Mote Marine Laboratory offers need-based stipend funds for Mote College Internship Program participants with financial needs. These stipends are intended to provide partial support for living expenses for a full-time, 10 week or longer internship. The amount of each stipend will vary according to intern financial need, internship duration and the number of recipients. Stipend recipients may be asked to produce a short thank you letter and/or a report summarizing their training and accomplishments.
Eligibility
Stipends are available to interns participating in all unpaid Mote College Internship Programs (participants of research internships that include stipends such as NSF and Mote REU Programs are NOT eligible). Stipends are limited, and students must exhibit a strong financial need to be considered for these awards. In addition to financial need, the stipend selection committee also bases its decisions on the applicant's experience, career goals and placement in a specific Mote program. Interns from minority groups under-represented in science are encouraged to apply to promote diversity in the marine sciences. Only U.S. citizens and Permanent Residents— candidates having a U.S. Social Security Number—are eligible to apply.
Stipend awards are supported by the following funds:
The Andrea Davis Fund:
Established by Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium's corps of over 1600 volunteers to honor former Director of Volunteer and Intern Resources, Andrea Davis, upon her retirement from Mote Marine Laboratory in 2007. The purpose of the Andrea Davis Fund is to honor and financially assist students interning in all Mote science, education and aquarium programs and support divisions.
The Majorie G. Gilbert and Louis S. Gilbert Fund:
Established by the Golder family of Chicago in honor of long-time Mote volunteer Louis S. Gilbert who passed away in August 1996. This endowment has been augmented by generous donations from Mote volunteer Pauline Becker in honor of her late husband Gene, and also from the estate of Suzanne H. Anderson in honor of her late and dear husband, Einar T. Anderson. The purpose of the Gilbert Fund is to honor and financially assist students interning in all Mote science, education and aquarium programs and support divisions.
The Emily Argo Memorial Fund in Marine Mammal Research:
Established by the Mote Scientific Foundation in honor of Emily Argo, a conservation biologist with Wildlife Trust and colleague of Mote researchers. Emily died in a 2003 plane crash while conducting aerial surveys of the endangered right whale. The purpose of the Argo Fund is to honor and financially assist students interning in Mote's Center for Marine Mammal and Sea Turtle Research.
The Chris Cattaneo Memorial Fund in Shark Biology:
Established by the Cattaneo family of Warren, Michigan, in honor of their son and brother, Chris, who died in 2003 in a personal watercraft accident. Chris had a deep, long-standing interest in shark biology. The purpose of the Cattaneo Fund is to honor and financially assist students interning in Mote's Center for Shark Research.
The Celine Silver Endowment Intern Fund in Coastal Ecology:
Established by the Mote Scientific Foundation in honor of Celine Silver, intern with the Benthic Ecology Program in 2009. Celine and her father, Paul Silver, died in a car accident soon after Celine left her Mote internship. She was heading home before starting a new job with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. The purpose of the Celine Silver fund is to honor and financially assist students interning in Mote's Benthic Ecology and Ocean Acidification Programs.
These awards are dependent upon the generous donations of our supporters so that the memory of the person for whom the fund was established will remain, and so that we can continue to fund future interns who otherwise might not have the opportunity to take part in our internship program. Donors interested in establishing new stipend opportunities are encouraged to contact the Mote College Intern Program at intern@mote.org.
Application Process
Stipend applications are located in the general Mote College Internship application. For interns who have already submitted an application, here is a hard copy of the application form. Please submit to intern@mote.org.
Notification
All materials must be received by the application deadline for the internship session for which the student is applying. Stipend recipients are typically announced approximately one month after the deadline date.
Contact information
Contact intern@mote.org with additional questions regarding the scholarship program.