Established with the aim of increasing the outreach of Florida Museum programs across the UF campus, this internship award program seeks to support undergraduate students by facilitating their work on museum-based internship projects.
Internships are to be focused on gaining experience in collections work, laboratory analysis,and/or fieldwork. Awards supporting up to 80 hours of work during one semester will be funded.
Eligibility:
Undergraduate students, including graduating seniors, enrolled at the University of Florida who can demonstrate how their involvement will expand the museum’s reach.
Students should not have had previous paid museum experience* or been in this internship before. Prior voluntary service does not disqualify.
* Conducting research, field work or outreach
Application Deadline:
The application for Fall 2025 will open on April 23rd and close on May 18th at midnight.
Awardee Agreement:
Successful Awardees will meet with their mentor and agree on project activities and work schedule soon after the start of classes. A progress report and summary, including project-related photos, will due near the end of the semester. Students will also be expected to give a lightning talk presentation about their internship experience.
Please review these examples of recent project reports of students in the program.
FMUIP_Report_Fall23_David_Cagle
Internship Report_SHS Sacha Sides
Application Procedure:
Before applying, please review the application to familiarize with the questions and all necessary information. Student without prior museum experience and those with previous unpaid museum experience are encouraged to apply. Students will select from a list of available projects (see below).
Once you have your information ready, click “Apply here”. Please note that we only accept applications submitted via UF qualtrics at the following link PLEASE DO NOT EMAIL YOUR APPLICATION
If you have any questions about this internship, please email fmuip@floridamuseum.ufl.edu
Funding for this internship program was provided by the Department of Natural History, Department of Exhibits and Public Programs, and iDigBio.
Fall 2025 Museum Internship Projects
Project mentor: Nicolas Gauthier
Lab/Collection: AI for Bio/Cultural Diversity
Project Description:The AI in Bio/Cultural Diversity lab is looking for creative students who want to learn how to use supercomputers to study our species’ role in Earth’s past, present, and future. We make maps and models of how climate, environment, and society interact, focusing on topics like food production, biodiversity, pandemics, warfare, and cultural evolution. Current projects include research on past societies of the US Southwest, Mexico, Tibet, and Mediterranean, but regional focus is open to student interests.
Skills needed: Creativity and an interest in archaeology, climatology, or biodiversity. No experience required.
Skills to be gained: Students will gain experience working with maps and spatial data using applications like Google Earth and develop basic coding skills for analyzing and visualizing spatial data.
Semester: Spring, Summer, Fall
Project mentor: Nicolas Gauthier, Ashley Rutkoski
Lab/Collection: AI for Bio/Cultural Diversity
Project Description: This internship offers students an introduction to artificial intelligence applications in archaeology, specifically focusing on computer vision techniques. Students will learn the complete workflow of developing a computer vision model through hands-on experience with archaeological materials. Students will capture high-quality digital images of archaeological materials, learn image processing procedures, gain experience annotating images, and develop a basic understanding of model training and evaluation. This opportunity is specifically designed for students interested in learning how new technologies can enhance archaeological research.
Skills needed: Completion of an introductory course in archaeology is required. Attention to detail and the ability to work independently are essential. Prior experience working in python or R would be highly desired, if not strictly required.
Skills to be gained: Students will learn basic principles of collecting data for computer AI applications and introduction to common software tools used in computer vision research.
Semester: Fall
Project Mentor: Andrea Torvinen, Ashley Rutkoski, Neill Wallis
Lab/Collection: Ceramic Technology Lab
Project Description: Archaeological Pottery Analysis Internship: Students will gain hands-on experience with pottery analysis, specifically learning to inventory and record vessel information from sherds found at sites located along the Northern Gulf Coast. Students will be tasked with a variety of responsibilities, including recording metric attributes of pottery sherds, drawing vessel profiles, managing data in Excel, photographing artifacts, and editing images for an online reference collection. This internship is designed to introduce students to basic ceramic analyses and show how this information can be used to inform our understanding of past communities.
Skills Needed: Completion of an introductory course in archaeology is required. Attention to detail and the ability to work independently are essential. Previous experience with photography or Excel are a huge plus but not required.
Skills to be Gained: Students will gain hands-on experience working in Excel, collecting measurements with calipers, drawing artifacts, taking photos with Nikon SLR camera, and using Gimp photo editing software. Overall, they will develop basic data management, analysis, and digital documentation skills that can be applied to other areas of interest.
