NCMNS VIS PORTAL - MUSEUM INTERNSHIPS

MUSEUM INTERNSHIPS

Summer 2026 for credit/experience internship applications are now closed. Applications for Fall 2026 will open in June 2026.

Thank you for your interest in an internship with the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences! The internships listed on this page are unpaid, part-time positions offered either for college credit or for experience.

If you are interested in Veterinary Sciences internships and/or paid internships, which have separate application requirements and deadlines, please visit our partner internships page.

A young man performing maintenance on a tank full of jellyfish

INTERNSHIP REQUIREMENTS

18+ years old.

College sophomore or higher. Graduate students and recent graduates (within 2 years of graduation) may also apply.

In good academic standing.

Availability Requirements:
- All applicants must have at least 10 hours of weekday availability. Additionally, if you do not meet the availability requirements for the specific internship(s) you apply for, you will not be considered for the position(s).

- For Credit: If you are seeking college credit for your internship, you must complete however many hours are required by your college (typically 120-150 hours).
- For Experience: If you are interning for experience, you must complete a minimum of 120 hours.

APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS

The opportunities listed on this portal are the only internships we are accepting applications for. If you submit an application for an area that is not currently recruiting, it will not be accepted.

Supervisor Preferences: Each internship description has supervisor preferences listed in order of importance.

Required - Personal Statement: In under 500 words, please explain why you wish to intern at NCMNS, your career goals, and how this internship might help you achieve these goals.

Required - Unofficial Transcript: Please do not send an official copy!

Required - Resume
Contingent - NCMNS Credit Hours Form: If you wish to complete your internship for college credit, you must have your Faculty Sponsor (academic advisor or class professor) sign the NCMNS Credit Hours Form. If you are applying for experience, please skip this step.

INTERNSHIP APPLICATION

If you are interested in Veterinary Sciences internships and/or paid internships, which have separate application requirements and deadlines, please visit our partner internships page.

DOWNTOWN RALEIGH FOR CREDIT/FOR EXPERIENCE INTERNSHIPS

11 West Jones Street Raleigh, NC 27601

Arthropod Zoo

This internship will provide experience in arthropod husbandry, science communication, and a hands-on entomology learning experience. The intern will assist in the daily care of animals in the Arthropod Zoo, including diet preparation, exhibit maintenance, enrichment, and record keeping. Learn how to care for a wide variety of arthropods, including cockroaches, tarantulas, stick and leaf insects, hermit crabs, and a Maine lobster.  The intern will have the opportunity to create entomology-related educational materials to share with Museum guests and participate in public programs, such as our lobster feedings.

Availability Requirements

Possible Shift Days: Sunday - Thursday

Possible Shift Times: Between 8:00am - 4:00pm

Minimum Shift Length: 3 hours

This opportunity is 100% on site.

Supervisor Preferences (listed in order of importance)

Interested in and comfortable working specifically with invertebrates and/or arthropods

Academic majors: Biology, Zoology, Animal Science, Entomology, Wildlife Conservation or a related field

Experience with or interest in working with the public

This internship is unpaid and for experience (120 hours) or for credit (however many hours required by your college; typically 120-150 hours).

Community Engagement

Assist the Coordinator of Community Programs and the Community Engagement Team with efforts to make the Museum more inviting and welcoming for all people. This would involve tasks like attending community outreach events, collaborating with other units in the Museum, and coordinating programs for various audiences in and around Wake County. Learn about how accessibility practices impact education at the Museum and why reaching various communities is important. The internship will be concluded with a project that includes connecting with and leading an outreach program with an audience the museum has not yet reached.

Availability Requirements

Possible Shift Days: Tuesday - Friday; occasional weekend opportunities (1-2 times a month)

Possible Shift Times: Between 10:00am - 5:00pm

Minimum Shift Length: 3 hours

This opportunity is mostly on site, with some opportunities for hybrid work.

Supervisor Preferences (listed in order of importance)

Experience working with the public (public speaking, teaching experience, etc.)

Community involvement experience (work with clubs or community organizations)

Knowledge of natural history or science topics

This internship is unpaid and for experience (120 hours) or for credit (however many hours required by your college; typically 120-150 hours).

