone start the internship program. Due to COVID, Branko van Oppen was stuck in his home country of the Netherlands for a year or so, and thus I was unable to do the internship my sophomore year. Once COVID restrictions were loosened and van Oppen was able to return to the United States, I flew over to Europe and studied abroad for the entirety of my junior year. During that time, however, we maintained communication, emailing each other back and forth. Finally, for the first semester of my senior year, we were able to meet in person and I was able to intern for him at the Tampa Museum of Art. Due to the parameters of getting course credit for the internship, I also needed extra hours. Branko van Oppen was extremely helpful with this, and was able to get me in contact with Denise Esquibel-Rangel, who was in charge of the VEER volunteers, and got me a position there.

This internship allowed me to gain much knowledge and insights into my studies as an Ancient Studies major! Through the labels that Branko van Oppen wrote that I proofread, I was able to learn a lot about various parts of the Ancient World. I was able to learn about various ancient kingdoms and settlements as well as aspects of Ancient Greek culture that I did not know too much about before the internship. Most notably, I was able to learn a lot of facts about specific Roman emperors. When I first arrived at the museum, Branko van Oppen had recently acquired a coin collection. The man who collected these coins originally had a fascination with the Roman emperors, and so tried to collect Ancient Roman coins of each emperor. The collector was not able to fulfill this dream, but ended up with a collection of nearly 200 coins, all of which Branko van Oppen had incorporated into one of his exhibits and wrote labels for each of them. For the labels, Branko van Oppen had written some interesting facts about each emperor. Although I am an Ancient Studies major, I focus primarily on Ancient Greece, and my knowledge of Ancient Rome mainly resides in the late Roman Republic and early Imperial Rome up to Nero. It was really cool to read even just a little about the insanity that was the late Roman emperors. 

This internship did not just supplement my factual knowledge. One of the biggest aspects I learned about was how to do research on material or artifacts that have little to no information about them. As mentioned before, the information many museums have about their artifacts is slim to none, and the Tampa Museum of Art is no exception. So for a number of artifacts, Branko van Oppen and myself would have to find out the information through other means. This included searching for papers and information in online databases and borrowing books from libraries. Branko van Oppen also told me of a time when he had to contact a German museum about an acquisition they gave to the Tampa Museum in the early 1900s. One thing that these stories and experiences taught me was that in order to do research into the Ancient World or in regards to provenance, it is best to try to think outside of the box, and attempt to find alternative means to gain research. It also taught me not to take things just at face value. For much of the museum’s database, quite a bit of information was completely incorrect or vague. So it was very important to double check the information through other sources.

One memorable experience I had at the internship was when one of the people working at the museum was extremely generous. Devidasa, who was the Assistant Director of Strategic Initiatives at the museum, was cleaning out her closet and was giving away some of her clothes. While I was working, she came up and asked me if I wanted some of her dresses. Of course, I said yes! These dresses were extremely glamorous, some of the fanciest dresses I have ever seen in person, and she gave them to me! She told me that, when she was first working in the education and fundraising sector, she didn’t feel prepared for all the fancy galas that she had to go do, let alone the money to buy clothes formal enough for the occasion. She hoped that the dresses she gave me would help me with these events. It was such a moving gesture of kindness, and I don’t know how I can ever thank her for it.

One piece of advice I would give anyone looking for or in the process of completing an internship is this: talk to people! Don’t be afraid to reach out to people, and be sure to maintain that relationship! I’m not too sure what it’s like for other industries, but for academia, and particularly for the museum sector, connections and relationships are extremely important when it comes to getting career opportunities like jobs or internships. Even if it’s not for the sake of getting a job or internship, it’s really important to create and maintain connections, gaining advice from those who are well established in their fields. And when it comes to maintaining relationships, it doesn’t need to be too time consuming. Just being able to shoot them a message when something exciting happens, or if you saw something you think they would like is a great way to maintain these connections. By being able to talk to others, not only was I able to get an extremely amazing internship opportunity, but I was also able to forge connections that will last me for years to come.

Karin Ebey 

What did you do during your internship? 

