Maxwell/Hanrahan Scientific Illustration Internship

Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium is seeking two creative interns to join our exhibit design team. The internship will have two concentrations: a traditional media focus, and a digital interactive design focus. Applicants may apply for one or both concentrations, but only one applicant will be selected per concentration. 

In the application form, applicants should select Exhibit Design and Scientific Illustration as the first program choice, then specify their concentration preference in the cover letter. Please make sure to submit a portfolio in addition to your resume in your application. 

Interns will have the opportunity to complete an independent project that can be a set of science illustrations explaining a concept or scientific process, an exhibit design, an interactive exhibit, an augmented reality experience, a set of 3D models, or an equivalent project. Interns are expected to work well individually and as part of a tem, be self motivated, and seek every opportunity to learn and improve Mote Aquarium’s guest experience. 

The goal of this internship is to broaden participation of students from communities that have a high likelihood of limited previous opportunities for exposure to and engagement with marine STEM (i.e., first generation college student, low income, non-traditional student, attended Title 1 school, person with a physical disability) and/or whose participation as an intern would broaden the scope of life experience backgrounds in marine STEM. This is not a husbandry position. Interns will not work directly with any animals.

Traditional Media Focus Concentration

Responsibilities

  • Complete an independent graphic design or science illustration project and create a formal presentation at the end of the internship for Mote staff
  • Work with the exhibits team on Mote Aquarium’s day to day design needs (including but not limited to: flier design, directional sign design, file prep for print, illustrations for Aquarium events and promotions, etc.)
  • Work with exhibits team on the maintenance of Aquarium exhibits
  • Participate in exhibit installs
  • Accomplish other duties as assigned

Requirements 

  • Interest in science illustration, exhibit design, and marine biology
  • Interest in guest experience
  • Some experience using Adobe Creative Cloud software suite (or willingness to learn)
  • Applicants must be able to lift 50 pounds and tolerate the flora, fauna and climate of southwest Florida.

Digital Interactive Design Concentration

Responsibilities

  • Complete an independent digital interactive project and create a formal presentation at the end of the internship for Mote staff
  • Work with the exhibits team on Aquarium’s day to day interactive design and development needs (including but not limited to: Modeling and texturing 3D models for the Unreal Engine, optimizing 3D and 2D assets, integrating assets into interactives, helping run and document user testing sessions, debugging interactives, and installing applications.
  • Work with exhibits team on the maintenance of Aquarium exhibits
  • Participate in interactive exhibit installs
  • Accomplish other duties as assigned

Requirements

  • Interest in science illustration, exhibit design, interactive development, and marine biology
  • Interest in guest experience
  • Some experience using Adobe Creative Cloud software suite, Unreal Engine 5, and Blender  (or willingness to learn)
  • Applicants must be able to lift 50 pounds and tolerate the flora, fauna and climate of southwest Florida.

Schedule and Location

  • Program dates: May 25 – August 2, 2025 
  • 40 hrs/week
  • This internship is fully in-person, five days a week, at Mote Aquarium. 
  • Typical work hours for the traditional media concentration are 7:30 am – 4:30 pm, Sunday through Thursday, with a 1-hour lunch break.
  • Typical work hours for the digital interactive design concentration are 8:00 am – 5:00 pm, Tuesday through Saturday, with a 1-hour lunch break.

Stipend & Housing Info

  • Interns will receive a stipend of $6,816.00 for this 10-week position ($17.04 hourly).
  • Free housing in a local dormitory, or a housing stipend, will be provided. *Confirmed upon acceptance notification.
  • Financial support of $800.00 is provided for travel expenses between Mote and the recipient’s home institution.
  • Applicants must be available for the full duration of the internship to qualify for the stipend. 
  • Applicants must be US Citizens or permanent residents to receive payment. 

*Note: Although preference is given to applications received by the deadline, the Maxwell/Hanrahan Scientific Illustration program will review late applications submitted to their program.