About the role#
The South Carolina Aquarium offers a veterinary externship for students interested in aquatic animal medicine. This program provides hands-on experience with a diverse collection including turtles, snakes, amphibians, fish, birds, and mammals. You will work alongside our veterinary staff to support the health and welfare of these animals.
What you'll do#
- Assist the Veterinary Department with daily health care for the aquarium animal collection.
- Participate in case rounds, physical examinations, history taking, and medical record keeping.
- Support diagnostic applications, surgical procedures, anesthesia, and necropsies.
- Assist the veterinary and Sea Turtle Care Center teams with the health and husbandry of sea turtle patients.
- Complete a research project or literature review to present to the veterinary staff.
- Participate in on-call rotations with veterinary staff during weekends.
What you'll need#
- Current enrollment as a third or fourth-year veterinary student.
- Ability to commit to a 3- to 4-week externship block.
- A resume or curriculum vitae.
- A letter of intent outlining your interest in aquatic and zoological medicine and your career objectives.
- Two letters of reference from veterinarians familiar with your clinical experience.
Location & details#
- Location: Charleston, South Carolina.
- Terms: Spring 2028 or Summer 2028.
- Modality: On-site.
- Compensation: This is an unpaid position. Students must arrange their own housing and transportation.
About South Carolina Aquarium
The South Carolina Aquarium is a nonprofit organization based in Charleston. It opened in 2000. The facility focuses on conservation and education through animal care and public exhibits. It employs over 200 people.
How to get in at South Carolina Aquarium
Securing an internship at the South Carolina Aquarium often comes down to timing your application correctly. Intern Insider sends an instant alert the moment a role matching your target is published, which helps you apply among the first before the candidate pool grows too large. Applying early ensures your materials are seen before the pile becomes unmanageable for the recruiting team. You can also improve your chances by reaching out to the right people. Intern Insider surfaces the recruiters behind the company roles so you can contact them directly to ask about the position or a potential referral. This direct approach often leads to better response rates than submitting an application into a general queue.
