BEE AND WASP SQUAD INTERNSHIP PROGRAM
2023 APPLICATIONS ARE NOW OPEN!
The Toth Lab (www.tothlab.org) at Iowa State University, supported by funding from the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, is pleased to announce the continuation of our new internship program to support undergraduate student involvement in social insect research.
The goal of the program is to provide students from historically excluded and underrepresented populations with opportunities for in-depth, paid research experiences, and to build a career-goal supporting relationship to the pollinator research community at Iowa State University. The research will center around the behavior, health, and nutrition of bees and wasps in agricultural and prairie habitats in Iowa.
Activities: Students will assist members of the Toth lab and ISU Bee Team with field and laboratory based research and develop their own independent research project. Activities may include: travel to regional field sites, honey beekeeping, wild bee field collection and specimen preparation, bee identification, behavioral observations, pollen specimen processing, microdissections, DNA/RNA extractions, PCR, data entry, statistical analysis. Students will be closely mentored and encouraged to present at local/regional conferences, and continue bee/wasp education through ISU-based coursework and involvement in pollinator research at ISU.
Hours and pay: $5000 of salary distributed across the summer, (approximately 2-3 months of full time work), but scheduling/hours may be flexible to accommodate students’ schedules. We will also provide $200 to each student for purchase of field apparel/gear (protective veil, gloves, boots, etc.).
When it will take place: The main activities will take place in summer 2023, with the possibility of continued work in future semesters/summers. We anticipate making 3 awards this year.
Who may apply: Any currently enrolled ISU undergraduate, regardless of year of study, major, GPA, etc. Priority will be given to students from historically excluded and underrepresented populations in biology (minoritized, low income, or first generation).
How to apply: Prepare (1) one-page letter stating your unique qualifications or interests, (2) resume or curriculum vitae, and (3) names (with job titles and affiliations) of two references. Email to amytoth@iastate.edu with the subject line “ISU BEE SQUAD Application” by Feb 17, 2023. If you wish, in your letter you may self-identify as a member of a historically excluded or underrepresented population.
There are three positions available for 2023, and the decision on who will be awarded the internships will be announced by , 2022. Email questions to amytoth@iastate.edu.
PROGRAM LOGO BY 2021 BEE SQUAD INTERN BEE KLAHS