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Summerland Key, Florida
The Coral Health & Disease Research Program conducts work at multiple Mote campuses. The internship below is based at Mote’s International Center for Coral Reef Research & Restoration (IC2R3) in Summerland Key, Florida. If interested in the position, please select the Coral Health & Disease Program in your internship application, and specify one or several of the following program locations or projects in your statement of interest.
Coral reefs are complex biological systems whose health and resilience are shaped by both coral genetics and their associated microbial communities. Beneficial microorganisms play critical roles in host metabolism, disease resistance, and stress tolerance, while environmental stressors can disrupt these communities and increase susceptibility to disease and mortality. Understanding and managing these interactions is essential for effective reef restoration and conservation.
This internship integrates coral resilience research with marine microbiology and genetics to support restoration-focused science at the Elizabeth Moore International Center for Coral Reef Research & Restoration (IC2R3) on Summerland Key, Florida. Interns will contribute to research investigating coral health, stress tolerance, microbial dynamics, and genetic diversity, while supporting projects that inform restoration strategies and maximize coral resilience.
The roles and responsibilities for this internship include:
Interns may also have opportunities to assist with independent mini-projects, outreach activities, and collaborative research efforts with the Coral Reproduction and Restoration programs.
Qualifications:
This is a full-time, unpaid internship based in Summerland Key, Florida (USA). Typical hours are 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m., with a one-hour lunch break. The position involves working in humid outdoor wet labs and molecular/microbiology laboratories, maintaining high safety standards, and collaborating with team members from diverse backgrounds.
