Animal Nutrition Internship - Summer 2026

Animal Nutrition Internship - Summer 2026

The Animal Nutrition Intern will assist with Preparing daily diets for all zoo animals under the direction of supervising personnel. Assist with inventory and quality control of all perishable foods.  Assist with the cleanliness of food preparation area and dishes.

The Animal Nutrition Center is a centralized food preparation operation that provides for all dietary needs of the animal collection at the Dallas Zoo. The Animal Nutrition Center operates 7 days a week from 6:30 am to 3:30 pm. This Internship provides work experience within a comprehensive nutrition program and includes animal food production, as well as animal nutrition research components.

No direct animal contact takes place in this role.

Responsibilities:

Work alongside nutrition keepers to prepare and deliver balanced and enriching diets for the 2500+ animals living at Dallas Zoo and the Children’s Aquarium at Fair Park.  Assist in nutrition research projects such as food nutrient analysis (sample processing, data collection and entry) and quality control (forages, feeds, browses, etc.). Intern will Track, organize and present data on animals in our collection to the Animal staff.  Work in a team environment to accomplish area tasks.

The Dallas Zoo College Internship Program provides a learning opportunity for currently enrolled undergraduate or graduate students at an accredited college/university in the United States. Interns become actively involved in the Zoo’s animal care departments, conservation/research efforts, operations, and/or administrative positions.

Interns work 24 hours per week for a maximum of 12 weeks. Each placement is designed to help the intern gain experience related to their education.  Most internship positions are unpaid. The Zoo does not provide transportation, housing or a stipend.

All interns will be required to complete an educational project, participate in at least one service learning project, and attend professional development sessions designed especially for Dallas Zoo interns.

The Dallas Zoo Volunteer Services Department will work with students/schools to document internship experience needed to gain university/college credit. 

 QUALIFICATIONS:

• Must be available 24-40 hours per week for up to 12 weeks (dependent on area) including holidays and weekends
• Flexible, self-motivated, and a team player
• Understand and follow oral and written instructions
• Must be able to communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing
• Establish and maintain an effective rapport with all levels of management, employees, and zoo guests
• Have good observational skills
• Able to walk, stand, sit, kneel, stoop, crawl, twist, reach above head, pull, bend, climb stairs and ladders, carry up to 50lbs, and actively work in inclement weather
• Have a valid US driver’s license with reliable transportation
• Must be otherwise eligible to work in the U.S. at the time of the internship
• Pass a background check
• Provide a current negative TB test prior to the internship start date
• Have some computer knowledge
• Bilingual beneficial

REQUIRED EDUCATION:

• Must be currently enrolled in a college or university student as a junior, senior, masters level student, or recent college graduate
• Applications accepted within one year after graduation
• Biology, Zoology, Animal Science, Wildlife Biology or related major

Application Deadline: 1 March 2026
Fall Internship Start Date: 27 May 2026