Students interested in identification, classification, economic importance, evolution, distribution, or almost anything related to plants, are encouraged to work for 1-3 credit hours in the ASU Vascular Plant Herbarium as a curatorial assistant. One credit hour is the approximate equivalent of 40 hours during the semester. Volunteers are also welcome.
The Vascular Plant Herbarium in the ASU School of Life Sciences is a museum collection, or "library," of over 330,000 plant specimens. It is located at 724 W. Alameda in Tempe, approximately 2 miles west of ASU main campus
The herbarium is continually acquiring new specimens to add to the collection, loaning specimens to other herbaria for study by specialists and students, collecting and identifying plants, and sending out exchange to other herbaria.
Interns and volunteers in the Herbarium will participate in the following activities:
- Specimen preparation, mounting, restoration, repair, and filing
- Digitizing specimens including photography and data entry
- Plant collecting field trips
- Preparing specimens for a loan and/or exchange
- Plant identification through the use of dichotomous keys
- Other special projects may be arranged.
The purpose of the internship is to provide the student with an opportunity to participate in the curatorial activities of a natural history museum collection, and is especially valuable for those interested in learning more about plants! Contact Liz Makings for more information.