Entomology Intern, Butterfly Center

Position:  Entomology Intern, Butterfly Center

Employment Status: Part Time, Nonexempt, Hourly, $11 per hour, Seasonal: Summer 2025

Job Summary:

HMNS is home to the Cockrell Butterfly Center which consists of a three-story rainforest conservatory and insect zoo, as well as greenhouses and containment rooms, which are not open to the public. This internship is specifically for college students pursuing a career in entomology or a related field.

The Entomology Intern assists museum staff in caring for and maintaining our live arthropod collection in our rainforest exhibit, insect zoo and containment facilities. This internship focuses on husbandry, USDA regulations and science interpretation to the public. This position includes work in a typical office, outdoors, public exhibition areas and off-site locations.

This position reports to the Director of the Houston Museum of Natural Science’s Cockrell Butterfly

Center.

This internship is sponsored by the Garden Club of Houston. At the conclusion of the internship, the intern is required to provide a short report on the internship experience to the Garden Club of Houston, as well as any requirements of the student’s institution. A written evaluation by the Cockrell Butterfly Center Director will be sent to the Garden Club of Houston and the student’s institution.

Course credit: Applicants are encouraged to investigate whether this internship can count for course credit at your college.

Essential Job Duties and Responsibilities:

•   Husbandry of emerging butterflies, pupae, caterpillars and eggs

•   Maintain butterfly emergence cases

•   Care for the live butterflies on exhibition

•   Care for and maintain arthropods in our insect zoo and containment areas

•   Assist with the butterfly rearing program

•   Aid with biological control programs in the exhibits and greenhouses

•   Assist with outreach programs for schools and summer camps

•   Assist horticulture staff with projects as needed

•   Work with preserved entomology collection at our offsite facility

•   Process butterfly shipments

•   Other duties as assigned

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

•   Knowledge of entomology and biology

•   Proficient in Microsoft Office applications

•   Strong work ethic and attention to detail

•   Excellent organizational, interpersonal and communication skills

Requirements:

•   Currently enrolled in a college or university in an entomology-related major

•   Able to work designated weekends, holidays and evenings

•   Able to work in outdoor conditions

•   Able to bend, stoop and lift/carry up to 50 pounds

•   Able to remain stationary and move about for extended periods of time

•   Able to ascend/descend stairs, step stools, ladders

•   Reliable transportation to get to museum and other off-site locations

•   Arrive to work on time

•   Proven track record of reliable punctuality and attendance

•   Comply with the museum’s health and safety protocols

Perks of Working at HMNS Include:

•  Free access to museum exhibits, Butterfly Center, Planetarium, Giant Screen Theater and satellite facilities

•   Discounted museum programming

•   Free staff parking

•   Staff discount in the Museum Store

Application Instructions:

Submit resume to  jobs@hmns.org  by March 8, 2025.

No phone calls, please.

HMNS does not respond to inquiries regarding application status.

The Houston Museum of Natural Science is an EEO Employer.

Houston Museum of Natural Science, 5555 Hermann Park Drive, Houston, Texas 77030