MVZ -- Undergraduate Opportunities in the MVZ

The Museum of Vertebrate Zoology invites UCB undergraduates to get involved! We hold orientations at the beginning of fall and spring semesters, but we accept applications throughout the year. The first step is to fill out a MVZ Undergraduate Application and to send it to our Undergraduate Coordinator, Anna Ippolito.

Are you fascinated by the natural history of birds, mammals, reptiles and/or amphibians?
There are many classes offered through the IB, MCB and ESPM Departments that are taught by the Faculty Curators and Affiliated Faculty of the MVZ. There are even a few seminar series that are run right within the museum!

Do you want to get your foot in the door of a research lab that works on such topics as evolutionary biology and/or animal behavior?

Check out our current projects to read about the kind of research that goes on in the museum. Curators and graduate students within the museum often have positions (volunteer or paid) open for undergraduates to assist them in various forms of research. Check our job opportunities site, as well as CalJobs and the Cal Workstudy site.

Are you interested in vertebrate anatomy and physiology; or just looking for an engaging "hands-on" activity?

The Museum acquires hundreds of salvaged animals each year (as frozen carcasses) which are then processed in the Preparation Lab. Students can work in the Prep Lab by taking a 1-2 unit class that is offered in the Fall and Spring semesters called " General Comparison and Diversity in Vertebrate Anatomy." Students learn how to prepare museum skins, skeletons, and fluid specimens while becoming more familiar with the vertebrate form (inside and out). Please contact Monica J. Albe for more information.

Do you love museums and libraries?

In addition to getting a glimpse of our museum through taking classes, you can learn more about our collections online, search our online database for your favorite animals, read about our history, and see the new directions we're taking in our research and data collections. We have volunteer and paid collections positions open to undergraduates (see our undergraduate listings and read about our Curatorial Assistantships).

Do you love the outdoors? Have you heard about "field work" in biology and want to learn more or get involved?

Students who love the outdoors will find numerous opportunities for hands-on field work in the MVZ. Many of the curators and graduate students in the museum seek field assistance (volunteer or paid), varying in degrees of time commitment and difficulty. In addition, many of the classes offered by museum faculty have field trips included in the curricula.

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 hold orientations for new students at the beginning of each semester. We seek students that have interests that match well with our research and collection activities -- all applicants are welcome. Please see our student positions listings for current openings...

To learn more, read about the experience of one undergraduate that moved on to a PhD program at Harvard University...

MVZ Undergraduate Program