Location: The Los Angeles Zoo; depending upon assigned tasks, locations may also include Griffith Park, other City of L.A. department locations, or virtual

Dates: June 3 through August 9, 2024

Time Commitment: 20 hours/week, for a total of 200 hours. Specific shift days and hours are dependent on the internship project for which the candidate is selected. Must be available Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays.

Stipend: $17.00/hour (approximately $3,400 for the summer)

The USC Wrigley Institute will fund 2 USC students to participate in the 2024 LA Zoo Conservation Internship program. As a City resource, the LA Zoo is continually looking for more equitable ways to engage the diverse communities of Los Angeles. The L.A. Zoo is hosting 10-week paid internships for college students from systemically excluded identities in the zoo and conservation fields. Interns will work directly with industry professionals on real world projects, then summarize their practical knowledge and present on their experience at the conclusion of their internship. Interns will work directly with the Zoo’s Conservation team, gaining real world application of science, research, and conservation skills. In July 2021, the Zoo released its first Conservation Strategic Plan (CSP), which guides its conservation efforts and expands its positive impact over the next five years. Key to this CSP is an increasing focus on local conservation projects that engage our community members, improve native biodiversity, and help meet the goals of local stakeholders in Los Angeles.

Location: Santa Catalina Island, CA (through June 31) and remote (starting July 1)

Dates: Start date negotiable between May 11-20, 2024

Time Commitment: Full time, 10 weeks

Stipend: $6,000

The Plant Department Summer Intern opportunity is a diverse position providing necessary support and day-to-day implementation of assigned Conservation Department plant programs, projects, activities and/or facilities maintenance with specific duties focused in two broad areas: 1) Invasive plant management, horticulture and restoration and 2) Vegetation monitoring, depending on the Conservation Department needs and incumbent’s skills and training. Duties will involve significant field work and administrative duties. Through June 31, the intern will live and work on Catalina Island. Starting July 1, the intern will work remotely on projects for the Conservation Department. There is a possibility for extension of in-person island-based work, pending intern interest, project needs, and housing availability.

Location: The Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County; depending upon assigned tasks, some virtual work may be allowed

Dates: June 3, 2024 – August 9, 2024

Time Commitment: Full time, 10 weeks

Stipend: $6,000

The USC Wrigley Institute will fund 1 USC student to participate in the 2024 NHMLAC Conservation Internship program. As a Los Angeles County institution, NHMLAC is continually looking for more equitable ways to engage the diverse communities of Los Angeles. NHMLAC is hosting a 10-week paid internship for college students from systematically excluded identities in museum and conservation fields. The intern will work directly with museum professionals on real collections-focused projects, then summarize their practical knowledge and present on their experience at the conclusion of their internship. The intern will work directly with the NHMLAC’s Ornithology (bird) and Mammalogy departments, gaining real world experience in natural history collections and learning practical collections skills. Los Angeles which is a designated “biodiversity hotspot” by Conservation International and a key part of the NHMLAC collections work is managing specimens and data to facilitate research that furthers conservation goals and builds biodiversity knowledge. NHMLAC research associates, and community scientists use these collections to examine the impacts of humans and wildlife as well as guide recommendations for how to make Los Angeles a hospitable place for all.