We accept applications for volunteering on an ongoing basis and encourage you to attend our undergraduate orientation being held on Jan 22nd (if you miss that, we are having a short welcoming meeting Feb 5th).
These positions are for UC Berkeley Students (except for the external listings). If you are interested in becoming involved, but are not a Cal student, please see our volunteer description, or MVZ Internships.
Click on one of the following to read more:
Volunteer
Work-Study
Paid Positions
URAP
Other/External Opportunities
Summer Opportunities
And please fill out an "MVZ Undergraduate Application" for future opportunities.
Researchers: Do you have something that should be listed here? email Monica.
Student Volunteer Positions Open:
There are many positions available in the MVZ, please fill out an "MVZ Undergraduate Application" and contact Anna Ippolito for more information.
Here are the categories of museum volunteer work that may have openings:| -Specimen Preparation -Museum Curatorial and Collections Work -Museum Archival Work -Historical Projects -GIS work and GPS Mapping -Evolutionary Genetics Lab Work |
-Field Work -Website Development and Programming Projects -Education and Outreach Activities -Animal Lab Care -Scientific Illustration and Graphic Design -Library Research |
Specific Volunteer Projects that are Open at this Time
(please note on your application if you are interested in one of these)
Research Positions --
Archival research. Have you ever wondered what it would be like to be a field biologist? Are you interested in looking through primary sources such as field notebooks to piece together the past? Have you ever wondered who the people were who came up with the concepts you learn in your biology classes? Contact Allison Shultz for details.
Prep Lab --
Openings for volunteers interested in preparing museum specimens, especially herpetological fluid specimens, but mammal and bird skins and skeletons as well.
Curatorial --
Labeling specimens, specimen boxes, and cases.
Museum Specimen Parasite Collection - organize, label, and data entry.
Journal article filing - sorting incoming reprints, mostly on birds.
MVZ Library Collection - sorting books into categories, labeling (current needs for mammalogy books).
Refilling alcohol levels on fluid collection specimens.
Education/Outreach Opportunities --
Centennial Celebration assistants needed! 2008 is the MVZ's 100 year celebration, and we need students to help with preparations. Please contact Allison Shultz for more information.
Website Development Assistant -- Are you interested in scientific writing, illustration, and/or graphic design? We have several ongoing projects within the Museum of Vertebrate Zoology that could use your skills! Please contact Monica J. Albe for more information.
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MVZ Front Office Assistant II will file correspondence pertaining to Museum of Vertebrate Zoology, enter and manage multiple cross-referenced records of MVZ publications into database, answer requests for MVZ reprints. Assist MVZ office staff with various clerical duties including answering 3 incoming telephone lines, taking verbal messages, handling incoming and outgoing mail, desk coverage, filing, inventories, running campus errands, and photocopying. Summer 2008 position with possible extension into Fall 2008. Qualifications: Macintosh skills, Excel, Word required. Related clerical experience, Effective interpersonal and oral communications skills. Attention to detail and organized. Reliable, with ability to work independently. Some science background. Pay rate is $11.78/hour (see work-study listing)
Assistant II will assist information technology infrastructure in a medium-sized organization especially desktop and printer support. This position is for Summer 2008, with a possible extension through the Fall. Qualifications:
Skilled with both Apple and PC operating systems. Comfortable working both independently and with others in the museum. Attention to detail is important. Pay rate is $14.78/hour (see work-study listing).
Assistant II The MVZ is a national leader in informatics and in geo-coding of natural history collections to facilitate studies in conservation, ecology and evolution. The person will: 1) Use geographic tools (gazetteers, maps, and Geographic Information Systems software) along with data from field observations to determine latitudes and longitudes from descriptive localities for new collections. 2) Use GIS to check the coordinates of previously determined geo-references. 3) Assist in analysis of the data and maintenance of the collection database. We provide extensive training and tutoring in GIS software. This position is for Summer 2008, with a possible extension through the Fall. Qualifications: Interest in geographic information systems and/ or museums. Interest in geography and veterbrate history of California or other regions. Ability to use PC's effectively and work independently with continuing attention to detail. Pay rate is $11.78/hour (see work-study listing).
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Paid Positions Open:
No current listings.
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URAP Positions for Spring 2008
Click on URAP for more information
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Other/External Opportunities:
Other UCB Natural History Museums --
Lots of other opportunities for work-study in the Berkeley Natural History Museums. Visit the Work-Study Program Website for details.
