Conservation E.E. Just Fellow, Summer 2026

What is the E.E. Just Fellowship and Who Should Apply

The E.E. Just Fellowship at the South Carolina Aquarium is a stipend-based program aimed at increasing the workforce participation of people of color in the areas of conservation and animal science.  In tribute to African American biologist and Charleston native E.E. Just (1883-1941), the initiative recognizes that the current level of workforce minority representation is not commensurate with the populations the Aquarium represents.  

College upperclassmen (including rising juniors and seniors) or recent graduates who attended a Historically Black College/University (HBCU), majoring in the natural sciences who have a passion for conservation should apply.

Fellowship Description:

The Conservation fellow will work with the Aquarium's conservation team to connect people with water, wildlife, and wild places beyond the walls of the Aquarium. The fellow will engage with community members and Aquarium partners to address one or more of the following institutional priorities: plastic pollution; community resilience in relation to coastal and inland flooding; or sustainable seafood. Fellows will learn about using environmental data to help raise awareness and advocate for change, and how to build trust and collaborative relationships with neighborhoods, public officials, businesses, other non-profits, etc.

The Fellow will work in Charleston with the option of a hybrid schedule (work from home and in the office), with meetings and events at the Aquarium, and will have regular interaction with conservation staff, both in-person and virtually.

Virtual employment might be possible, but candidates who could be present full-time in Charleston will receive preference.

Primary duties could include one or more of the following:

• Assist with conservation program events and activities including, but not limited to litter sweeps with data collection, oyster shell planting, and flood monitoring.
• Work with communities to build relationships and learn about their concerns related to flooding resulting from climate change and sea level rise, and tailor one of the Aquarium's citizen science projects to help address their concerns
• Conduct solo litter sweeps with data collection
• Organize a Good Catch educational event and dinner featuring local, sustainable seafood
• Work with the food and beverage and seafood communities to engage new Good Catch partners and raise awareness about the sustainability of local seafood.
• Contribute to projects in Aquarium's Citizen Science app, including SeaRise, the Good Catch Seafood Survey, and the Litter Journal
• Create an awareness project related to sea level rise
• Work with and analyze citizen science data, as needed
• Promote conservation activities within their social network
• Create a project to communicate findings to a general audience
• Assist with other duties, as required by the department

Qualifications, Skills, Knowledge and Abilities:

• Rising college junior or senior enrolled at an HBCU
• Recent graduate with a degree in a natural science field or related field.
• Comfortable speaking to groups and audiences of all ages
• Excellent organizational and communication skills, both written and verbal
• Excellent computer skills, especially Microsoft Excel
• Ability to work well as part of a team and independently
• Willingness to learn and try something new
• Passionate about environmental issues
• Ability to work weekends and evenings, as needed

Commitment Required:

• Fulltime:   35 hours per week
• Summer 2026 (May 18 – August 7), 11-week program
• Access to a car is recommended 

Compensation:

• $14.50/hour 
• Opportunity for modest housing stipend for relocation to Charleston
• Costs incurred during work-related travel will be reimbursed
• Ability to earn a reciprocity pass to local attractions and aquarium tickets.
• College Credits - students should contact department chair in advance if interested in earning college credits at their home institution.