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Student Resources

One of the major objectives of the Cofrin Arboretum Center for Biodiversity is to provide opportunities for students to gain hands-on experience in applied conservation and research. Several programs are designed to create win-win situations for UW-Green Bay students and the regional community: students gain work experience and funding to support their education, while people of Wisconsin and nearby states gain access to better information about their environment.

Student Internships

The Richter Museum, Herbarium, and Cofrin Arboretum employ part-time student interns to assist with cataloging and care of specimens, developing outreach materials, data management, field monitoring, and other tasks associated with day-to-day operations. UW-Green Bay students are invited to apply by sending a brief letter or email message to Dr. Robert Howe, Dept. of Natural and Applied Sciences, University of Wisconsin-Green Bay, Green Bay, WI 54311-7001. The letter or email should contain your name, mailing address, the months when you will be available to work (including summer), and a brief description of your educational background and experience in biology.

Graduate Assistantships

Competitive graduate research assistantships are available for work with the Biodiversity Center through the Environmental Science and Policy Graduate Program at UW-Green Bay. These awards include a monthly stipend during the academic year for a variety of projects associated with the Center for Biodiversity. Eligible students must be working toward their Master's degree under the supervision of an Environmental Science and Policy faculty member. For information about applying visit the web site of the Environmental Science and Policy Graduate Program.

Cofrin Research Awards

Thanks to a generous endowment from the family of Dr. David Cofrin and the late John Cofrin, annual awards are available for student research on the Cofrin Arboretum and UW-Green Bay natural areas. Students carry out a field project in collaboration with a UW-Green Bay faculty member and present results in an Annual Research Symposium, held during mid-spring. Funding ranges from $500 - $1000 and can be used for a student stipend, field equipment, or research supplies. Students interested in applying should contact a faculty member in the area of interest and design a brief (2-5 page) proposal containing an introduction (with literature review), objective, proposed methods, and anticipated outcomes of the work. Proposals for the year 2008 must be submitted online. More information is available at the grant website.

Point au Sauble Research Awards

A gift from the Fox River Group, a consortium of seven companies from the Fox River Valley, has provided annual funding for field research at the Point Sauble Nature Preserve near the UW-Green Bay Campus. Acquisition of the Preserve was made possible by The Nature Conservancy, a private, nonprofit organization whose mission is to conserve biodiversity through protection of ecologically significant natural areas. Funding is awarded to students for work on field projects directed by UW-Green Bay faculty and staff. The application deadline for Point Sauble Field Research Awards is the first Monday in April. Students are encouraged to contact faculty or staff field researchers for more information about ongoing projects and to find out how to apply.

NAS Heirloom Plant Sale Grants for Student Travel, Student Research, and Speakers

The Heirloom Plant Sale arose out of need to provide funds for student research projects as well as to bring in speakers so that students could hear other perspectives on scientific research. The funds raised are used to provide an opportunity for students to meet and hear a diversity of perspectives and learn about latest research. All profits from the sale are used to directly benefit educational opportunities.

Heirloom funds provide grants in 3 different categories: student travel grants, student research grants, and speaker grants.


Independent Studies

UW-Green Bay students can obtain academic credit for independent field research or internships. Eligible projects may be part of the programs described above, or they may be unfunded work designed under the guidance of a faculty member. Students are typically required to invest approximately 2 hours per week for each academic credit. Application forms for independent study projects or internships are available from the Registrar's Office and are described in the course catalogs for the undergraduate and graduate academic programs.


Career Opportunities

Many professional careers involve biodiversity either directly or indirectly. Applied fields like agriculture, wildlife management, fisheries management, forestry, and parks management deal with native plants and animals on a day-to-day basis. In the field of education, teachers and naturalists have opportunities to incorporate biodiversity into classroom exercises and field trips. Conservation biology, the science of preserving biodiversity, enlists researchers, lawyers, government policy experts, fundraisers, and people from numerous other occupations. See the jobs pages for current listings.

Biodiversity Topics: Introduction . Plants . Animals . Mammals . Birds . Reptiles & Amphibians . Arthropods . Spiders . Insects

© 2001-2004 The Cofrin Center for Biodiversity and the University of Wisconsin Green Bay, All Rights Reserved
Last updated on October 1, 2007