The Reintroduction Volunteers help to advance Tennessee Aquarium’s freshwater conservation mission by providing daily husbandry needs of reintroduction programs for southeastern aquatic animals. Duties may include overall husbandry of aquatic animals, primarily fishes, in recirculating systems under human care. This may take place at the Tennessee Aquarium Conservation Institute (TNACI), Tennessee Aquarium facilities open to the public such as River Journey and Ocean Journey, or Tennessee Aquarium Animal Care Facility (ACF).
Tennessee Aquarium Conservation Institute, River Journey, Ocean Journey, Animal Care Facility (ACF)
- Must be at least 18 years of age.
- Experience with or knowledge of maintaining freshwater aquaria.
- Good written and oral communication skills.
- Ability to work independently with little supervision, and as part of a team.
- Flexibility to adapt as situations change. Often with little notice or time to prepare.
- Ability to maintain a positive attitude when dealing with stressful situations.
- Resilience to conservation fatigue and ability to navigate balancing the health of the population with individual wellbeing.
Coursework or degree in undergraduate program in biology, fisheries, or a related field preferred.
- Provides daily husbandry needs for animals including feeding, cleaning, and observing.
- As directed, groups fish by size into different tanks to optimize growth of fish.
- Cleans and maintains tanks and associated life support systems. This includes scrubbing and siphoning multiple times a day, water changes, and backwashing filters.
- Assists with raising live food cultures for larval fish.
- Visually monitors animals to detect health or other husbandry problems. Promptly notifies supervisor of concerns as they occur.
- Prepares/chops food and washes equipment. This may include but is not limited to 1 hour of chopping frozen fish food by knife as well as utilizing food processors and other kitchen tools daily. Food offered includes, but is not limited to, blood worms, brine shrimp, krill, silversides, and microfauna.
- May conduct water quality testing using various probes, spectrophotometer, and other lab equipment as needed.
- Interacts with staff and other volunteers to support ongoing research projects.
- Assists with tours of facility as requested.
- Performs other duties as needed.
Outdoors in various conditions for some fieldwork may be associated with this position.
The physical demands described below are representative of those that may be encountered while performing the essential functions of this position. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
- Ability to perform the essential functions of the position, with or without reasonable accommodation
- Move and transport equipment weighing up to 50 pounds as part of regular job duties
- Navigate uneven terrain and dense outdoor environments while handling required gear
- Ascend and descend ladders and stairs as needed
- Work in confined or restricted spaces that may require crouching, kneeling, or crawling
Volunteers will be asked to work a flexible schedule, each field day would be an all-day event.
A commitment of at least 4 hours every week.
Reintroduction Volunteer Application
Please note: A resume is required to be considered for this volunteer opportunity and must be uploaded as part of the application process.