Undergraduate Opportunities

This course introduces students to biodiversity research and to the role of natural history collections in connecting specimens and data to conservation, health, ecology, and evolutionary studies. Students will also be introduced to the different areas of work at the BI/NHM, including research collections, biodiversity data, public education, and visitor experiences.

Students can take all three credits in the same semester or separately. Completing all credits may fulfill the capstone requirement for certain degree programs. To enroll in the internship, contact your academic advisor to discuss a project proposal.

1 credit (Spring)

• Meeting time: Thursdays, 3:30–5:00 p.m.
• Open to all KU undergraduate students, no prior BI/NHM experience required.

Additional 2 credits (Spring, Summer, or Fall)

• For students working on a project or internship developed with a BI/NHM supervisor
• This section is focused on a supervised internship in a BI/NHM division or focal area. Students will complete projects with existing BI/NHM mentors or apply for new placements that are available for those who do not yet have a supervisor.

To apply, fill out the enrollment application.

Host lab/collection:  Ornithology

Positions available: 1

Position Description:This internship is an introduction to biodiversity research, graduate school, and career opportunities in biodiversity science. It integrates the student into a research project analyzing genomic data, interpreting results, and presenting findings for a hybrid zone between two bird species. The project will introduce coding in Bash and R, analyzing genetic data (including building a phylogenetic tree, haplotype network, and calculating measures of genetic diversity), and learning about hybridization. These analyses will be a part of a broader research paper on the hybrid zone, giving the student a valuable opportunity to participate in all aspects of a research project and gain experience working with genetic data.

Skills required:

• Basic understanding of evolution and evolutionary forces including mutation, selection, fitness, and populations.
• No prior experience with coding is needed.
• Must be willing to dedicate ~6 hours a week including meetings with the mentor, attending lab meetings, reading assigned papers, and analyzing data.
• Recommended prerequisite classes: BIOL 152, BIOL 350, BIOL 370.

Skills to be gained from the experience:

• An introduction to biodiversity research, graduate school, and career options.
• Familiarity with coding on the command-line and with scripts in Bash and R.
• Ability to use common programs (IQ-Tree and PopArt) to build phylogenies and haplotype networks.
• Understanding the genetics of hybrid zones and interpreting results in a biological context.
• Experience producing scientific figures and presenting research results.

Title: Data Security & Privacy Content Developer

Project mentor:  Aimee Stewart

Lab/Collection:  Specify Collections Consortium

Number of available positions:1-2

Project Description: The Specify Collections Consortium (SCC), a non-profit software group hosted at the KU Biodiversity Institute, builds one of the world's leading data management platforms for natural history museums (used in over 450 collections around the world). Specify employees may be granted access to highly sensitive biologic and geologic data from these collections. This project offers a unique opportunity to enhance the data security and privacy knowledge of Specify staff through the creation of an engaging and informative training video and supporting documentation. This will involve researching best practices in data handling, privacy regulations (e.g., GDPR, CCPA), and common security threats relevant to biodiversity and geology collections data. This role will involve scripting, storyboarding, and potentially producing a video that explains these complex topics in an accessible and understandable way, along with written supporting documentation. The goal is to create a resource that not only educates but also empowers staff to protect sensitive information and maintain the integrity of valuable collection data.

Skills needed:

• A strong aptitude for research.
• Excellent communication skills (both written and verbal).
• Keen interest in data privacy and security.
• Experience with video editing software and instructional design is a plus, but not required.

Skills to be gained:

• A practical experience in instructional design and video production.
• A deep understanding of data security principles and privacy regulations.
• Ability to translate complex legal and technical information into engaging educational content.
• A portfolio demonstrating expertise in data governance, content creation, and staff training.
• Preparation for future roles in museum informatics, compliance, or educational media.

Semester: Spring, Summer, Fall

Title: Herpetology Collection Curation

Host lab/collection:  Herpetology

Position Description: Students will assist with the organization and curation of newly acquired specimens in the KU Herpetology Collection, including a large collection from the Philippines and a donated turtle collection. Tasks will include cataloging, labeling, verifying specimen data, organizing materials for accession, and entering information into the collection database. Students will gain hands-on experience with the process of integrating new specimens into the collection and develop an understanding of how biodiversity data are preserved and made accessible for research.

Skills required:

• Attention to detail and organization.
• No prior experience is needed.
• Must be willing to dedicate ~6 hours a week including meetings with the mentor.

Skills to be gained from the experience:

• Practical experience in specimen curation and databasing.
• Development of skills in amphibian and reptile identification.
• Understanding the full workflow that brings new specimens from field collection to long-term museum preservation.

Title: Marketing Materials Developer

Project mentor:Grant Fitzsimmons

Lab/Collection: Specify Collections Consortium

Number of available positions: 1

Project Description:The Specify Collections Consortium (SCC) seeks a creative communicator to design and produce fresh marketing collateral that raises awareness of our collections management platform (CMS) among natural history museums worldwide. You will develop pamphlets, video snippets about the software, and a monthly newsletter, and help craft a comprehensive communications plan for working with over 450 collections around the world. This project offers you the chance to improve the SCC’s voice, convey our mission and impact, and engage an international audience of collection managers, curators, researchers, and software users. 

Skills needed:

• Strong writing and storytelling abilities.
• Basic graphic design or video editing experience (e.g., Canva, Premiere Pro).
• An understanding of marketing strategy and audience segmentation.
• Creativity and project management skills.

Skills to be gained: 

• Hands-on experience in developing multi-channel marketing campaigns.
• A portfolio of print and digital collateral (pamphlets, video, newsletter).
• Strategic communications planning and brand development.

Semester: Spring, Summer, Fall