Established with the aim of increasing the outreach of Florida Museum programs across the UF campus, this internship award program seeks to support undergraduate students by facilitating their work on museum-based internship projects.
Internships are to be focused on gaining experience in collections work, laboratory analysis,and/or fieldwork. Awards supporting up to 80 hours of work during one semester will be funded.
Eligibility:
Undergraduate students, including graduating seniors, enrolled at the University of Florida who can demonstrate how their involvement will expand the museum’s reach.
Students should not have had previous paid museum experience* or been in this internship before. Prior voluntary service does not disqualify.
* Conducting research, field work or outreach
Application Deadline:
Applications will open on October 25. Deadline for applications is November 17 by midnight.
Awardee Agreement:
Successful Awardees will meet with their mentor and agree on project activities and work schedule soon after the start of classes. A progress report and summary, including project-related photos, will due near the end of the semester. Students will also be expected to give a lightning talk presentation about their internship experience.
Please review these examples of recent project reports of students in the program.
Before applying, please review the application to familiarize with the questions and all necessary information. Student without prior museum experience and those with previous unpaid museum experience are encouraged to apply. Students will select from a list of available projects (see below).
Once you have your information ready, click “Apply here”. Please note that we only accept applications submitted via UF qualtrics at the following link PLEASE DO NOT EMAIL YOUR APPLICATION
Funding for this internship program was provided by the Department of Natural History, Department of Exhibits and Public Programs, and iDigBio.
Spring 2025 Museum Internship Projects
Project mentor: Nicolas Gauthier Lab/Collection: AI for Bio/Cultural Diversity Project Description:The AI in Bio/Cultural Diversity lab is looking for creative students who want to learn how to use supercomputers to study our species’ role in Earth’s past, present, and future. We make maps and models of how climate, environment, and society interact, focusing on topics like food production, biodiversity, pandemics, warfare, and cultural evolution. Current projects include research on past societies of the US Southwest, Mexico, Tibet, and Mediterranean, but regional focus is open to student interests. Skills needed: Creativity and an interest in archaeology, climatology, or biodiversity. No experience required. Skills to be gained: Students will gain experience working with maps and spatial data using applications like Google Earth and develop basic coding skills for analyzing and visualizing spatial data. Semester: Spring, Summer, Fall
Project mentor: Elise LeCompte Lab/Collection: Anthropology Collections Project Description:The intern will continue the important work related to the Museum’s compliance with NAGPRA, including assisting the project mentor with collection management tasks associated with NAPGRA-eligible collections. This will include updating inventories, researching object records to confirm legal ownership and provenance, editing and adding object records to the collections database, rehousing objects to conform to tribal requests, and digitizing collections records, as well as other activities as needed. Skills needed: Attention to detail, ability to follow directions. Interest in working with archaeological and ethnographic collections desired, but not required. Skills to be gained: Knowledge of the legal and ethical principles and practices needed to care for indigenous and community collections. Professional museum collections management skills, including addressing issues such as decolonization and collaboration with indigenous communities. Semester: Fall
Project Mentor: Megan Fry Lab/Collection: Bioarchaeology/Special Collections Project Description: The intern will undertake integral work pursuant to FLMNH NAGPRA compliance. They will assist with 1) digitization of museum collection records for NAGPRA eligible sites, 2) research the history of the collection to create a database of Ancestors and artifacts used in scientific studies, 3) assist in the preparation of official NAGPRA documentation, 4) assist in updating databases of bioarchaeological holdings, and 5) other duties as necessary. Skills Needed: Attention to detail, ability to follow instructions, highly organized. Knowledge of human osteology required. Interest in working with archaeological and ethnographic collections toward a career in NAGPRA repatriation desired. Skills to be Gained: Knowledge of the legal and ethical practices pursuant to NAGPRA repatriation. Knowledge of duty of care for Ancestors and related collections. Hands on experience working on collections with complex histories. Semester: Spring
