Spring 2016 Interns

Spring is here and with it came our spring interns! Our spring interns are an integral part of our team from February through May. Upon their arrival at NMLC there is a steep learning curve to surmount. NMLC’s internship program provides students with hands-on, real world experiences in marine biology, environmental education, animal care, rehabilitation, marketing, development, communications, fundraising, facilities maintenance, and non-profit management. Every day is different here at the Center and our interns need to be flexible and efficient. Being over half way through the internship, these women have learned the ins and outs of NMLC and are a pivotal part of the team!

Marine Animal Rehabilitation/ Education Interns

Casey P., Northeastern University Co-Op Student
Casey is a second-year student at Northeastern University in Boston, MA studying for a Bachelor’s degree in Biology and Behavioral Neuroscience. Originally she is from Rochester, NY. She is working towards entry into veterinary school after she graduates in 2018, a goal that aligns with her passion for animal care and medicine. Casey joined the National Marine Life Center in early January this year as a co-op student specializing in animal care and programs. When Casey is not working in the hospital, she is most likely watching nature shows on Netflix with her cat Genny on her lap. Casey is extremely enthusiastic about the opportunity to work with the marine animals at the center, as well as with the talented staff, interns and volunteers.

Lea K.
Lea is recent graduate from Roger Williams University. She has her Bachelor’s degree in Marine Biology and a minor in both Psychology and Theater. She was born and raised in Tyngsboro, Massachusetts. Lea is working towards graduate school with a focus on animal research or rehabilitation. Her past experiences working with Blanding’s turtle in Massachusetts and sea turtle nesting surveys in Costa Rica made her a great candidate for this internship. When she is not at the hospital she enjoys reading, video games, and knitting.

Leah D.
Leah is a recent graduate of the University of New Hampshire. Originally she is from Derry, New Hampshire. She has a Bachelor’s in Marine, Estuarine, and Freshwater Biology with a minor in Animal Behavior. With her past experience with cold-stunned sea turtle rescue and diamondback terrapin conservation, she wanted to build her resume further by interning with NMLC. She also, has previous rehabilitation experience working with skunks, bears, mountain lions, and a pygmy hippo! Leah’s future goals are to become a marine rehabilitator and study the animals post-release to assess the effectiveness of the current rehabilitation practices. When she’s not working Leah’s hobbies include playing the piano, trumpet, and french horn.

Public Outreach Interns

Kay S.
Kay, originally from Indiana, is a recent graduate from Purdue University. She has Bachelor’s degree in Wildlife Management and a Bachelor’s degree in Fisheries & Aquatic Sciences. She intends to attend graduate school in the near future with a concentration on marine biology. Kay has past experiences of leading and organizing club events, animal rehabilitation, and research. When she’s not at NMLC she enjoys reading, fishing, and camping.

Nicole O., M.S., AmeriCorps Placement

Nicole is a recent graduate from the University of Connecticut. She has her Bachelor’s degree in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology with a minor in Environmental Studies, and a Master’s degree in Biodiversity and Conservation Biology. Currently, Nicole is a member of AmeriCorps Cape Cod. Through AmeriCorps, Nicole serves at the National Marine Life Center two days out of the week. Her role at NMLC includes animal care and rehabilitation and assisting with a variety of educational programs and outreach opportunities. Her future plans include traveling the United States while exploring a variety of different career paths.
Barnstable County AmeriCorps Cape Cod (ACC) is a full-time residential service program committed to addressing the environmental and disaster related needs of Cape Cod and its fragile natural resources. Each year, up to 32 service-minded adults like Nicole commit 11 months to responding to the needs of the community through hands-on service focused on Natural Resource Management (Land & Water Conservation), Disaster Preparedness and Response, Environmental and Community Education, and Volunteer Engagement.

If you are interested in the National Marine Life Center’s internship programs you can find more information here. Thank you to these wonderful young women for donating their time and expertise to NMLC this semester.