2023 ASU Biocollections Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Summer Scholars Program Applications Now Open
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
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 prior year's scholars
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.