I learned about museum collections at the American Museum of Natural History. I completed a variety of day-to-day museum collection management tasks including shelving specimens, scanning slides, preparing loans, tagging specimens, preparing specimens, and checking preservative levels. I also presented at five education and outreach events about herpetology and museum collections. I completed an independent research project on comparing brown anole evolution in their native and invasive range. I spent a lot of time interacting with the curators and graduate students at the museum, exploring the amazing collection, and exploring New York City.

Describe a memorable learning experience you had during your internship:

I enjoyed viewing a specimen that was used in research that described Crocodylus suchus, a cryptic species of Crocodylus niloticus. In high school, I was surprised when I learned that a new species of crocodile was 'discovered'. It was so cool to learn that the collection at AMNH had supported this research. I now have a much greater appreciation for the potential of museum collections to support research and a curiosity for what other mysteries are hiding in the shelves.

How would you relate your internship experience to your academic studies? Do you see any connections? 

Museums have been a critical institution for biological research and continue to support a lot of research. I relished the opportunity to get a better understanding of what types of research occur at museums and all the supporting work that is necessary to maintain a museum collection and allow access to researchers. A central theme in my classes is the problem of taxonomy and how to properly explain species relationships and evolution in response to advances in phylogenetics and molecular biology. I learned about how museums are responding to this challenge such as through the increase in tissue samples and relabeling specimens. Through completing a research project, I further developed my scientific writing and data analysis skills, key skills for a research career that are addressed in many of my science classes.

Describe the process by which you found your internship: 

I found this internship by reading my email. I was so excited when I read that an Eckerd alum worked at AMNH and wanted to start a winter term internship program for Eckerd students. I applied and am very grateful to have been selected for this opportunity.

What is one piece of advice you would give to a student who is seeking or completing an internship? 

I recommend reaching out for help with applications. I got a lot of help from Career Services with my resume and cover letter, and advice from Dr. Robinson to reach out with questions to learn more about the opportunity as part of the application process.

Natalie Novak

What did you do during your internship? 

During my internship, I worked closely with the Shedd Aquarium’s coral team and larval team. With the coral team, I was learning how to grow and propagate corals to provide research for some of their PhD students, as well as different exhibits in the aquarium to create a more sustainable approach. I got to feed and take care of different varieties of corals and understand how they help the ecosystem and the relationships they have with other fish. On the larval team, I got to work with breeding different species of fish and collecting their eggs to provide to other aquariums to also create a more sustainable income. I was tasked with creating egg collectors to obtain the eggs from exhibits and provide direct care on the different age stages that the fish went through. I also worked in our live foods department and prepared foods for different fish to eat. 

Describe a memorable learning experience you had during your internship: 

My most memorable learning experience was working with one of my mentors to do egg collection data analysis. As we collected eggs from Cleaner Wrasse and Yellowtail Fusilier, we evaluated and measured each individual egg to get an overall idea of what our production rates are. This inspired me to choose a similar career path in the future and to work with marine embryo research. I was truly excited to work under the microscope everyday to understand how fish form and grow. 

How would you relate your internship experience to your academic studies? Do you see any connections? 

This directly relates to my academic studies. I had just finished my marine invertebrate biology class and was able to apply my knowledge on corals into my internship. This gave me a lot of input of how aquariums work and how my degree could lead me into this field of work long-term. I also have a much broader sense of how sustainability in aquariums can directly affect both freshwater and marine environments. 

Describe the process by which you found your internship: 

Coming from a suburb of Chicago, I previously worked at Shedd Aquarium during high school. I found the internship on their website and stayed in contact with the internship coordinator through the whole process so that I could start building a relationship. This was a dream internship that I had always wanted to do. 

What is one piece of advice you would give to a student who is seeking or completing an internship? 

I think that students who are seeking or completing an internship should always keep their options very open and apply to many types of programs. Sometimes a program might not seem like it is exactly what you are looking for, but could spark different interests and teach valuable lessons. I also think it is important to make mistakes and ask questions because an internship is a learning experience. My mentors always made sure that I felt comfortable making mistakes and growing from them, which I am so grateful for.