Digital Innovation & Technology Integration

This internship offers hands-on experience supporting and improving the Museum’s internal digital systems. The intern will work with tools such as SharePoint, Microsoft Teams, Galaxy Digital, and ServiceNow, and may support early stages of cloud migration and AI-assisted projects. Responsibilities may include organizing and improving digital resources, documenting workflows, assisting with user adoption and training, and helping develop creative technology solutions that streamline staff work. Students who enjoy problem-solving, experimenting with digital tools, and improving user experience will find this internship highly rewarding. A final project may include developing a user-friendly digital resource, improving a workflow, or designing a new tool or process that benefits Museum staff.

Availability Requirements

Possible Shift Days: Monday - Friday (must be available at least 2 of 5 days)

Possible Shift Times: Between 9:00am - 4:00pm

Minimum Shift Length: 3 hours

This opportunity is mostly on site, with some opportunities for hybrid work.

Supervisor Preferences (listed in order of importance)

Academic majors: Information Science, Information Technology, Computer Science, Business Technology, Digital Media, Library Science, Data Science, or a related field

Experience or coursework with cloud platforms (AWS, GCP, Microsoft Azure, etc.) and digital tools such as Microsoft 365 (SharePoint, Teams, OneDrive), website/content management, workflow tools, cloud services, or basic scripting/automation

Strong interest in creative problem-solving, user experience, and assisting staff in learning or using digital tools; comfortable communicating with a variety of users

This internship is unpaid and for experience (120 hours) or for credit (however many hours required by your college; typically 120-150 hours).

Discovery Room

The Discovery Room is an interactive exhibit area designed for young children and their families. The space offers opportunities for hands-on learning and early childhood development through connection with our natural world. The Discovery Room intern will facilitate hands-on, positive, natural science learning experiences for visitors of all ages using best early childhood and nonformal environmental education practices.

By the end of their experience, the intern will design a project that aligns with the Discovery Room mission of connecting young children to nature.

Availability Requirements

Possible Shift Days: Monday, Wednesday - Sunday

Possible Shift Times: Between 10:00am - 4:00pm

Minimum Shift Length: 2 hours

This opportunity is 100% on site.

Supervisor Preferences (listed in order of importance)

Interest in working with children

Experience working with the public

Interest in working with natural sciences/environmental education

This internship is unpaid and for experience (120 hours) or for credit (however many hours required by your college; typically 120-150 hours).

Fish & Invertebrates

Intern will assist in the care of animals in the fish and invertebrates unit, including fresh and saltwater exhibits. This position will give real-world experience in the field of aquarium husbandry. Gain knowledge of anatomy, behavior, reproduction, and the conservation status of each species, diet preparation and feeding, proper nutrition and care for a variety of aquatic species, maintenance of animal exhibits and holding areas according to AZA standards, and water sampling and chemistry. Interns will also observe and record animal condition, behaviors, and responses, and design and construct enrichment and assessment.

Availability Requirements

Possible Shift Days: Monday - Sunday (must be available at least 2 of 7 days)

Possible Shift Times: Shifts start between 7:00am and 9:00am and can last until 1:00pm

Minimum Shift Length: 3 hours

This opportunity is 100% on site.

Supervisor Preferences (listed in order of importance)

Have academic course work in a biological or natural science

Physically able to move maintenance cart through tight spaces and lift up to 30 pounds, with or without reasonable accommodation

Have public speaking / community engagement work

This internship is unpaid and for experience (120 hours) or for credit (however many hours required by your college; typically 120-150 hours).

Floor Programs

The Floor Programs internship provides hands-on experience in science communication, interpretation and program development. Floor Programs interns are trained to engage visitors of all ages, abilities and backgrounds. Interns present cart programs – short, informal science education programs – in the Museum exhibit halls, and science shows in our small-audience presentation space. Once initial training is complete, you'll work with staff and fellow interns to create a cart program or science show through a process of development that includes research, design, construction, testing and revision.

Availability Requirements

Possible Shift Days: Tuesday - Saturday

Possible Shift Times: Between 10:00am - 4:00pm

Minimum Shift Length: 3 hours

This opportunity is 100% on site.

Supervisor Preferences (listed in order of importance)

Major or minor in a natural science, physical science, or related field

Experience working with the general public (retail, customer service, food service, etc.)

This internship is unpaid and for experience (120 hours) or for credit (however many hours required by your college; typically 120-150 hours).

Geology/Petrology Laboratory

The Geology/Petrology Laboratory supports research at the Museum of Natural Sciences, as well as providing mineral analysis for the Geology Collection. Principal instruments are polarizing light microscopy, reflected light microscopy, binocular microscope, and an infrared spectrometer and microscope. Current projects include pyrite oxidation/hydration in museum collections, diamonds in North Carolina, and water in granitic quartz as a forensic and petrographic tool.

