Soil & Insect Biodiversity Operations & Laboratory Internship

This role directly supports the California All-Taxa Biodiversity Inventory (CalATBI) initiatives. For more information on our institutional partner, visit calatbi.org .

Operational Overview

Hokan Bio-repository operates as a critical infrastructure node for the long-term preservation and analysis of pedological and entomological specimens. This internship provides technical support for the systematic archiving of environmental datasets crucial to regional ecological monitoring.

The candidate will execute standardized laboratory protocols to ensure the integrity of the biorepository. The primary objective is to maintain a high-fidelity record of biodiversity markers through rigorous sample management and taxonomic classification support.

Technical Scope

Internship tenure is 12 weeks. Focus areas include soil matrix analysis and macro-invertebrate specimen extraction for the CalATBI database.

Logistics & Scheduling

  • location_on West Berkeley, CA
  • schedule 16–24 hours/week (2–3 days)
  • calendar_today Mon, Thu, or Fri (Flexible times)
  • payments USD $20.00/hr compensation

Primary Responsibilities

01

Soil Processing & Archival

Execution of standardized soil processing workflows, including weighing, homogenization, and moisture content determination. Update internal LIMS with precision metadata.

02

Insect Sample Processing

Extraction of macro-invertebrates from soil cores using Berlese funnel techniques. Cataloguing and preliminary morphospecies identification for biodiversity inventories.

03

Inventory Operations Support

Logistical coordination of regional field sampling expeditions. Maintenance and calibration of laboratory instrumentation and sterile handling equipment.

Laboratory sample preparation
Specimen classification
Organized sample archive