Zeke Cordiero

What did you do during your internship? 

During my internship I had to learn Kiswahili to be able to communicate with the Amani Friends of Nature team as well as members of the local community. This allowed me to interact with the participants in the bird training workshops and to undertake multiple guided day and night excursions with local experts to document and photograph the biodiversity. The bird training workshops included young children, teens, and young adults. I had to learn how to interact with the instructors and participants in order to illustrate the process and capture key moments during the training. These images are important in showcasing what Amani Friends of Nature does and how they interact with the community. Through these experiences, I was able to learn about environmental problems and the local conservation techniques in relation to agricultural practices, resource extraction, and wildlife collection. I was able to work with many different people in the community working with professionals, local experts, children, and villagers including the elders (who are very respected in the culture). 

Describe a memorable learning experience you had during your internship:

I learned not only through first hand observations but also experiences. Many of the experts I worked with were involved in the mass collections of reptiles for the pet trade in the 2000s. While the majority of them do not collect the now protected wildlife, a few individuals I worked with were still collecting rare plants such as African violets and orchids during my hikes through the forests. Understanding that these individuals needed to make a living and support their families was an important and memorable learning experience for me. While I knew what they were doing was wrong you have to empathize with them. In a country where education is not accessible to everyone, locals will prioritize making a living and supporting their families over protecting the environment around them. Having had the privilege of having an environmental education, I’ve learned about the importance of environments and the systems within them. Many people in Amani don’t recognize that extracting wildlife and resources from the environment around them will have long term effects. It is important to understand the need for survival of the locals and their relationship with the environment. 

How would you relate your internship experience to your academic studies? Do you see any connections? 

By working in a unique tropical environment that is being threatened by human activities such as logging, poaching and agricultural expansion; I was able to relate my internship to my Environmental studies major. My Visual Arts major was enhanced because I was forced to learn how to adapt my photography to a new environment and find creative ways to tell stories through my photographs. Although I was assigned to photograph specific subjects for a website, which stunted my creativity and freedom, I found ways to get photographs for my portfolio that I can use for my senior show and future career.  

Describe the process by which you found your internship: 

I was fortunate to find out about this internship through a contact of my father’s who is a tropical scientist. He passed on information to me about Amani Friends of Nature needing an intern to take photos for them for their website and publicity brochures. They are a new organization that works on community conservation. The director reviewed my photography portfolio I sent him and invited me to intern for them this summer.

What is one piece of advice you would give to a student who is seeking or completing an internship? 

For a student who is seeking an internship, I would recommend reaching out to the programs you are interested in early and to continue communication until you have made a decision. It is also important that during your internship, you are making sure to stay consistent with your work and allowing for adaptability to different obstacles and conflicts. In my experience, I had to chase different leads and not give up in communication. 

Maice Clanton

What did you do during your research experience? 

I was a field intern for excavations in Caesarea, Israel in the summer of 2022. Throughout this time, I had the opportunity to participate in many different experiences. My experiences occurred primarily in two ways: (1) field work at the excavation site and (2) weekend trips to various places within Israel. In the field, I worked with other students on excavation and recovery of material remains. This included removing dirt, sieving through the dirt, sorting remains, documentation, and processing the material remains at our main campsite. In documentation, we learned how to take elevation levels, analyze soil composition, and photograph the trenches for publication. Processing the materials occurred at our campsite and consisted of washing, drying, cataloging, and packaging remains for storage. We worked at the excavation site Monday-Friday, and then spent Saturday and Sunday exploring historical sites in Israel. Our travels included trips to the desert, Masada, Jerusalem, Tzipori, Tiberias, and Tel Aviv. We discussed the important historical, cultural, and archaeological significance of each site, and we spent time exploring on our own.  

