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University of Florida

Volunteer at Whitney Laboratory

The Whitney Lab is an amazing place, with a suite of scientific experts from around the world that work on cutting edge projects which may yield insight into the health, biological, and conservation issues of today!

 

Group of people with estuary in background

Thank you to all of our wonderful volunteers!

Volunteer Areas

K-12 SCHOOL PROGRAMS - Education volunteers guide K-12 students through science programs both at Whitney Lab (Day at the Whitney Lab) and local schools (Traveling Marine Zoo). Docents represent the Education department at offsite community events, assist with care of our marine invertebrates, help with summer camps, and much more! Education volunteers make a difference in the lives of students!
K-12 School Programs
SEA TURTLE HOSPITAL - Volunteers help with a wide array of tasks, doing anything from basic husbandry (checking water quality, cleaning tanks, prepping daily diets, etc.), assisting staff with individual patient treatments (record keeping, handling, etc), and helping transport turtles between rescue location and hospital sites.
Sea Turtle Hospital
RESEARCH LABORATORY - Volunteers help with tasks ranging from collecting data in the field, preparing and processing samples, collecting specimens, and performing husbandry tasks to care for and maintain animal collections and their housing. Volunteering in the Lab contributes to short and long-term research and helps keep Community Citizen Science Projects active and ongoing.
Research Faculty

Join us as a Volunteer!

Complete the Online Application: 

Whitney Laboratory Volunteer Application

After you have submitted your application your file will be added to our volunteer database and you will be put on our waiting list. When a position fitting your experience and availability opens, you will be contacted for an interview. When we have openings, we ALWAYS search our waiting list prior to soliciting help via public avenues. 

Thank you for your interest in volunteering at the Whitney Laboratory!

If you have any questions about volunteering, please contact Madeline McDonald, Education Program Coordinator, mcdonaldmadeline@ufl.edu.

 

Internship Opportunities

 College Undergraduates and Graduates

  • Internship: Sea Turtle Hospital

This opportunity is designed to be a career learning experience for college students and recent graduates. Interns will gain first-hand experience in data collection, sanitation procedures, food preparation, and sea turtle husbandry. Please see theSea Turtle Hospital Internship page.

  • Research Experience for Undergraduates

The Whitney Lab is not running an REU program in 2024. Information about a possible program in summer 2025 will likely be available in February 2025. Please see the Research Experience for Undergraduates program page for more information.