Project Mentor: Robert Guralnick, Erin Grady Lab/Collection: Guralnick Lab Project Description: We are looking for an intern interested in citizen science, plant biology and phenology to help us with some great science questions related to the timing of flowering, fruiting and leaf out in relation to extreme weather and to help us create new data resources for the larger community of plant biologists. You will learn great skills like using citizen science tools, how to code in R and how to do some simple analyses. Skills Needed: Curiosity and a love of nature Skills to be Gained: R skills, using citizen science data, downloading data, some simple analyses Semester: Spring
Project Mentor: Arthur Porto, Jonathan Nations, Verity Mathis Lab/Collection: BioVision Lab/Mammalogy Project Description:We are looking for a museum intern to curate 576 opossum skeletons currently housed in the Porto Lab, along with their associated genetic data, for integration into the Florida Museum’s mammal collections. This curation effort will involve detailed specimen cataloging, data digitization, and management of genetic records to ensure their availability for future research. By engaging interns, we aim to provide hands-on experience in museum curation while enhancing the accessibility and utility of the opossum specimens within the museum’s broader biodiversity collections. The student will also assist in the 3D digitization of specimens using light-scanning technology. Skills Needed: Enthusiasm for research. Skills to be Gained: Imaging, digitization, curation, collections-based research, genetic research. Semester: Spring, Summer, Fall
Project Mentor: Edward Stanley, Hyo Kang, Zach Randall Lab/Collection: Digital Imaging Project Description: Mentees will help us develop, build, refine and test a series of Virtual Reality games based around Florida Museum digital specimens. These games will be be hosted on the FLMNH website and help maintain the museum’s educational output during the temporary closure of the public museum. Mentees will also be trained in a range of 3D Digital Imaging techniques including light scanning, Photogrammetry and lidar imaging. Skills Needed: Familiarity with VR (having taken DIG4540 Production of Immersive Environment is ideal). Skills to be Gained: 3D model reconstruction, light scanning, building environments in Unity, modeling in Blender. Semester: Spring, Summer, Fall
Project Mentor: Zach Randall, Jen Green, Michelle LeFebvre Lab/Collection: Digital Imaging & South Florida Archaeology Project Description: Through the Digital Imaging Division, create 3D photogrammetry models of Florida cultural heritage objects curated in the Florida Ethnographic Collections — a group of collections with objects from the Seminole Tribe of Florida and Miccosukee Tribe of Indians of Florida. This project will focus on photogrammetry of the Seminole and Miccosukee doll collection. Photogrammetry uses digital 2D photographs to create 3D models with life-like external textures. Example of photogrammetry models can be viewed on our Florida Museum Sketchfab page. Skills Needed: Attention to detail, interest in learning about cultural heritage curation. Skills to be Gained: 3D model reconstruction, 2D and 3D imaging processing software, cultural heritage curation, digital data management. Semester: Spring
Project Mentor: Amanda Hall Lab/Collection: Florida Archaeology Project Description:This project is a continuation of the current project, repatriating ancestors. Artifacts stored at the Florida Musuem need to be digitally cataloged, not only for the digital archives of the museum but to comply with NAGPRA and return any possible ancestors. This is to complete the archiving of past archaeological projects, as well as to return ancestors back to their tribes, to be put to rest. Skills Needed: General understanding of Excel, artifact differentiation, osteology knowledge. Skills to be Gained: Ceramic differentiation, NAGPRA procedure, cataloging, artifact interpretation. Semester: Spring
Project Mentor: Alan Franck, Lucas Majure Lab/Collection: Herbarium (Botany) Project Description: Digitizing the plant diversity of the world – To understand plant diversity and target conservation needs, the herbarium is digitizing its collection of about a half-million specimens. Priorities include specimens from the Neotropics, Paleotropics, historic sets from the 1850s-1970s, bryophytes, and lichens. We have a very unique collection, some of which needs meticulous curatorial work. Students can focus on a particular collection, plant group, or geographic area of interest. Remote work may be possible for bryophyte or lichen projects. Skills Needed: Interest in plant diversity Skills to be Gained: Curation and digitization of plant specimens, including databasing, photography, mounting, and filing, as well as various interesting tidbits about plant species that we work with. Semester: Spring, Summer, Fall
Project Mentor: Lucas Majure Lab/Collection: Herbarium (Botany) Project Description: Databasing and organizing the Herbarium DNA Tissue Collection. Herbarium collections are a major resource for plant research worldwide. Silica gel collections consisting of plant tissues and a silica gel desiccant are often collected in the field while herbarium specimens are being generated, and these tissues are used to extract DNA for molecular genetic work, including for phylogenetics. The University of Florida Herbarium (FLAS) has a substantial silica gel collection that is being databased and organized. Students would help organize, relabel, and database the collection, enhancing both its accessibility and their understanding of plant biology. Skills Needed: Attention to detail. Ability to understand and read cursive handwriting is desired. Skills to be Gained: Students will learn how to use herbarium databases, work in collections, and will become familiar with many major plant families. Semester: Spring, Fall