Semester: Fall
Project Mentor: Zachary Randall
Lab/Collection: Digital Imaging
Project Description: Are you interested in photography, 3D tech, and museum collections? Join the Digital Imaging team to help create 3D photogrammetry models of specimens from the Florida Museum’s biological collections. These models will be used in UF courses like Wildlife of Florida and shared publicly on platforms like Sketchfab to support teaching and outreach. Photogrammetry uses 2D photographs to build highly detailed 3D models with realistic textures—combining creativity with cutting-edge technology. As an intern, you’ll work hands-on with museum specimens and learn the full process of producing and publishing 3D models.
Skills Needed: An interest in museum collections, photography, and 3D modeling—no need for prior experience.
Skills to be Gained: Digital photography techniques, 3D model reconstruction using photogrammetry software, 2D and 3D image processing, how to safely handle museum specimens, how to manage and share digital models online.
Semester: Fall
Project Mentor: Zachary Randall
Lab/Collection: Digital Imaging
Project Description: Are you interested in science communication, digital media, or fish diversity? This internship offers a hands-on opportunity to help design an online gallery for the museum’s Ichthyology (fishes) Division. The gallery will highlight the incredible diversity of fish species using already created 2D and 3D media, along with informative descriptions of diagnostic features. As an intern, you’ll work closely with the museum’s communications and imaging teams to help bring this project to life.
Skills Needed: No previous experience is necessary—just curiosity and attention to detail
Skills to be Gained: How to build and manage a website using WordPress, skills in science outreach and digital storytelling, organizing and curating digital content for public audiences.
Semester: Fall
Project Mentor: Nicole Fuller, Rob Robins
Lab/Collection: Environmental Archaeology Program/Ichthyology
Project Description: The Florida Museum’s Ichthyology and Environmental Archaeology Program (EAP) collection have cross-cataloged and share access to roughly 6,000 skeletal specimens of modern fishes. An additional 1000 fish specimens are catalogued solely in the EAP database. These fish specimens are useful as reference material for scientists, visiting researchers, and students from many scientific fields. With the EAP collection newly in the museum-wide database (Specify), this project will extend the barcoding work already begun in the fluid-preserved Ichthyology collection to these important, often used reference materials. The advantages of “barcoding” include but are in not limited to: establishing a functioning inventory system – which almost no natural history collections possess, real-time location and use tracking of collection objects, and the potential to utilize valuable collection space more efficiently. The project will also include necessary data standardization in the EAP Specify database, including updating and correlating taxonomic classifications with the Ichthyology collection, and updating of specimen containers.
Skills Needed: None
Skills to be Gained: Hands-on experience in the curation and management of museum collections, database management, knowledge of basic fish taxonomy.
Semester: Fall
Project Mentor: Alan Franck, Lucas Majure
Lab/Collection: Herbarium (Botany)
Project Description: Digitizing the plant diversity of the world – To understand plant diversity and target conservation needs, the herbarium is digitizing its collection of about a half-million specimens. Priorities include specimens from the Neotropics, Paleotropics, historic sets from the 1850s-1970s, bryophytes, and lichens. We have a very unique collection, some of which needs meticulous curatorial work. Students can focus on a particular collection, plant group, or geographic area of interest. Remote work may be possible for bryophyte or lichen projects.
Skills Needed: Interest in plant diversity
Skills to be Gained: Curation and digitization of plant specimens, including databasing, photography, mounting, and filing, as well as various interesting tidbits about plant species that we work with.
Semester: Spring, Summer, Fall
Project Mentor: Coleman Sheehy
Lab/Collection: Herpetology Collection
Project Description: The FM Herpetology Collection contains reptile and amphibian specimens from about 75% of all countries in the world, and the preparation types include ethanol-preserved specimens, dry/skeletal specimens, photographs, tissue samples, cleared and stained specimens, and others. Student interns will assist in diverse projects involving data checking, data collection, specimen curation and preparation, inventorying, and database management of the herpetology collection. This internship is a great opportunity for students to gain valuable experience in museum specimen curation and database management in one of the top 10 largest herpetology research collections in the country.
Skills Needed: Attention to detail, organizational skills, an interest in reptile and amphibian diversity, and an interest in museum curation.
Skills to be Gained: Knowledge and experience in global reptile and amphibian diversity, taxonomy, and biology; museum specimen preparation and curation; and database management of museum specimens.
