Marine Biology and Ocean Operations Intern

Job Req ID: 990 

Division: Environmental Management Interns 

Salary Range: $19.47 to $22.75 

Job Type: Unclassified     

Business Area: Public Utilities 

Personnel Area: PU Administrative Services 

Closing Date: 10/26/2026 

The Position

The City of San Diego Public Utilities Department’s Marine Biology and Ocean Operations (MBOO) group is seeking motivated students for paid internships with the City’s Ocean Monitoring Program. Interns will work alongside Environmental Scientists and other MBOO staff conducting regulatory ocean monitoring and applied marine science in support of the City’s environmental protection and wastewater discharge monitoring programs.

This internship provides hands-on experience with the full lifecycle of environmental monitoring—from collecting data in the field to managing, analyzing, interpreting, and communicating scientific results. Interns will have opportunities to participate in boat-based ocean monitoring while working closely with City scientists to understand how monitoring data are used to evaluate environmental conditions, meet regulatory requirements, improve scientific workflows, and communicate findings.

A major goal of the internship is for each intern to develop a substantive analytical or research product that reflects their interests and builds skills relevant to their future career. Under the mentorship of a City scientist, interns may work with existing Ocean Monitoring Program datasets to develop a research question, conduct statistical or spatial analyses, improve data-processing or visualization tools, or explore other applied environmental science questions. Depending on the intern’s interests, skills, project, and internship duration, final products could include a scientific poster or presentation, analytical report, data visualization or application, improved analytical workflow, or contribution to a scientific manuscript.

Interns will also be encouraged to participate in MBOO field operations, gaining experience aboard City research vessels and exposure to the collection of seawater, sediment, marine fish, invertebrate, and oceanographic data. Additional activities may include preparation and maintenance of scientific equipment, data processing and quality assurance/quality control, sample and taxonomic collection management, report preparation, and public outreach.

Positions are on-site and field-based in San Diego and are limited to part-time work of up to 20 hours per week. Work schedules will vary depending on school schedules, project needs, and field operations, but generally will occur M-F between the hours of 6:30am – 5:00pm. Field days may begin early in the morning, and interns participating in at-sea operations must be comfortable working aboard boats in a variety of ocean conditions.

Key Areas of Responsibility

• Work with Environmental Scientists to manage, analyze, visualize, and interpret environmental monitoring data.
• Develop and complete an independent analytical or research project under the mentorship of an MBOO scientist, culminating in a professional work product or presentation.
• Develop practical skills using scientific and data-analysis tools such as R, Python, Microsoft Excel, or other software appropriate to the intern’s project.
• Participate in boat-based ocean monitoring activities, with opportunities to assist in the collection of seawater, sediment, fish, invertebrate, and sensor-based environmental data.
• Learn how environmental monitoring data move from field collection through quality assurance/quality control, analysis, reporting, and regulatory use.
• Prepare, assemble, maintain, and help operate oceanographic and biological sampling equipment and instrumentation as appropriate.
• Assist with scientific reporting, data-processing workflows, sample and taxonomic collection management, public outreach, and other activities supporting MBOO programs.
• Communicate project findings to scientific, technical, or management audiences through an appropriate final product.

Minimum Qualifications

• Currently enrolled or accepted into an accredited academic or training program and meeting applicable eligibility requirements for the Emplopy and Empower internship program.
• Comfortable working at sea aboard small research vessels in a variety of ocean conditions.
• Able to perform the physical activities necessary for marine fieldwork, including lifting and handling field equipment weighing up to 40 pounds.
• Able to work collaboratively as part of a field, laboratory, and scientific team.

Desirable Qualifications

The ideal candidate will possess some combination of the following qualifications:

• Academic coursework or demonstrated interest in marine biology, ocean science, environmental science, biology, ecology, statistics, data science, or a related field.
• Interest in pursuing a career in marine science, environmental monitoring, environmental management, scientific research, or a related field.
• Interest in working with environmental data and developing quantitative, analytical, or scientific communication skills.
• Familiarity with Microsoft Excel, R, Python, GIS, or other data-analysis tools is desirable but not required; enthusiasm for learning new analytical tools is strongly encouraged.
• Curiosity and initiative in developing and pursuing scientific questions.
• Strong organizational, communication, and time-management skills.
• Ability to work effectively both independently and collaboratively with scientists and other staff.
• Ability to follow scientific protocols and accurately document field, laboratory, and analytical work.
• Interest in gaining hands-on marine field experience aboard research vessels.
• Previous research, analytical, laboratory, field, or marine science experience is desirable but not required.