2023 ASU Biocollections Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Summer Scholars Program Applications Now Open

Posted by kmyule on January 11, 2023 - 11:56am in Collections

Applications are now open for this unique, funded, and hands-on opportunity for students underrepresented in biodiversity science to participate in natural history collections research

The Biocollections DEI Scholars Program will help you:

•Take the next step in building connections to nature

•Interact with diverse scientists that research the Earth’s biodiversity

•Gain technical skills needed for careers that use biodiversity science

•Work with a team on a project that will benefit future scientific research

Scholars program:

Participants will earn a stipend of $2,200 over six weeks (May 22 - June 30, 2023) to work with mentors and peers on a collaborative biodiversity research and outreach project using the start-to-finish approach routinely taken by natural history collections scientists. This process will include:

Conducting field surveys of local plants, insects, and vertebrates
Preparing and preserving your own specimens in the ASU Natural History Collections
Publishing your specimen and observation data online, including images
Creating and linking your own scientific profiles to published data
Learning and using basic programming and data management skills, as well as DNA barcoding and sequence alignment techniques
Leading a collaborative presentation to the Biodiversity Knowledge Integration Center

Students will contribute to open biodiversity science, providing a valuable resource for future scientists and learn how to formulate specimen-driven research questions. In addition, scholars will explore potential career paths involving botany, entomology, zoology, and biodiversity informatics and network with scientists of diverse backgrounds.

Requirements:

This program is intended to serve scholars who identify as underrepresented in the biodiversity sciences, including but not limited to: students from minoritized ethnic groups (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color, and Asian and Pacific Islander); first-generation college students; students with disabilities; LGBTQ+ students; and students who come from lower-income families. Scholars may be current students or recent graduates (<2 years) of any university or community college (graduate students are not elligible), but preference will be given to applicants interested in continuing in a biodiversity-related field. Additionally, scholars must be able to commit to attending all program activities in-person, which at minimum includes 20 hours/ week (total of 120 hours) of scheduled work in the ASU Natural History Collections facility and 2 additional scheduled overnight field trips.

Learn more about the experiences of last year's scholars:

Apply here by March 1, 2023: https://tinyurl.com/BiocollectionsDEI

Email kmyule@asu.edu if you have any questions. Top applicants will be contacted in early March regarding an interview, and accepted applicants will be notified in mid-March. The fellowship program will run from May 22, 2023 to June 30, 2023.

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Collections

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