• Stan Cummings Scholars Internship Program

    2026-2027 APPLICATIONS

  • Thank you for your interest in Ocean Institute's Stan Cummings Scholars Internship Program!

     

    Please review the details of this program and submit your answers.

    Be sure to continue until you see the Thank You page. 

  • The following dates require attendance from all interns. Acceptance to the program is based on merit, as well as availability for all required dates.

     

    Internship Dates:

    July 6 - Applications Open

    August 12 - Applications Close at 11:59pm

    August 17 - September 4 - Interview Window

    September 9 - Internship Awarded

    September 24 - Orientation

    September 26-27 - Start date

    November 23-29 - Fall Break

    December 8 - Workshop 1: Project Development

    December 21 - January 3, 2027 - Winter Break

    March 2, 2027 - Workshop 2: How to Recognize Patterns in Your Data

    Spring Break - Align with your own spring break

    April 27, 2027 - Workshop 3: How to Make a Good Poster

    May 29-30, 2027 - Poster Session

    June 4, 2027 -  Intern Showcase

     

    Basic Requirements:

    - 4 hour shift, 1 day a week for entire program

    - Mandatory workshop attendance

    - Adhere to all deadlines

    - Participation in end of program Poster Session and Showcase

  •  

    Key Responsibilities:

    - Act as an integral part of the Ocean Institute's team of educators, including staff and volunteers

    - Uphold high expectations for professionalism and teamwork, in alignment with Ocean Institute's mission

    - Gain hands-on experience with designing and executing a project; conducting data collections and organization; and contributing findings to larger scientific community

    - Practice critical thinking, scientific research, public speaking, and science communication

    - Utilize email as main form of communication with program coordinator

     

  • Applicant Information

    Intern Application must be completed by prospective intern applying for program. Some sections require parent/guardian information or signature. Parents or guardians are not to complete application on behalf of children.
  •  -
  • Applicant Birthdate (MM/DD/YYYY) *
     / /

  • Parent/Guardian and Emergency Contact Information

    If applicant is over the age of 18, please enter applicant name, phone number, and email for the "Parent/Guardian" entries.
  •  -

  • Application Questions

    The following section will help us learn more about you!
  • What would be your ideal internship environment? (Check all that apply)*

  • Which characteristics best describe you? There is no right or wrong answer. Your answers will help us best match you with your ideal internship placement. (Check all that apply)*

  • Departments and Potential Projects

    The following section will help us better understand your interest in our internship program.

  •  Please review the following departments and potential intern projects. 

  •  Husbandry

    • Husbandry Research Intern - assist with animal care including tank cleaning, animal feeding, etc. and simultaneously develop a research project utilizing part of our system. Available to both high school and college students. Shifts will be decided upon acceptance.

    Public Programs

    • Artifact Conservation Intern - learn about and practice artifact maintenance, restoration, and conservation. Work alongside the artifact specialist to clean artifacts, store artifacts, and document conditions, cleanings, and placements. Project possibilities include: investigate preservation techniques including maceration and articulation methods; catalog Ocean Institute's natural artifact collection; regulate artifact care and learn about policy creation related to natural artifacts within a museum setting. *This internship may require working with recovered specimen and animal parts.* Available to both high school and collect students. Available shifts: Tuesday through Saturday, 9:00am - 4:00pm.
    • Exhibit Design Intern - learn about the development of our permanent and temporary public-facing exhibits. Project will include creating your own exhibit and putting it on display during Ocean Institute's general admission hours. Available shifts: Tuesday through Saturday, 9:00am - 4:00pm. 

    At Sea R/V Sea Explorer

    • Naturalist Intern - act as a naturalist aboard 1 weekend cruise per week. Create informational talks/signage about marine mammals and develop the California Killer Whale Project field guide for the Marine Mammal cruises. Available only to college students. Available shifts: Saturday through Sunday, 9:00am - 1:30pm.
    • Ocean Productivity Research Intern - conduct research aboard the RVSE for projects including phytoplankton and/or chlorophyll A. Available to both high school and college students. Available shifts: Saturday throguh Sunday, 9:00am - 1:30pm.

