<p>Detroit Zoological Society</p> <p>Animal Welfare Research Internship</p> <p>General Description</p> <p>The Detroit Zoological Society's Center for Zoo Animal Welfare (CZAW) is accepting applications for an animal welfare research intern. This paid internship is funded through the Ron Kagan Endowment for Animal Welfare, which honors the former Executive Director/CEO of the Detroit Zoological Society who founded CZAW. The purpose of CZAW is to advance and support the well-being of animals living in zoos and aquariums through scientific investigation and holistic behavior programs. Research efforts at CZAW center on developing new welfare indicators, with a focus on understudied taxa and investigating environmental and anthropogenic impacts.</p> <p>The CZAW animal welfare research internship is a paid internship opportunity. Interns are expected to commit to 40 hours per week (Monday-Friday) for 12 weeks between May 18 and September 18, totaling 480 hours of work. The start date can be flexible within the parameters listed above. The intern will be paid at a rate of $15/hour. For interns residing outside of Lapeer, Livingston, Macomb, Oakland, St. Clair, or Wayne counties (i.e., the Detroit Metro area) - onsite housing may be available at no additional cost to the applicant.</p> <p>The animal welfare research intern will focus on the processes used by researchers in the field of animal welfare through active participation in ongoing studies including data collection, laboratory work, database management, data analysis, and the generation of reports. Although this internship focuses on research, CZAW encompasses many areas of animal welfare science such as positive reinforcement training, welfare assessment, enrichment, and significant life event monitoring. Research interns will receive education in all areas of animal welfare science for a comprehensive and immersive experience.</p> <p>Animal welfare research interns will be supervised by the Manager of Applied Animal Welfare Science and will have the opportunity for mentorship from various departmental staff including the Animal Welfare Programs Manager and the Senior Director of Animal Welfare and Research.</p> <p>Responsibilities:</p> <ul> <li>Utilize observational research techniques with a variety of animal species for ongoing research and monitoring on captive animal welfare. </li><li>Assist with data entry for research and monitoring projects. </li><li>Assist with literature searches and generation of reports. </li><li>Support the CZAW Research Assistant in training volunteers on current projects and protocols. </li><li>Process biological samples through the on-site Endocrinology Lab under the supervision of the CZAW Lab Associate. </li><li>Conduct basic descriptive analyses of complete datasets. </li></ul> <p>Requirements:</p> <ul> <li>Applicants should have a background in zoology, biology, animal science, psychology, anthropology, or animal behavior. Preference will be given to applicants who have demonstrated experience with research in lab, field, or captive settings. </li><li>Applicants should be in the process of completing or have completed an undergraduate degree within the last two years and should not be currently enrolled in or have completed a graduate degree program. </li><li>Transcripts should demonstrate coursework in research methods, biology, animal behavior, statistics, or related fields. </li><li>GPA of 3.2/4.0 or higher </li><li>Minimum 18 years of age </li><li>Self-motivated and strong interpersonal and communication skills </li><li>Experience with Microsoft Office products and good organizational skills </li><li>Timeliness, initiative, and ability to adhere to a schedule </li><li>Minimum commitment of 40 hours per week for 12 weeks totaling 480 hours of work </li><li>Proof of a negative TB test on or before start date </li></ul> <p>To apply:</p> <p>Please be sure to complete the online DZS application found at https://detroitzoo.org/careers/.</p> <p>In addition to the online DZS application, you will need to submit a resume; a cover letter detailing your long-term career goals, what you hope to gain from this specific program, and the unique skills you would bring to this program; a copy of your transcripts (unofficial copies are acceptable); and two letters of recommendation. Letters of recommendation may come from academic sources (advisors or professors), professional sources (current or previous employers), or community sources (religious leaders or community members). The supplemental materials should be submitted via email. Recommendation letters may be submitted by the applicant or emailed directly to us from the recommenders. Only complete application submissions will be considered and CZAW staff are not responsible for ensuring applicants submit all materials. Offers of positions are contingent upon the applicant passing a background check. If you would need to take advantage of onsite housing, please indicate this somewhere in your application materials (this will not be used as a factor to evaluate candidates or their eligibility for the internship).</p> <p>Please email supplementary application materials to czaw@dzs.org with "CZAW Internship" in the subject line.</p> <p>All application materials, including letters of recommendation, are due by 5:00 pm EST on January 16, 2026. All applicants will be informed of a decision no later than April 3, 2026.</p> <p>Just as we value and celebrate biodiversity, the DZS celebrates the diversity of our human community. We are committed to ensuring that our programs and facilities are fully accessible to create a welcoming and inclusive workplace for all.</p> <p>How to Apply</p> <p>Interested applicants should visit detroitzoo.org/careers/ to submit their application and resume.</p> <p>Detroit Zoological Society</p> <p>8450 W 10 Mile Rd</p> <p>Royal Oak, MI 48067</p> <p>Visit our website</p>