Project Mentor: David Blackburn, Kaitlin Allen, Walter Tapondjou Lab/Collection: Herpetology Project Description: The student intern will work on a project on the evolutionary history of Central African frogs under the supervision of two postdoctoral researchers. Duties will include but are not limited to CT scan post-processing, photographing museum specimens, measuring museum specimens, cataloging morphological traits, and analyzing resulting data. Skills Needed: this is an entry-level position and we will teach all required skills. Skills to be Gained: CT scan post-processing, specimen photography, data analysis, scientific communication through writing or poster presentations. Semester: Spring
Project Mentor: Kelsey Fenner, Edward Stanley Lab/Collection: Herpetology Project Description:With nearly 1800 species, skinks represent about a quarter of all lizard species and are one of the most diverse families of terrestrial vertebrates. They are found on nearly every landmass outside of the polar regions and inhabit almost all habitat types from the arid deserts to dense tropical rain forests. Skinks are morphologically diverse with a wide array of unique anatomical features. These include some species with strong grasping feet and prehensile tails adapted for an arboreal lifestyle and others that have completely lost their limbs and reside in subterranean tunnels that they dig with their heads. In this project we will be exploring the relationship between ecology, anatomy, and phylogenetic history to investigate how they influence the shape of an animal’s body. To do this we will be using micro-CT scans which allow us to digitally dissect museum specimens of a wide variety of species from all over the world. The student intern will help collect anatomical data from pre-processed scans, and potentially do some processing of scans themselves. This will be a great opportunity for students looking to learn more about subjects such as comparative anatomy, herpetology, and digital imaging. Skills Needed: None Skills to be Gained: Processing, visualizing, and presenting CT scan data, learning about anatomy, morphology, and ecology of lizards. Data management, writing skills, and potentially presenting research findings. Semester: Spring, Summer, Fall
Project Mentor: Keith Willmott Lab/Collection: McGuire Center for Lepidoptera and Biodiversity Project Description: Butterflies are one of the best studied groups of insects, yet in a number of tropical groups the true diversity of species and their relationships remain poorly understood. This lack of understanding hinders research on broader questions about species evolution, ecology and conservation. Researchers at the McGuire Center for Lepidoptera and Biodiversity are using DNA barcoding, a method involving the sequencing of a short, usually diagnostic region of DNA, to better understand diversity in complex groups of species. Students will learn methods for extracting and amplifying DNA and analyzing the resulting sequences, and apply the data to make inferences about species diversity. Students will also gain a deeper understanding of the process of taxonomy, the science of classifying organisms. Work will be based in the molecular lab at the McGuire Center and lab procedures will require students minimally to be able to work in the lab for several hours on each of two consecutive days each week. Students will also be expected to complete several online training courses to comply with environmental health and safety requirements Skills Needed: Responsible attitude towards working in a shared lab space, including punctuality, respecting lab rules and etiquette, ability to carefully record notes, ability to perform repeated tasks with care and precision, inquiring mind. Skills to be Gained: Experience working in a multi-user molecular laboratory; practical experience in DNA extraction, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) methods, gel electrophoresis; improved understanding of approaches to taxonomy, the science of classifying organisms and studying organismal diversity Semester: Spring, Summer, Fall
Project mentor: Verity Mathis Lab/Collection: Mammalogy Project Description: Curation of the Mammal Collection: students will assist in the data checking, curation, and inventorying of the mammal collection Skills needed: attention to detail, organizational skills Skills to be gained: experience working with mammal collections and their data, experience in the Specify database Semester: Spring, Fall
