More Information on the BSP Internship Program at the MVZ

The BSP Internship Program at the MVZ was started by BSP alumn, and current Museum Scientist, Monica J. Albe, and BSP Assistant Director, Roger Liu, PhD. The goal of the program is to introduce BSP students to an aspect of biological research and to give BSP students experiences that will help them in their exploration of possible career paths.

Briones East Bay Regional Park

some MVZ curators and IB undergraduate advisor, Nancy Finkle

The Biology Scholars Program has a unique partnership with the Museum of Vertebrate Zoology on the Berkeley Campus. Scientists at the museum have joined with counselors at the BSP to create a supportive environment for Biology Scholars Students to explore their interest in nature and the environment. BSP students can join the scientific community within the museum and learn about how ornithologists, mammalogists, and herpetologists work with the animals they love while discovering new insights into biology. We explore a wide range of topics: evolution, biogeography, conservation, biomechanics, animal behavior, and more!

Students are introduced into the museum by taking the two unit class "General Comparison and Diversity in Vertebrate Anatomy" where they learn about birds, mammals, reptiles and amphibians through hands-on lab experience and library research. Students learn to recognize the various anatomical organs of vertebrates through their dissections and preparations in the MVZ Preparation Lab, and learn about those animals' habits and evolutionary history through their class discussions and homework. This class also introduces the museum and its diverse research projects to the BSP interns. The class is taught by Monica J. Albe, a BSP alumn, and she encourages a team-oriented environment where BSPers learn from each other as well as their instructor. After taking the class, students who are interested in pursuing vertebrate research further are connected with various URAP or paid positions within the MVZ in the following semester. They are also encouraged to take vertebrate courses the MVZ Curators offer through the Department of Integrative Biology (class list).

Want to learn even more about the museum and its research? Visit the MVZ website and explore our research projects, collections, and various other endeavors.