College Internship Program Overview

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College Internship Program Overview

Mote Internships allow college students and recent college graduates to gain valuable hands-on experience in Ocean Science research, conservation, education and support services. Internships are available in most departments in the laboratory. Close to 200 college students and recent college graduates participate in this program annually.

Dates

Internships are available during four sessions: Spring, Summer, Fall and Winter. Intern orientations/start dates are on Mondays unless it's a holiday. Prospective interns should select sessions based on their dates of availability.

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Internship Session & Start Dates	Application Deadline	Notification Period
Spring - February, March or April	December 1	end of December
Summer - May, June or July	March 1	end of March
Fall - August, September or October	June 1	end of June
Winter - November, December or January	September 1	end of September

*Late internship applications may be reviewed, but priority is given to applications submitted by the deadline.

Duration

We ask for a minimum 10 week commitment (unless otherwise stated in the program description). Most internships are 10-14 weeks long, but they can be longer with prior approval from your program manager.

Eligibility

Applicant must be enrolled in an accredited university or college program at the undergraduate or graduate level OR be a recent college graduate to be eligible to apply for a Mote internship. Students must have a minimum GPA of 2.5 on a 4.0 scale. International applicants must speak English fluently.

International Applicants

We do accept international interns who speak English fluently. We are unable to assist international applicants in the process of obtaining a visa but will be happy to supply accepted interns with a letter on Mote letterhead stating that they have been accepted to the program. International interns are also unable to apply for a scholarship.

Financial Support

Due to Mote's status as a nonprofit research institution, positions offered by the Mote College Intern Program are unpaid. However, a limited amount of scholarship funds are available to partially support the cost of living expenses and are described at this page. Candidates must exhibit strong financial need in order to apply. Only U.S. citizens and Permanent Residents - candidates having a U.S. Social Security Number - are eligible to apply for intern scholarships.

Research Experience for Undergraduates

Mote is also a host site for the National Science Foundation's Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) Program. This is a separate program that offers paid research internships to 10 college undergraduates during a 10-week period in the summer. Information about the Mote REU Program is located at this page.

Housing

Mote is unable to provide or arrange for intern housing. However, once candidates have accepted an internship offer, Mote is able to offer a small list of housing options and can also put interns in communication with one another so that they may arrange for shared housing. We recommend that interns budget at least $500-600/month for housing in Sarasota and $1,200-2,000 in the Keys.

Local Transportation

Public transportation between Mote's Sarasota campus and most local areas is available through the Sarasota County Area Transit bus system, a service of the Sarasota County Government. Riders can pay per ride or purchase a 30-day bus pass, currently $50 (but check their website for updates). Also, sarasota.craigslist.org is a great resource for finding bicycles for sale. Interns are responsible for providing or making arrangements for daily transportation to Mote. A car is highly recommended for internships at Mote's Aquaculture Park and Mote's International Center for Coral Reef Research and Restoration.

Internship Areas and Intern Duties

Detailed information on the Mote programs that routinely accept college interns and intern job descriptions for each of these programs can be found below. Interns normally work 40 hours per week and follow laboratory rules and regulations. Occasionally longer hours, weekends and/or nights may be required. Dress for most internships is casual with appropriate laboratory/field apparel and footwear. Positions in some divisions may require more professional attire.

Application Procedure

Applicants must complete the online application form and upload a one-to-two page Statement of Interest, a resume or CV, and unofficial transcript. Applicants must also request a letter of recommendation which must be uploaded directly by their recommender. To be considered for a Mote scholarship, applicants must submit an additional form found within the online application. More detailed instructions for preparing and submitting these materials are provided on the application page.

Frequently asked questions (FAQ)