Big Ideas @ Berkeley --
Program that supports undergraduate innovative thinking and projects. Check under contests for the "Bears Breaking Boundaries 2008" competitions (over $100,000 in cash prizes awarded).
Wildlife Management Intern at SF Bay National Wildlife Refuge Complex --
Birds, Plants, Amphibians, and Butterflies, San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge Complex, Fremont, CA Intern needed to assist U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service at four very different Refuges in the greater San Francisco Bay Area from May 12 thru December 2008. This intern will primarily work at the Antioch Dunes National Wildlife Refuge, Ellicott Slough NWR, Salinas River NWR, and the proposed Alameda NWR but will also assist other refuges within the San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge Complex- website:
http://www.fws.gov/sfbayrefuges/
Responsibilities include: Endangered plant and animal surveys (birds,
amphibians, butterflies, mice, flowers and invertebrates), endangered
and native plant seed collection, endangered plant propagation,
non-native vegetation removal, avian predator surveys, vernal/seasonal
pool sampling, cross support with other Refuges, data entry, report
preparation, GPS, occasional early morning/late evening/weekend work,
and working with staff and volunteers.
Required: valid driver's license; comfortable driving long hours in
traffic; bachelors degree or near completion; general knowledge of
biological data gathering and techniques; wildlife observation and basic
plant identification skills; physical ability to use varied equipment,
vehicles, and tools to complete field work; ability to work in harsh
weather and steep terrain; basic computer experience.
Shared housing is provided at the Fremont headquarters and vehicle is
provided during work hours only. Personal vehicle is highly recommended
for non-work hours. $100/week stipend
Please email resume, unofficial transcripts and 3 references to
rachel_hurt@fws.gov Deadline May 2, 2008.
Tree Frog Treks (a biologically related outreach program based in the Bay Area): Do you have a passion for science and the outdoors? Do you have the urge to learn how to lasso a lizard, spot a Red-Tailed Hawk, sculpt a clay snake skull, and then teach someone else to do the same? Then Tree Frog Treks needs you!
Tree Frog Treks is currently hiring assistant teachers for its summer camps. Applicants must have experience working with kids; a science background is helpful, but not necessary. To apply, please send a resume and cover letter to jessica@treefrogtreks.com . You can find out more information about our camps here .
We are always looking for enthusiastic volunteers and interns for our camps, weekend treks, after-school enrichment programs and birthday adventure treks. If you're interested in working with us, please send us an e-mail telling us why you'd be right for the job to teach@treefrogtreks.com . If you have a resume, it would be great if you could send that along as well. Benefits include on-the-job science education training, experience working with live animals and children, free treks, and the opportunity to make a difference in a small but growing organization.
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Summer Undergraduate Research Fellows at Berkeley -- For students of the College of Letters and Science. SURF info.
NSF Summer Research Positions for Undergraduates -- Please check out the IGERT website for more opportunities. This is an excellent resource for summer programs around the USA.
2008 Nature Conservancy Conservation Science Internship Program --
The Nature Conservancy (TNC) will be hosting science and conservation internships during the summer and fall of 2008. This is a unique opportunity to bridge the gap between what is learned in the classroom and work done in the real world of conservation to promote a sustainable planet. The internship hopes to especially attract students who will bring diverse perspectives to TNC. Click here for internship materials. The deadline for applications is February 15, 2008.
Collections Based Biology in Dublin.
CoB i D is the joint programme for teaching and research linking University College Dublin and the National Museum of Ireland (Natural History Division). The UREKA award provides funding for students currently completing their first degree to join CoB i D researchers in a ten-week summer programme in Dublin. Applications must be received by 30 March 2008.
Smithsonian Internships. There are several undergraduate internship opportunities offered by the Smithsonian Museum. Check website for further descriptions. Applications are due February 1st.
National Geographic Young Explorers Grants. The Young Explorers Grants Program provides grants to18-25 year olds to help them fund projects in the fields of science, conservation and environmental studies, in major fields of study such as Anthropology, Archaeology, Astronomy, Biology, Geography, Oceanography, and Paleontology.
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Cal students should check with CalJobs, Cal Work-study, and curators/grad students for positions. For future opportunities, Cal students should fill out a "MVZ Undergraduate Application" (get) and submit it to the front office of the MVZ, attention Anna Ippolito (or email it). We will keep these on file and may contact you in the future when new positions become available. Please also see the Berkeley undergraduate research resources website.