By the end of their experience, the intern will have an improved understanding of the equipment used in geochemical sample preparation, mineral identification, and basic instrumental geochemical analysis using Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy.

Availability Requirements

Possible Shift Days: Monday - Friday

Possible Shift Times: Between 10:00am - 5:00pm

Minimum Shift Length: 3 hours

This opportunity is 100% on site.

Supervisor Preferences (listed in order of importance)

The Intern must have completed Mineralogy class at the college level

The Intern must have an interest in mineralogy as applied to geological problems
The Intern needs to have an interest in geochemistry, but experience is not needed

This internship is unpaid and for experience (120 hours) or for credit (however many hours required by your college; typically 120-150 hours).

Investigate Lab

The Intern will assist in running and maintaining hands-on activities, exhibits and educational carts in the Investigate Lab. This includes daily interaction with Museum guests as well as interpreting and communicating a variety of natural science related topics. Collaborating with Museum education staff will expose the intern to different science education techniques and opportunities. The intern will develop their own interactive exhibit/activity as part of the internship.

Availability Requirements

Possible Shift Days: Tuesday - Friday

Possible Shift Times: Between 9:00am - 4:30pm

Minimum Shift Length: 3 hours, with a minimum of 3 shifts per week

This opportunity is 100% on site.

Supervisor Preferences (listed in order of importance)

Academic majors: Animal Science, Biology, Chemistry, Biochemistry, Genetics, Botany, Conservation, Education, Entomology, Earth Science, Environmental Sciences

Experience in customer service

Experience in communicating scientific concepts to others

This internship is unpaid and for experience (120 hours) or for credit (however many hours required by your college; typically 120-150 hours).

Living Collections General Husbandry

This position will provide a broad introduction to animal husbandry and give valuable skills needed in professional animal care. The participant will be involved with daily husbandry of reptiles, amphibians, terrestrial and aquatic invertebrates, mammals, birds, fish and plants. The Intern will perform animal care with every specialized section within Living Collections, which include: Reptiles and Amphibians and Ambassador Animals, Living Conservatory and Arthropod Zoo, and Fish and Invertebrates. This internship includes all forms of animal husbandry including cleaning habitats, species nutrition and diet prep, feeding, water changes, water quality, monitoring animal behavior, record keeping, and providing enrichment and training. The internship will also involve public engagement and education through presentations, animal feeding demonstrations, cart programs, and exhibit interpretation.

Availability Requirements

Possible Shift Days: Monday - Friday; potential Saturdays and/or Sundays if planned in advance

Possible Shift Times: Between 9:00am - 5:00pm

Minimum Shift Length: 4 hours

This opportunity is 100% on site.

Supervisor Preferences (listed in order of importance)

Have academic coursework in a biological or natural science. Preferred academic majors: Animal Science, Biology, Chemistry, Conservation, Education, Entomology, Environmental Sciences.

Ability to communicate effectively with people of all ages, abilities, and backgrounds

Physically able to lift over 40lbs and stand for long periods of time, with or without reasonable accommodation

This internship is unpaid and for experience (120 hours) or for credit (however many hours required by your college; typically 120-150 hours).

Living Conservatory

This internship gives real-world experience in the animal husbandry field and science education field. The intern will assist in developing and delivering our Living Conservatory educational cart programs and interpreting the exhibit to guests. The intern will help with general upkeep of exhibit plants and animal husbandry in the Living Conservatory, including but not limited to diet preparation, feeding, and animal enrichment.

Availability Requirements

Possible Shift Days: Tuesday - Friday; occasional Saturdays and Sundays (must be available at least 2-4 days)

Possible Shift Times: Between 7:00am - 5:00pm

Minimum Shift Length: 4 hours

This opportunity is 100% on site.  

Supervisor Preferences (listed in order of importance)

Customer service experience

Academic majors: Biology, Zoology, Animal Science, Entomology, Wildlife Conservation or a related field

Demonstrated experience in animal care or plant care

This internship is unpaid and for experience (120 hours) or for credit (however many hours required by your college; typically 120-150 hours).

