California Insect Survey & DNA Barcoding
Peter Oboyski, Sr. Museum Scientist
Essig Museum of Entomology
Applications for Spring 2024 are closed for this project.
The Essig Museum, in collaboration with other several California institutions, is building a DNA barcode reference library for all species of insects in the state. This includes extracting DNA from identified museum specimens as well as collecting fresh specimens from around the state. The end goal is to develop a rapid identification application using DNA.
Role: The museum apprentice will help select specimens from the museum collection, pull legs for sequencing, and capture label data. For field collected specimens, the apprentice will help sort specimens to order. Opportunities for local fieldwork are possible.
Qualifications: Students with experience handling and identifying insects (eg. ESPM 140 General Entomology class) preferred.
Hours: 9-11 hrs
Biological & Health Sciences Engineering, Design & Technologies