ABOUT THE INTERNSHPS
Sponge Community Restoration & Enhancement
- Mentor(s): Dr. Donald Behringer (UF/IFAS), Dr. Joshua Patterson (UF/IFAS), Dr. Brittany Hall-Scharf (UF/IFAS Extension)
- Location: Gainesville, FL and Hernando Beach, FL
- Project Description: Sponges perform important ecological roles in Florida coastal hard-bottom habitats. They provide most of the 3-dimensional structure in shallow water, and this structure provides habitat for juvenile and adult organisms that reside around, under, and in them; including economically important fish and crustacean species. Sponges also improve water quality and boost benthic productivity. However, habitat degradation, pollution, and disease can all negatively impact sponges if not mitigated. Given their ecological importance, it is clear that aquaculture-based restoration/enhancement of sponge communities should be a priority conservation goal and would pay dividends for ecosystem services and fishery productivity. This project will result in a set of best practices for sponge aquaculture, while simultaneously benefitting our co-producers, coastal communities, and the environment. This project aligns directly with Florida Sea Grant’s Sustainable Fisheries and Aquaculture (SFA) goal through the use of sponge aquaculture for ecosystem recovery and secondarily with the Healthy Coastal Ecosystems (HCE) goal by restoring habitat that supports biodiversity, fisheries, and water quality.
Restoration Aquaculture: Coral Reefs & Sponges
- Mentor(s): Dr. Joshua Patterson (UF/IFAS), Dr. Donald Behringer (UF/IFAS), Dr. Brittany Hall-Scharf (UF/IFAS Extension)
- Location: Apollo Beach, FL and Tampa Bay Area, FL
- Project Description: The intern will work as a part of two intersecting teams executing funded projects – including two recently initiated Florida Sea Grant Biennial Research grants – focused on restoration aquaculture of nearshore hardbottom sponges and critical animals for coral reef recovery. Dr. Josh Patterson will be the primary mentor, with Drs. Don Behringer and Brittany Hall-Scharf also collaborating. Dr. Behringer has submitted a separate proposal for an intern based in Gainesville, which would leverage this project as both interns would work together on the Hernando County sponge restoration project. The Patterson lab successfully hosted a Florida Sea Grant Research Intern in 2024 (Figure 1) and has otherwise hosted at least one UF/IFAS Summer Research Intern annually since 2014. No UF/IFAS Summer Research Intern was matched for 2026.
ELIGIBILITY
- Student must be an undergraduate at an accredited university or institute of higher education
- Student must not be graduating prior to December 2026
- Student must be able to pass a criminal background check
HIGHLY PREFERRED SKILLS
- While not required, preference will be given to applicants who already maintain American Association of Underwater Scientists (AAUS) scuba certification.
FUNDING
- Selected interns will be hired for the duration of the internship at a rate of $18/hour for up to 260 hours. Internships must be completed by December 2026.
Application deadline: May 4, 2026