  •  Husbandry

    • Husbandry Research Intern - assist with animal care including tank cleaning, animal feeding, etc. and simultaneously develop a research project utilizing part of our system. Available to both high school and college students. Shifts available 7 days a week, to be decided upon acceptance. 

    Public Programs

    • Outreach Intern - learn about the various outreach programs that are currently active, where they take place, why we participate in these programs, and how we engage and connect with the community. Available to both high school and college students. Shifts decided upon acceptance. 

    At Sea R/V Sea Explorer

    • Naturalist Intern - act as a naturalist aboard 1 public weekend cruise per week. Assist crew with checking in passengers, boarding and deboarding. Learn the basic safety and security procedures in place to keep crew and passengers safe. Create informational talks about marine mammals, marine birds, plankton, etc. to connect with our passengers, both in a group setting and one-on-one. Available to both high school and college students. Shifts available Saturdays and Sundays. 
    • Ocean Productivity Research Intern - conduct research aboard the RVSE for projects including plankton, chlorophyll, or other particle surveys along ocean surface waters. Available to both high school and college students. Shifts available Saturdays and Sundays. 

     

     

  •  Husbandry

    1. Behavioral Research Intern - Assist with animal care including tank cleaning, animal feeding, food preparations, and  more while simultaneously developing and executing a research project utilizing part of our aquarium system of the intern's choosing. Available to both high school and undergraduate college students. Shifts available 7 days a week, to be decided upon acceptance.
    2. Filtration Research Intern - Assist with animal care including tank cleaning, animal feeding, food preparations, and more while executing a comparative filtration study between two filter-feeding organisms in the Ocean Institute's living collections. Available to both high school and undergraduate college students. Shifts available 7 days a week, to be decided upon acceptance. Project funded by South Orange County Wastewater Authority.

    Public Programs

    1. Exhibit Design Intern - Learn about the development, execution, and maintenance of our permanent and temporary public-facing exhibits. Project will include creating or updating an exhibit to be displayed during our general admission hours. Available to both high school and undergraduate college students. Shifts available Saturdays and Sundays. 

    At Sea R/V Sea Explorer

    1. Oceanographic Research Intern - learn about the safety regulations of our Coast Guard certified vessel and the techniques we use to educate guests on the water. Simultaneously, develop and execute a project, collecting data aboard the R/V Sea Explorer, involving surface waters. Oceanographic Research projects can focus on plankton, large fish and marine mammals, and more under the approval and supervision of RV/SE staff. Available to both high school and undergraduate college students. Must be able to board the RV/SE cruises for some intern shifts. Shifts available Saturdays and Sundays.
    2. Harbor Health Watch Intern - learn water sampling techniques aboard the R/V Sea Explorer, from the beach, and off our dock in the harbor to execute a project comparing the water quality of the Dana Point Harbor and offshore waters. Completed in collaboration with the R/V Sea Explorer Department and the Public Programs Department. Available to both high school and undergraduate college students. Must be able to board the RV/SE cruises for some intern shifts. Shifts available Saturdays and Sundays. Project funded by South Orange County Wastewater Authority.
    3. Aquarium Water Impacts Intern - learn about the water intake system of Ocean Institute's aquarium and water sampling techniques aboard the R/V Sea Explorer, from the beach, and off our dock in the harbor to execute a project that investigating offshore factors influencing our aquarium water intake. Completed in collaboration with the Husbandry Department, the R/V Sea Explorer Department, and the Public Programs Department. Available to both high school and undergraduate college students. Must be able to board the RV/SE cruises for some intern shifts. Shifts available Saturdays and Sundays. Project funded by South Orange County Wastewater Authority.

     

     

  • Which project above would be your first choice?*
  • Which project above would be your second choice?*
  • Is there a specific department you are interested in?*

  • Acknowledgement of Information & Application

  • I have reliable transportation to get to and from the Ocean Institute at my scheduled times.*
  • I am willing/able to adhere to all requirements and responsibilities, if accepted into the internship program.*
  • Should be Empty: