Biologist , Aquarium

About the California Academy of Sciences

The California Academy of Sciences is a globally renowned scientific and cultural institution located in the heart of San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park. Home to a world‑class planetarium, aquarium, research center, and natural history museum—all under one living roof—our mission is to regenerate the natural world through science, learning, and collaboration.

Our extensive collections span plants, animals, fossils, and cultural artifacts from across the globe and throughout history. We are a diverse team of leading biodiversity scientists, educators, storytellers, designers, and communicators who work collaboratively to advance knowledge and inspire action through science and storytelling.

When you join the California Academy of Sciences, you become part of a mission‑driven community that values curiosity, collaboration, and innovation. Whether you’re working behind the scenes in research or engaging the public on the museum floor, your work will help connect people to the natural world and empower them to protect it.

Reporting to the Curator of Water Quality and Aquarium Operations, this part‑time commissary biologist position is responsible for providing daily animal diet preparation, food stock inventory, and ensuring clean kitchen spaces. It also involves general animal care and maintenance for live feed items, both terrestrial and aquatic. The work schedule will include weekends, evenings, and holidays, and this is a 16‑hour per week position.

The Commissary Team is integral to the living collections at the Academy. This team is responsible for diet preparation of the mammal, bird, reptile, amphibian, terrestrial invertebrate, and aquatic (fresh and salt water) collections. The Commissary Team is one of several teams within the Steinhart Aquarium. Steinhart Aquarium is one of the most biologically diverse and interactive aquariums on Earth, home to more than 60,000 live plants and animals, representing more than 1,000 unique species.

• Prepares food for the animals following established diets.
• Cleans and disinfects work areas daily and maintains the commissary in a neat, orderly manner to comply with USDA and AZA standards.
• Provides husbandry and maintenance of healthy live aquatic and terrestrial feeds by following established protocols.
• Provides a high standard of daily husbandry care and exhibit maintenance, including animal feedings, exhibit and back‑of‑house cleaning, health monitoring, and environmental sampling.
• Provides backup and support for areas assigned to other staff as the primary or secondary backup during their normal days off and holidays.
• Trains and supervises volunteers.
• Communicates effectively with Aquarium management and staff.
• Participates in Academy committees and work groups as needed.
• Becomes fluent in our animal data software program—ZIMS.
• Establishes and maintains positive, cooperative, and effective working relations with fellow employees.
• Actively participates in a culture promoting trust, respect, and accountability.
• Presents programs to the general public, media, and in professional meetings when required.
• Conducts general tours of the Aquarium and its support spaces.
• Answers questions from the general public through a variety of means.
• Interacts with professional colleagues, guests, media, and the general public in a professional manner.
• Follows all Academy and Aquarium safety regulations.
• Other duties of a similar scope and nature as otherwise assigned.

• Basic knowledge of essential animal care and welfare requirements for the living collection.
• Basic knowledge of essential animal care and welfare requirements for the living collection.
• Basic knowledge of USDA and AZA standards for animal care and welfare.
• Basic knowledge of public aquarium/zoo operations, maintenance, record keeping, and life support systems.
• Effective verbal and written communication skills.
• Effective organizational and problem‑solving skills.
• Effective at multitasking, adapting, and prioritizing.
• Ability to present programs and convey information to guests, the general public, media, colleagues,…