Project Mentor: Jonathan Nations, Arthur Porto, Verity Mathis Lab/Collection: Mammalogy Project Description:Each bone in a vertebrate animal’s body is not an independent feature, but rather a single piece of a complex system of structure and movement. To better understand how different parts of the skeleton change in shape in unison, we need to measure many specimens then look for measurements that consistently move up or down together. The Florida Museum recently acquired a large collection of lab-reared opossums that come with extensive hereditary and genetic data. The intern will use a 3D light scanner to image the skulls of select individuals, then process the data in 3D imaging software. The student will also assist in curating and cataloging the specimens in the Florida Museum’s Mammals Collection. Skills Needed: Curiosity, attention to detail. Skills to be Gained:Processing and visualizing 3D light scan data, learning about the anatomy and morphology of small mammals, curatorial methods and experience in Specify database Semester: Spring, Summer, Fall
Project Mentor: Glaucia Del-Rio, Zach Randall Lab/Collection: Ornithology/Special Collections Project Description: Ornithology is seeking a detail-oriented intern to assist with the digitization and photogrammetry of bird specimens. This project focuses on preserving essential data for bird specimens, including plumage information and detailed 3D models through photogrammetry. These specimens will be fixed and preserved in ethanol, and the digital data will be a valuable resource for future research in evolutionary biology, morphology, and conservation. Skills Needed: interest in bird diversity, interest in museum collections, interest in photography and technology. Skills to be Gained:hands-on experience with museum collections; advanced photogrammetry, 3D modelling techniques and their scientific applications; bird specimens’ identification; database management. Semester: Spring, Fall
Project Mentor: Steven R. Manchester, Julian Correa Lab/Collection: Paleobotany Project Description: Eocene fossil pollen survey. We will study the diversity of plants represented by their fossil pollen and spores retrieved from Eocene sediments, about 47 million years old from Wyoming for comparison with the information coming from fossil leaves and fruits from the same sites. This will require studying and photographing individual pollen grains using a transmitted light microscope, and possibly also using the scanning electron microscope and comparison with previously published pollen surveys. Skills Needed: Concentration at the microscope with smartphone turned off. Skills to be Gained: Photomicroscopy, Adobe Photoshop. Semester: Spring, Fall
Project Mentor: Francisco Nares Lab/Collection: Paleobotany Project Description: Students will photograph and taxonomically describe conifer, cycad, and fern fossils from the John Day Gulch collection (Oregon fossil site, ~40 million years old). Tasks will involve fossil cleaning/preparation, digital photography, and inventorying/organization of specimens within the newly expanded Paleobotany collections space. This project is a component of my graduate research on plant communities in the Pacific Northwest during the ancient and dramatic climate change of the middle-late Eocene epoch. Students will have the opportunity to assist in formal documentation of previously identified species and description/naming of new species as a co-author for a taxonomic paper on the John Day Gulch flora for a scientific journal. Skills Needed: No previous experience needed, but work will involve the respectful handling and preparation of somewhat delicate fossils. Background in botany and taxonomy/systematics is helpful, but not required. Skills to be Gained: Hands-on experience in curation of museum collections. Learning about morphology, taxonomy, and systematics of fossil plants. Writing skills as a co-author on a manuscript. Presentation skills on scientific research. Semester: Spring
Project Mentor: Jen Green Lab/Collection: South Florida Archaeology Project Description:Students will assist with assessing archaeological museum collections to meet NAGPRA compliance deadlines for sites located in southern Florida. Tasks will include inventorying and recording artifact collections and digitizing site documents to create site summaries for federal compliance efforts. Skills Needed: No previous experience is necessary, but the work requires respectful handling of Native American objects of cultural patrimony and various museum documents. An ideal candidate will have attention to detail and ability to follow directions. Interest in working with archaeological collections desired, but not required. Skills to be Gained: Hands-on experience working with museum archaeological collections and associated documentation, experience in identifying and describing archaeological artifacts/Indigenous cultural materials, and experience in repatriation efforts. Semester: Spring
Project Mentor: Advait Jukar, Rachel Narducci Lab/Collection: Vertebrate Paleontology Project Description: Assessing the diversity of North American Amebelodontids with a focus on the Florida fossil record. Amebelodontids are a charismatic group of shovel-tusked elephant relatives. Their remains are common in Florida, but their diversity and morphology needs to be carefully assessed, especially in relation to species found elsewhere in the continent. The intern will work primarily in the collections at the Florida Museum of Natural History to measure dental, cranial, and postcranial remains of amebelodontids from Florida, image specimens using 2D and 3D techniques, and compile data in spread sheets. These data will then be analyses to look at morphological trends and generate hypotheses about the diversity of this group in the state.