Describe a memorable learning experience you had during your experience:

My most memorable learning experience from this excavation occurred on my first day of field work. There was already a cohort of student researchers and senior staff members at the site who had been there for a few weeks prior to my cohort’s arrival. On our first day, the new cohort was given a new trench to start work in and told to “get started.” None of us had prior archeological experience outside the classroom, and we did not really know what we were supposed to do. We had to quickly learn on our feet the skills necessary to successfully excavate and catalog our trench. Soon, we were able to find a professor who was assisting in the excavation to guide us through our excavation and teach us important skills along the way. Although it was a bit rocky at first, this experience taught me the importance of thinking on your feet and learning how to ask for help when it is needed. 

How would you relate your experience to your academic studies? Do you see any connections? 

As an Ancient Studies major, this experience allowed me to apply the knowledge I had learned in the classroom to the field. Even though I have not taken any explicit archaeology classes, I have learned the importance of using material remains to learn about an ancient civilization. Aside from the content of my major, there are other connections between my excavation and my academic studies. I was able to use research and synthesis skills that I have developed in class in the field. Additionally, I was able to connect with peers in the same major and professionals  in the field. Learning in the field has allowed me to improve the ways I study in the classroom as well. I better understand the importance of physical extant evidence, and the influence of archaeological excavations on our understanding of ancient civilizations.

Describe the process by which you found and developed your experience: 

My faculty mentor, Dr. Heather Vincent, was the one who helped me find and secure this experience. In the past, Eckerd College has successfully sent students on excavations with the same professors and company. After our winter term trips were canceled, Dr. Vincent forwarded this opportunity onto students who were interested in field work experience. Even though I did not feel qualified for this opportunity, I applied under the advice of Dr. Vinent and Dr. Goyette. As it turns out, I was qualified and was accepted to the program. I received assistance from Dr. Vincent in using my honor’s program scholarship, and I received assistance from Dr. Kat Robinson  in securing additional funding. 

What is one piece of advice you would give to a student who is seeking a research opportunity? 

My biggest piece of advice would be to simply go for the opportunity. Even if you feel unqualified or you are unsure if it is something you want to pursue as a career, the best thing to do is apply for the internship or research experience. Oftentimes, you are qualified for the position in ways that may not seem obvious. The worst thing that could happen would be not being accepted into the program. Moreover, it is not necessary that every program you apply for and participate in ends up being your forever career. Experience is the only way to learn if a program is what you want to do for the rest of your life or if it is not. Programs will either teach you that this is something you want to do or it is something that you never want to do again. Both of these conclusions are valuable to your career development. 

MOrgan Brown

Dolphins Plus

What did you do during your internship? 

As an Animal Care and Training intern at Dolphins Plus Marine Mammal Responder, I held many responsibilities related to the care of our 7 Atlantic bottlenose dolphins, the educational experiences of our guests, and the maintenance of our facility. Daily duties included sorting and preparing animals' diets, preparing husbandry (medical care) supplies, daily cleaning duties, delivering educational briefings to guests, observing and participating in training sessions with our animals, photographing guests' interactions, designing and implementing daily environmental enrichment sessions, and of course a whole lot more nightly cleaning of our kitchen and animal care facilities. In addition to these animal care responsibilities, interns also participated in a series of lectures and quizzes ranging in topics from animal training to anatomy and physiology, to marine mammal rescue work, and much more. In the second half of my internship, I also had the privilege of planning and implementing positive reinforcement training sessions with our dolphins. I focused on mastering important foundational skills such as proper hand signals, a visual and tactile bridge, and varied consequences including primary and secondary reinforcement, as well as the LRS.

Describe a memorable learning experience you had during your internship:

This summer I learned more than I could have ever imagined, not only about animal care and training, but also about teamwork, leadership, and taking initiative to help the day run as smoothly and efficiently as possible. One of the most memorable experiences I had was when I and the five other summer interns were allowed to host a session with our dolphins and work with them all together, instead of one-on-one with a trainer. That experience allowed me to work with two dolphins I had never worked with before, and I really got a feel for their unique personalities, motivations, and training styles. As interns, this was the first time we had the chance to communicate and work with the animals all together, which was a great learning experience and made the session more interesting for the animals. We could pass the animals back and forth across the lagoon, and all got to work with multiple dolphins, and while the trainers were there to supervise and give us feedback, they really had trust in us to spread our wings, practice what we had learned, and feel a bit more independent.