Naturalist Center

Intern will interact with visitors daily--interpreting and communicating science topics in the Naturalist Center. Will help create educational content about specimens in the collection and present this information to the public as a cart program, tabletop activity, or countertop display. Intern will give orientations informing guests how to properly handle specimens; learn basic techniques related to specimen preparation/maintenance; assist with use of equipment and resources. Internship includes training by experienced Museum educators/scientists along with behind-the-scenes access to research collections.

Take a virtual tour of the Naturalist Center!

Availability Requirements

Possible Shift Days: Tuesday - Saturday

Possible Shift Times: Between 10:00am - 4:30pm

Minimum Shift Length: 2.5 hours

This opportunity is 100% on site.

Supervisor Preferences (listed in order of importance)

Prior experience working with the public (customer service, food service, retail, etc.) and/or an interest in communicating science to guests

Academic majors: Biological Sciences, Environmental Science, Science Education, Fisheries and Wildlife, or Communication

This internship is unpaid and for experience (120 hours) or for credit (however many hours required by your college; typically 120-150 hours).

Reptiles & Amphibians

This position will provide an introduction to animal husbandry and give valuable skills needed in professional animal care. The participant will be involved with daily husbandry of over 50 species of reptiles, amphibians, invertebrates, mammals, and fish. This includes all forms of animal husbandry such as cleaning habitats, diet prep and feeding, water changes, monitoring animal behavior, record keeping, and providing enrichment and training. The internship will also involve presentations with the public including animal feeding demonstrations.

Availability Requirements

Possible Shift Days: Sunday - Thursday (must be available at least 2 of 5 days)

Possible Shift Times: Between 8:00am - 4:00pm

Minimum Shift Length: 4 hours

This opportunity is 100% on site.

Supervisor Preferences (listed in order of importance)

1. Ability to be active/on your feet all day, lift up to 50 pounds, climb on ladders, and kneel, with or without reasonable accommodation

2. Academic majors: Biology, Zoology, Wildlife Science, Animal Science, Marine Biology, Marine Science, Wildlife and Fisheries Biology, Environmental Science, Ecology

3. Previous experience working with animals

This internship is unpaid and for experience (120 hours) or for credit (however many hours required by your college; typically 120-150 hours).

Teaching Collection

The Teaching Collection is a library of ~1,500 natural science-related specimens that are curated for use in educational programming across the Museum. These specimens are chosen with the intent to be interacted with closely and frequently by visitors, students, and teachers.

The Teaching Collection intern will develop a working knowledge of best practices for collections care, management, and documentation. The intern could work in a database, catalogue and/or prepare new specimens, help keep the space clean and monitored for pests, and more. As the scope of the collection is to be educational, the intern will participate in educational initiatives across the Museum, including in the Discovery Room, the Naturalist Center, or with Floor Programs.

By the end of their experience, the intern will design a project that aligns with the Teaching Collection's mission to educate visitors via up-close experiences with real, natural science specimens such as a cart using Teaching Collection specimens, an analyzation of specimen use, etc.

Availability Requirements

Possible Shift Days: Monday - Friday

Possible Shift Times: Between 10:00am - 4:00pm

Minimum Shift Length: 2 hours

This opportunity is 100% on site.

Supervisor Preferences (listed in order of importance)

1. Experience working with the public

2. An interest in science communication

3. Knowledge of natural science topics

This internship is unpaid and for experience (120 hours) or for credit (however many hours required by your college; typically 120-150 hours).

VisLab

Work with Lab staff to interact with the public in the VisLab interpreting exhibits and assisting visitors with understanding science and technology.  The intern will create a project utilizing techniques such as computer programming, electronics design, and/or 3D printing. This project will be held in the lab but will also be used for interpretation outside the lab and serve as a science communicator.

Availability Requirements

Possible Shift Days: Monday - Sunday (with at least one day a week Tuesday – Friday)

Possible Shift Times: Between 10:30am - 5:00pm

Minimum Shift Length: 2 hours

This opportunity is 100% on site.

Supervisor Preferences (listed in order of importance)

Interest in working with the public and science communication

Interest in exhibit design and creation

Self-motivated with regards to intern project

This internship is unpaid and for experience (120 hours) or for credit (however many hours required by your college; typically 120-150 hours).

INTERNSHIP APPLICATION

If you are interested in Veterinary Sciences internships and/or paid internships, which have separate application requirements and deadlines, please visit our partner internships page.

For more information, contact Sarah Irizarry, Head of Volunteer and Intern Services at sarah.irizarry@naturalsciences.org.

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