Undergraduate and Graduate students are a vital part of the Herbarium's organization. Students have the opportunity to work closely with faculty, curators, and collection managers and receive training in plant systematics, museum curation, lab research, and field research.
Work study & non-work study positions
Museum Assistants help with the preparation and shipping of specimens and the processing of incoming specimens through packing and unpacking boxes, help Curators and Collection Managers with special projects that may involve the rearrangement of parts of the collection, editing and updating of digital records, digital imaging of specimens, and library and internet research on plant names. Hours of employment are flexible but must be agreed on at least one week in advance. Students will gain experience in herbarium and museum techniques and insight into the importance of museum collections for studies on plant diversity, ecology, evolution, and classification. Applicants must have a keen eye for detail and order and be able to work carefully and independently. Prior databasing, cataloguing or filing experience is advantageous. An interest in botany or history is not essential, but applicants with such interest may find the job more rewarding. Students must have sufficient time between classes to work off campus (see map). Evenings and weekends are not available. Positions are periodically posted on the UM Student employment website. For further information please contact Michael Ehnis (ehnism@umich.edu)
Graduate Museum Assistant fellowship
The Herbarium currently funds one Graduate Museum Assistant annually. Interested graduate students should contact Chris Dick (cwdick@umich.edu) for further information about this fellowship program.
Kenneth L. Jones Award
Since 1977, this award has been given to the outstanding plant sciences undergraduate. The Kenneth L. Jones Undergraduate Award for excellence in botany was endowed by colleagues, friends, and alumni upon the retirement of Professor Jones and consists principally of a sum to enable the recipient to purchase books or equipment of his or her own choice. Please contact the UM Program in Biology for further information.
