The Frost Entomological Museum seeks 4 undergraduate summer interns to assist with research projects related to insect biodiversity and evolution. Current projects include:

• Discovering the dragonflies and damselflies (Odonata) of the world. The Frost houses a historically valuable and relatively extensive collection of dragonflies and damselflies, collected primarily by George and Alice Beatty (1950s-1970s). Many specimens remain unprocessed, however, and almost all of their associated data are unavailable to researchers and other people interested in Odonata biology. An intern will help us prepare and image specimens, digitize collecting event data, and organize the collection. Lab work will be supplemented by regular field trips to local collecting sites.
  Helpful skills to have: attention to detail (this is critical!), a passion for natural history, excellent oral and written communication skills (this is critical!), basic computer skills (especially with spreadsheets), sense of adventure.
  Training the intern will receive: insect collecting and preparation methods, specimen handling, natural history collection informatics, nature photography.
• Curating the Frost insect collection. We’ve recently initiated a total re-curation of the roughly two million insects housed in the Frost research collection. An intern will help us assess the condition of the collection (a process called “profiling”) and improve their storage environment. Lab work will be supplemented by regular field trips to local collecting sites, where a broad spectrum of collecting methods will be used to help us grow the collection.
  Helpful skills to have: attention to detail (this is critical!), a passion for natural history, excellent oral and written communication skills (this is critical!), basic computer skills (especially with spreadsheets), sense of adventure.
  Training the intern will receive: insect collecting and preparation methods, specimen handling, natural history collection informatics.
• Evolution of cockroach predation. The Frost currently holds the world’s largest collection of ensign wasps (Evaniidae), which are charismatic predators of cockroach eggs. We are currently in the process of documenting the world biodiversity of these wasps – currently unknown for a vast majority of the world – and describing/naming many new species. An intern will help sort these specimens and move them into proper storage units and will photograph specimens under high resolution. Lab work will be supplemented by regular field trips to local sites to collect and rear ensign wasps.
  Helpful skills to have: attention to detail (this is critical!), a passion for natural history, excellent oral and written communication skills (this is critical!), basic computer skills (especially with spreadsheets), library research techniques (finding papers, interlibrary loan requests, etc.), sense of adventure.
  Training the intern will receive: insect collecting and preparation methods, specimen handling, taxonomy, natural history collection informatics.
• Changing the way we describe biodiversity. Our lab group is developing a new method for documenting biodiversity and describing new species and anatomical systems. An intern will help us refine the approach by linking biodiversity data through a new set of informatics tools. The intern will also help curate voucher specimens, collect specimens for future research, and image specimens under high resolution. The intern will also have an opportunity to learn aspects of 3-dimensional reconstruction.
  Helpful skills to have: attention to detail (this is critical!), excellent oral and written communication skills (this is critical!), basic computer skills (especially with Web tools), a passion for natural history, library research techniques (finding papers, interlibrary loan requests, etc.), sense of adventure, understanding of logic/reasoning/Semantic Web.
  Training the intern will receive: data mining, insect anatomy, insect collecting and preparation methods, specimen handling, taxonomy, natural history collection informatics, nature photography.

Funding is available for part- and full-time employment, depending on the project. Interns can also opt to receive research credit (1 credit for 3 research hours/week; up to 3 credits). These opportunities are available for PSU students as well as those from other institutions.

To apply, please send the following information by March 20 31, 2013:

1. Your résumé, including relevant courses
2. Cover letter describing your research experience, current research interests, and career goals
3. Number of hours you are available to work weekly

Contact info:
Andrew R. Deans, director
Frost Entomological Museum
Department of Entomology
127 Headhouse III
Pennsylvania State University
University Park, PA 16802 USA
adeans@psu.edu

Phone: +1 814 863 2863
FAX: +1 814 865 3048