How would you relate your internship experience to your academic studies? Do you see any connections? 

I absolutely found connections between my academic studies and my practical internship experiences. The things I learned in classes here at Eckerd were prevalent not only in the lecture series we participated in and the educational briefings we gave, but the topics we discussed in class were also crucial to understanding and mastering the hands-on training work we participated in with the animals. I even wrote a research paper related to the topic of environmental enrichment, which I had learned about in my classes at Eckerd and was a daily responsibility interns had each day to keep our animals’ lives interesting and cognitively stimulating. After countless hours of observations with our animals and invaluable hands-on experience interacting with them each day, I can confidently say that I have a better understanding of dolphin behavior, social structure, cognition, and physiology, all of which will benefit me in my future studies and the research I am involved in here on campus.

Describe the process by which you found your internship: 

Networking and meeting new people is an extremely important part of the animal care field. I followed a previous intern on Instagram where she posted about her experiences and encouraged fellow aspiring trainers to apply. After looking up more details and information on their website I applied online and went through a zoom interview before being offered the position.

What is one piece of advice you would give to a student who is seeking or completing an internship? 

While it is easier said than done, the biggest advice I could give would be not to compare yourself to others. Everyone’s path in this field is different, no two people will end up in the same position in the exact same way. Some people have lots of experience, some have very little. In the end, you will learn and grow together, and everyone will have their own strengths and weaknesses. It can be a fairly competitive career, when you’re applying and even within your internship experience, but don’t let the competition get in between you and a friendship or relationship that could last a lifetime. You are exactly where you are supposed to be at that moment, and if you devote yourself to being in the present and taking it all in, you will have a wonderful experience and make plenty of amazing memories.

Iris Farnum

Massachusetts General Hospital’s Research Institute in the Center for Genomic Medicine

What did you do during your internship?

This summer, I worked at Massachusetts General Hospital’s Research Institute in the Center for Genomic Medicine. I worked in the lab of James Gusella, Ph.D., studying Huntington’s Disease (HD). During the internship, I was able to learn and refine new laboratory techniques such as PCR setup and design, gel electrophoresis, cDNA preparation, and DNA extraction. I was able to work on my own research project in which I focused on the effect of genetic variation on the efficacy of a new pharmaceutical that was developed to treat HD. I compiled all of my results into a presentation and was able to present my findings to a large audience. 

Describe a memorable learning experience you had during your internship:

I have learned so much this summer. It was amazing being able to immerse myself in an academic research laboratory and see what a career in research could be. It also allowed me to explore other career pathways. The program gave me an opportunity to talk to other professionals and even shadow doctors. I was able to shadow a cardiothoracic surgeon while he performed an aortic valve replacement. I was able to be in the operating room and ask questions. It was an amazing experience and I learned so much about surgery. It also gave me more insight into what I would like to do in the future. 

How would you relate your internship experience to your academic studies? Do you see any connections? 

There is a lot of connection between this internship and my studies. I am a Biology and Spanish double major with a minor in Chemistry. At Eckerd, I have found that I am highly interested in studying neurological disorders. On campus, I work in Dr. Flaherty’s research lab studying Alzheimer’s Disease. This summer, I was able to perform research on Huntington’s Disease which is another neurodegenerative disorder. I learned a lot about working in a biomedical setting and designing experiments and research projects. I will be able to use these tools this year as I finish out my time at Eckerd. 

Describe the process by which you found your internship:

This internship is actually a program through Eckerd. It was set up by Eckerd alum and director of the Research Institute, Dr. Sue Slaugenhaupt. Sue got the internship program funded through the NIH and has given many Eckerd students the opportunity to perform cutting-edge research at Mass General, which is the largest academic medical center in the U.S. I first heard of this internship in the fall of 2021 when I was talking to Dr. Flaherty about future plans. She told me about this fantastic opportunity. The application process begins around November. I would definitely recommend applying to the internship if you are interested in biomedical research or medical school. I have learned so much and it has been an amazing experience. 

