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. More than 125 college students and recent college graduates participate in this program annually.

Dates

Internships are available during four sessions: Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter. Intern orientation and internship "start dates" occur on the first Monday of each month unless otherwise indicated (see chart below). Prospective interns should select sessions based on their dates of availability.

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

**The May 17th start date occurs on the third Monday of May to accomodate students who begin their summer break in mid-May.

Duration

Internships are typically 10-14 weeks long, but can be longer with prior approval from your program manager.

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 are provided at this page. Interns normally work 40 hours per week and follow laboratory rules and regulations. Occasional longer hours, weekends and/or nights may be required. Dress for most internships is casual with appropriate laboratory/field apparel and footwear. Dress for positions in some divisions may require more professional attire.

Eligibility

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

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 number of scholarships are available to partially support the cost of living expenses and are described at this page. Only candidates having a U.S. Social Security Number are eligible to apply for scholarship opportunities.

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.  Interns should budget for up to $115/week for housing including utilities.

Local Transportation

Public transportation between Mote and most local areas is available through the Sarasota County Area Transit bus system, a service of the Sarasota County Government. The 30-day bus passes are currently $40, 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.

Application Procedure

Applicants must complete the online application form and submit a one-to-two page Statement of Interest, college transcripts and at least one letter of recommendation to be considered for an internship. The submission of a resume or curriculum vitae is optional. Two letters of recommendation must be submitted if applicants wish to be considered for a Mote intern scholarship. More detailed instructions for preparing and submitting these materials are provided on the application form.

Application Deadline

Application deadlines for the four internship sessions are listed above.

Contact Information

Contact intern@mote.org with additional questions regarding the Mote College Intern Program.