Semester: Spring, Fall
Project Mentor: Kelsey Fenner, Edward Stanley
Lab/Collection: Herpetology
Project Description: With nearly 1800 species, skinks represent about a quarter of all lizard species and are one of the most diverse families of terrestrial vertebrates. They are found on nearly every landmass outside of the polar regions and inhabit almost all habitat types from the arid deserts to dense tropical rain forests. Skinks are morphologically diverse with a wide array of unique anatomical features. These include some species with strong grasping feet and prehensile tails adapted for an arboreal lifestyle and others that have completely lost their limbs and reside in subterranean tunnels that they dig with their heads. In this project we will be exploring the relationship between ecology, anatomy, and phylogenetic history to investigate how they influence the shape of an animal’s body. To do this we will be using micro-CT scans which allow us to digitally dissect museum specimens of a wide variety of species from all over the world. The student intern will help collect anatomical data from pre-processed scans, and potentially do some processing of scans themselves. This will be a great opportunity for students looking to learn more about subjects such as comparative anatomy, herpetology, and digital imaging.
Skills Needed: None
Skills to be Gained: Processing, visualizing, and presenting CT scan data, learning about anatomy, morphology, and ecology of lizards. Data management, writing skills, and potentially presenting research findings.
Semester: Spring, Summer, Fall
Project Mentor: Giffor Waters, Charles Cobb
Lab/Collection: Historical Archaeology
Project Description: Students will assist with the cataloging and processing of archaeological soil samples and 1/16” screen samples from a variety of sites in St. Augustine, FL. Tasks will include creating an inventory of 1/16” screen and soil samples in legacy collections from St. Augustine, FL, and processing soil samples into heavy and light fractions using a flotation machine.
Skills Needed: Attention to detail, ability to follow directions. Interest in working with archaeological collections desired, but not required.
Skills to be Gained: Hands-on experience working with museum archaeological collections and associated documentation, experience in archaeological soil processing methods, and experience in collections management practices related to critical museum space needs.
Semester: Fall
Project Mentor: John Slapcinsky
Lab/Collection: Invertebrate Zoology
Project Description: Land snails and other non-marine mollusks have the highest extinction rates among animal groups, yet their diversity remains understudied. This project will involve gathering and digitizing morphological data from museum collections of land snails for comparative analysis. The collected digital data will be crucial for describing new species and enhancing our understanding of invertebrate diversity. This resource will also support future research in evolutionary biology, morphology, and conservation.
Skills Needed: Interest in invertebrate diversity, museum collections, dissection, and photography.
Skills to be Gained: Hands-on experience in curating museum collections, gathering morphological data through measurements, photography, and dissection, as well as insight into scientific documentation and species analyses.
Semester: Spring, Summer, Fall
Project Mentor: Edward Stanley, Akito Kawahara, Ana Isabel Lopez Cacacho
Lab/Collection: McGuire Center for Lepidoptera and Biodiversity
Project Description: This project aims to develop a CT-scan methodology to detect alkaloids in collection specimens. We will use the Bella moth as a model organism, given that it metabolizes, sequesters and utilizes Pyrrolizidine Alkaloids from it food plants. This approach will contribute to the identification of the specific organs and tissues where alkaloids are being sequestered without dissection, simplifying the process and reducing the need for specialized expertise. This new non-invasive methodology will contribute to new discoveries in alkaloid research across diverse species in museum collections.
Skills Needed: Previous knowledge of general biology and entomology
Skills to be Gained: Understanding of the general principles of CT-scanning, knowledge of CT-scanning data acquisition and reconstruction, Lepidoptera anatomy and plant-moth interaction knowledge, critical thinking, and attention to detail
Semester: Spring, Fall, Summer
Project Mentor: Keith Willmott
Lab/Collection: McGuire Center for Lepidoptera and Biodiversity
Project Description: Butterflies are one of the best studied groups of insects, yet in a number of tropical groups the true diversity of species and their relationships remain poorly understood. This lack of understanding hinders research on broader questions about species evolution, ecology and conservation. Researchers at the McGuire Center for Lepidoptera and Biodiversity are using DNA barcoding, a method involving the sequencing of a short, usually diagnostic region of DNA, to better understand diversity in complex groups of species. Students will learn methods for extracting and amplifying DNA and analyzing the resulting sequences, and apply the data to make inferences about species diversity. Students will also gain a deeper understanding of the process of taxonomy, the science of classifying organisms. Work will be based in the molecular lab at the McGuire Center and lab procedures will require students minimally to be able to work in the lab for several hours on each of two consecutive days each week. Students will also be expected to complete several online training courses to comply with environmental health and safety requirements.