What is one piece of advice you would give to a student who is seeking or completing an internship?

I have two pieces of advice for students completing an internship. The first would be to ask a lot of questions. Sometimes I felt scared to ask questions I felt were “stupid” but I learned so much by asking those simple questions. If you don’t understand something, ask your supervisor or a colleague. They won’t know you need further explanation if you don’t ask. Second, I would say to make sure to network as much as you can. The connections you make during your internship could help you out later in your career. It is always good to have someone to email if you need advice or a recommendation. 

Ace Muccio

Brevard Music Center

Brevard, NC

What did you do during your internship? 

I had multiple roles and responsibilities during my internship. Originally I was an Assistant Company Manager and Assistant Production Manager Apprentice. As Assistant Company Manager, I had to read the writers, do hospitality, create inventories, organize company materials, oversee housing for production staff members, and to collaborate with the Director of Production on venues.

For Assistant Production Manager Apprentice, my responsibilities included creating and organizing the daily calendar, overseeing and delegating days off, organizing clock-in and clocking-out spreadsheets, and working with the operas and orchestras as needed. 

Along with this I worked as Assistant House Manager. This meant that I assisted the House Manager in venues, performances, maintaining a safe environment for the patrons, overseeing volunteers and also managing the house by myself. I also created reports and documents that were sent at the end of each performance to my management, and directors of Brevard Music Center as a whole organization. 

Finally, half way through the summer I was added as a Purchasing Agent. This required me to oversee the production budget, delegate the sections that each purchase went to, communicate with the Operations Manager, and organizing the receipts received. 

I also worked with other crews such as lighting, stage crew, and carpentry. So in other words, each day was different for me and allowed me to learn news aspects of theatre that I had not yet worked with. 

Describe a memorable learning experience you had during your internship:

As I previously stated, I learned a lot during my internship this summer, but there were two moments that are most memorable to me. The first one was at the very beginning of the summer when I was recruited to work with the lighting crew. I had never worked in lighting before and the department head took the time to answer my questions and explain aspects to me. She taught me about the different parts of the lighting equipment such as the body, base, and barrel. Then I learned how to install the equipment on stage, along with even programming the lighting board. That experience was the most rewarding because it was something I was always curious about. 

Another memorable experience was when I first started working in the production office. They had me shadowing the team one day, so I sat in on one of the meetings, taking notes on how they discussed issues, solutions they came up with and the organization in the room. Later that day they started training me on how to make the schedule, and I got to see the management team’s personality. They were all really fun to work with and very happy to have my help as well. 

How would you relate your internship experience to your academic studies? Do you see any connections? 

Since the Director of Production is also a college professor, the staff made an effort to make this institution as they called “a learning hospital” and made sure that we were understanding and expanding our knowledge. Since I had taken a stagecraft class, I knew many of the tools used in carpentry, but I also got to experience some of the aspects I learned in class in a professional setting. This made it easier to see the connections from my experience to my academic studies. However, I feel as though I got to expand my studies by learning and working positions that were not an option in the academic field, such as production management. 

Describe the process by which you found your internship: 

During the fall semester of 2021, Associate Dean of Faculty Jessica Thonen was my supervisor for my position at Bininger Theatre. When I expressed my interest in the occupation of theatre management, she suggested I looked at going to South Eastern Theatre Conference. In December of that same year I applied with seven other students and we were all taken to Tennessee where the conference was being held. Each of the students that went had a different goal in mind, but my priority was the job fair being held. While I did take a few classes, I got the interviews as the most beneficial part of this trip. I researched all of the theatres that were going to have a table, and then found ones that had an internship program with my interests. I interviewed with approximately ten different organizations and had a follow up interview with around five, all of which were considering to hire me. However, after my follow up interview with Brevard Music had really intrigued me. They wanted to create an internship just for me that intaled me as the APM apprentice and Company Manager Apprentice. 

What is one piece of advice you would give to a student who is seeking or completing an internship? 