Skills Needed: Attention to detail, ability to lift fossil specimens weighing 500g to 20 kg Skills to be Gained: Using digital calipers, dataset compilation, basic anatomy, morphological description, photography, 3D scanning, character matrix development; analysis of quantitative morphological data Semester: Spring, Summer
Project mentor: Advait Jukar Lab/Collection: Vertebrate Paleontology Project Description: Assessing the geography of the ice age megafaunal extinction in North America. Long been touted as one of the best records in the world to study the megafaunal extinction, it has become apparently recently, that there are several biases, most notably, geographic when it comes to the extinction of megafauna. Good quality dated megafaunal remains are not uniformly distributed across the continent. Furthermore, many taxa do not have many dates for us to be able to estimate extinction timing, or the geographic pattern of extinction. In this project, the intern will use a new data compilation of carbon dates from the lower 48 states (Kelly et al. 2022 American Antiquity), and supplement it with data from the last 4 years. The intern, in conjunction with the mentor will also develop a ranking scheme for the dates based on the available information in the database. The intern will also plot these data onto a map using ArcGIS and conduct basic analyses of range size collapse. This data compilation will be used to assess the quality of the fossil record for extinct megafauna in North America, and will serve as a spring board for future studies that will date and document this extinction. Skills needed: Microsoft office; Literature searches; logical reasoning; independent thinking Skills to be gained: Data management; data quality assessment; paleoecology; analytical extinction estimation; basic R; basic ArcGIS Semester: Spring, Summer, Fall
Project mentor: Jonathan Bloch, Arthur Porto Lab/Collection: Vertebrate Paleontology Project Description: We propose hiring an intern to sort and prepare Paleocene and Eocene vertebrate paleontology specimens from the Florida Museum’s collection for imaging and image dataset annotation. This project will involve selecting representative specimens, assisting with 3D imaging using CT technology, and organizing data for AI-based analysis. The internship will offer valuable exposure to vertebrate paleontology, state-of-the-art imaging techniques, and AI applications in scientific research, providing a comprehensive hands-on learning experience. This effort will enhance the museum’s digital collections and contribute to ongoing research into past biodiversity and functional morphology. Skills needed: enthusiasm Skills to be gained: Vertebrate morphology and AI experience Semester: Spring, Fall
Intern Testimonials
“An invaluable opportunity to familiarize yourself with careers in scientific fields that often go unnoticed, gain research experience with a supportive mentor, and overall a great way to gain new experiences you might not receive anywhere else”
“My internship experience was a valuable one. I was able to gain hands on experience in artifact preservation and the techniques and measures taken to maintain cultural artifact collections. I had fun too and was able to meet new friends and mentors that will go beyond this experience.”
“This internship gave me a chance to gain a better understanding about the processes to acquire new items for collection and the work done to care for a collection”
The Florida Museum Undergraduate Internship Program (FMUIP) Committee organizes the internship program.
The Florida Museum Undergraduate Internship Program Committee:
Shyla Davidson (iDigBio member)
Jen Green (NH member)
Amy Hester (EPP member)
Steve Manchester (NH chair)
Gil Nelson (iDigBio member)
Mariela Pajuelo (NH member)
Jerald Pinson (NH member)
Alberto Lopez Torres (EPP member)
Julian Correa (NH graduate student member)