Skills Needed: Responsible attitude towards working in a shared lab space, including punctuality, respecting lab rules and etiquette, ability to carefully record notes, ability to perform repeated tasks with care and precision, inquiring mind.
Skills to be Gained: Experience working in a multi-user molecular laboratory; practical experience in DNA extraction, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) methods, gel electrophoresis; improved understanding of approaches to taxonomy, the science of classifying organisms and studying organismal diversity
Semester: Spring, Summer, Fall
Project mentor: Megan Ennes
Lab/Collection: Museum Education Research Group
Project Description: This project will conduct a social network analysis of museum educators’ sense of community. We will conduct a survey and interviews to identify connections across the museum education field to better understand how community is built. The student will assist with survey development, interviews, data analysis, and manuscript writing.
Skills needed: Organization, self-motivation, time management
Skills to be gained: survey development, interviewing, data analysis, academic writing
Semester: Spring, Fall
Project Mentor: Megan Fry
Lab/Collection: Cheshire’s and SCR
Project Description: The intern will assist the NAGPRA Coordinator to document and research object histories for NAGPRA eligible ethnographic collections toward the submission of reports to National NAGPRA and Tribal partners. They will assist with 1) digitization of museum collection records for cultural objects, 2) research the history of the collections including their acquisition, use in exhibits, use in research, 3) assist in the preparation of official NAGPRA documentation and reporting, and 4) research potential cultural affiliations for objects in the collection.
Skills Needed: Attention to detail, ability to follow instructions, highly organized. Knowledge of Native American history and material culture. Interest in working with archaeological and ethnographic collections toward a career in NAGPRA repatriation desired.
Skills to be Gained: Knowledge of the legal and ethical practices toward repatriation of cultural objects under NAGPRA. Knowledge of duty of care for Native American cultural objects. Hands on experience working on collections with complex histories. Skills to research and document cultural objects (e.g., object descriptions and photography).
Semester: Fall
Project Mentor: Steven R. Manchester
Lab/Collection: Paleobotany
Project Description: The project will focus on fossil leaves and seeds from Paleocene or Eocene (50 to 60 million years old) sites in Wyoming and North Dakota, helping with the identification of the plant types represented. We wish to infer past climatic conditions indicated by the fossils. The project will include macrophotography, adobe photoshop experience, analysis of micro-CT scanning datasets, and literature research.
Skills Needed: Interest in geology and/or Botany
Skills to be Gained: proficiency with photography and image processing
Semester: Fall
Project Mentor: Hongshan Wang
Lab/Collection: Paleobotany
Project Description: The Eocene Claiborne Group (50–38 million years before present) from southeast Unites States yields abundant well-preserved fossil plants. Many research papers have been generated based on these fossils to investigate paleoclimate, paleo-phytogeography, diversity and evolution of various plant groups, the diversity, paleo phytogeography. These plant fossils, especially those compressed leaves, also record past plant-animal interactions through insect-damaged leaves. Studying these insect-damaged leaves can help us understand past plant-insect interactions, herbivore richness in the paleoecosystems, paleoclimate changes, and paleoclimate changes. However, no research papers studying these insect-damages leaves have been published. In the project, students will work on a selected locality to sort the fossil leaves into different morphotypes based on their morphology, describe these leaves using a guide (e.g., Manual of Leaf Architecture by Ellis et al.), describe insect damage types (DTs) using the guide developed by a group of paleobotanists/paleoentomologists from the National Museum of Natural History, and photograph these fossils. The result will be a paper documenting the diversity of plant fossils, insect damage types, and their relationships in a scientific journal..
Skills Needed: Experience working with digital camera, experience using Photoshop, and background in botany/zoology are helpful, but not required.
Skills to be Gained: Hands-on experience in curatorial activities museum collections. Learning about morphology, taxonomy, and systematics of fossil plants. Writing skills as a co-author on a manuscript. Presentation skills on scientific research.
Semester: Spring/Fall
Project Mentor: Lungelo Khanyile, Nico Cellinese
Lab/Collection: Cellinese Lab
Project Description: This project aims to unravel the evolutionary history of African flora by using Monopsis (Campanulaceae) genus as a model clade to investigate patterns of diversification, speciation, and ecological niche shifts across sub-Saharan Africa. By integrating phylogenetic reconstruction based on nuclear genome data (target sequencing), divergence time estimation, biogeographic analyses, population genetics, and ecological niche modeling, the study seeks to uncover how major geological and climatic events such as the uplifts of southern African escarpments and Benguela current, might have influenced the distribution and evolution of African flora. This research will play a significant role in the understanding of African plant evolution and provide critical insights for biodiversity conservation in the face of ongoing aridification.