Self advocate for yourself! I worked on contract for a large company, and believed that I should be paid more for doing more positions, at first they told me no, but ended up really appreciating and respecting my work. So self advocate because the worse answer you will receive is “no” and that’s okay. 

Renee Veldman

Kachemak Bay National Esturaine Research Area, Alaska

Winter Term 2022

Ryleigh Kqira

VAW Global Health Alliance, Guatemala

Olivia Woogan

Little Oceans Aquarium Specialists and The Coral Zoo, St. Petersburg, Florida 

What did you do during your internship? 

My internship consisted of a diverse amount of responsibilities. Through the Coral Zoo, I focused on maintaining the health of corals, regulating water quality to ensure ideal conditions, performing coral fragmentation for new colony grow outs, monitoring and addressing any inhibiting diseases, and lastly farmilarizing myself and communicating the differing specific care requirements for various coral species. Through my work with Little Oceans, I have learned how to maintain, design, install, and overall create an oceanic microcosm. Across both interconnected positions, I have grown a deeper understanding of how to support and utilize aquaculture as a teaching tool for others whilst bringing a version of the ocean into their immediate spectrum. 

Describe a memorable learning experience you had during your internship:

 Perhaps the most memorable and one of the first learning experiences I had while at this internship was the first time I got to directly feed an overtly hungry coral. This marked the first time I was able to witness my previously compiled literature-based knowledge of corals be translated into reality. I had known prior to this how corals ate, how they expressed this need, and how they functioned innately as a plant-like animal receiving energy from both symbiosis and the physical act, however seeing this was monumental. An extension of this opportunity to tangibly apply my knowledge was my first experience of being allowed to fragment a grown-out coral with a bandsaw which was equally influential. This was a vivid memory in which I was able to watch the following weeks as the individual pieces flourished into colonies of their own. These were both rewarding experiences validating my capability to be helpful in enhancing the process of corals' inherent functions. 

How would you relate your internship experience to your academic studies? Do you see any connections? 

This internship is directly related to my academic studies with my major being in environmental studies with a minor in coastal management. With my overall concentration being in marine science, this served as an intersection of all my interests. Specifically, throughout my undergraduate career here at Eckerd, I have hyperfocused and adapted all course assignments I could to further my fascination with coral reefs. Therefore in more ways than can be described, this opportunity endorsed and culminated all I have pursued academically these past 4 years making it the perfect experience to propel me forward into my future post-graduation. 

Based on your experiences as an intern, how do you now see your career path unfolding? What steps would you like to take next?

The invaluable experience I have gained from this internship has reaffirmed my desire to pursue a career path within the coral reef realm. While I am still unsure as to which division of coral reef-related careers I’d like to specialize in, through this internship I learned that the educational/communication aspect of it holds greater importance to me than I believed prior. I hope to take this lesson into my future and ideally find a way to merge the scientific foundation within this area with public perception by drawing on the interdisciplinary nature of my major. 

Describe the process by which you found your internship: 

The way in which I came to be allotted this opportunity was ultimately full of irony. I first found the position posted on the school's TritonTrack page after endless searches for coral reef-related opportunities. I followed through with this opportunity by applying immediately and calling the 

number listed immediately to express my immense interest in the position. I ended up working at the Coral Zoo for all of the Fall semester. Through the connections I made there, I was referred to the owner of Little Oceans who had been the one who recommended they post their call on the school's forum. I split my time between the two for over a semester, but following winter term and after realizing the work of Little Oceans aligned more with my own goals, transferred to fully devote my time to aid in their mission. 

What is one piece of advice you would give to a student who is seeking or completing an internship? 

Work hard and emphasize your work ethic while interning, however don't let this label of your position overpower everything that these experiences have to offer. Seize the opportunity to deepen your understanding, ask any and all questions, but most importantly dedicate yourself to fostering a connection with your mentors, bosses, co-workers, etc. Internships are multifaceted learning experiences don't be limited to just the day-to-day tasks, prioritize building connections with those in your field that you admire. Don't be intimidated by your status as an intern, use that to your advantage and express your genuine interest, and those within the field will not only recognize this but resonate with your passion.