Skills Needed: Interests in molecular analyses
Skills to be Gained: DNA extraction, Gel electrophoresis, Library preparations, and Bioinformatic analyses.
Semester: Spring, Fall
Project mentor: Jerald Pinson
Lab/Collection: Science Communication
Project Description: In this internship, a student will select from a list of topics on specimen collections or research at the Florida Museum of Natural History and write an article about it for a broad audience, to be published on the museum’s science news page (https://www.floridamuseum.ufl.edu/science/). Alternatively, the intern may suggest their own topic, so long as it is related to the museum. This internship will be most suitable for students considering a career in science communication or students in STEM majors who would like to sharpen their communication skills. The intern will be expected to work with museum staff to develop the story’s content. This includes interviewing faculty and research staff to obtain background information and quotes for the story. The intern will also coordinate with museum photographers to create media that will accompany the story. The final product will be an article published online with the student’s by-line.
Skills needed: Strong interest in natural history and a willingness to learn, write, and try out new creative methods.
Skills to be gained: Science writing, editing, AP style, interviewing, fact checking, science interpretation.
Semester: Fall
Project Mentor: Jen Green
Lab/Collection: South Florida Archaeology
Project Description:Students will assist with assessing archaeological museum collections to meet NAGPRA compliance deadlines for sites located in southern Florida. Tasks will include inventorying and recording artifact collections and digitizing site documents to create site summaries for federal compliance efforts.
Skills Needed: No previous experience is necessary, but the work requires respectful handling of Native American objects of cultural patrimony and various museum documents. An ideal candidate will have attention to detail and ability to follow directions. Interest in working with archaeological collections desired, but not required.
Skills to be Gained: Hands-on experience working with museum archaeological collections and associated documentation, experience in identifying and describing archaeological artifacts/Indigenous cultural materials, and experience in repatriation efforts.
Semester: Spring
Project mentor: Jonathan Bloch, Arthur Porto
Lab/Collection: Vertebrate Paleontology
Project Description: We propose hiring an intern to sort and prepare Paleocene and Eocene vertebrate paleontology specimens from the Florida Museum’s collection for imaging and image dataset annotation. This project will involve selecting representative specimens, assisting with 3D imaging using CT technology, and organizing data for AI-based analysis. The internship will offer valuable exposure to vertebrate paleontology, state-of-the-art imaging techniques, and AI applications in scientific research, providing a comprehensive hands-on learning experience. This effort will enhance the museum’s digital collections and contribute to ongoing research into past biodiversity and functional morphology.
Skills needed: enthusiasm
Skills to be gained: Vertebrate morphology and AI experience
Semester: Spring, Fall
Intern Testimonials
“An invaluable opportunity to familiarize yourself with careers in scientific fields that often go unnoticed, gain research experience with a supportive mentor, and overall a great way to gain new experiences you might not receive anywhere else”
“My internship experience was a valuable one. I was able to gain hands on experience in artifact preservation and the techniques and measures taken to maintain cultural artifact collections. I had fun too and was able to meet new friends and mentors that will go beyond this experience.”
“This internship gave me a chance to gain a better understanding about the processes to acquire new items for collection and the work done to care for a collection”
The Florida Museum Undergraduate Internship Program (FMUIP) Committee organizes the internship program.
The Florida Museum Undergraduate Internship Program Committee:
Shyla Davidson (iDigBio member)
Jen Green (NH member)
Steve Manchester (NH chair)
Mariela Pajuelo (NH member)
Jerald Pinson (NH member)
Alberto Lopez Torres (EPP member)
Julian Correa (NH graduate student member)
Past Committee Members
Charlie Cobb (2021 – 2022)
Adania Flemming (2020 – 2022)
Nicole Fuller (2019 – 2022)
Lilian Hendricks (2020 – 2021)
Amy Hester (EPP member)
Bill Keegan (2021 – 2022)
Taliesin Kinser (2020 – 2022)
Michelle LeFebvre (2019 – 2022)
Gil Nelson (iDigBio member)
Larry Page (2022 – 2023)
Juliette Rubin (2022 – 2023)
Caroline Storer (2019 – 2022)
Shamindri Tennakoon (2020 – 2021)