2026 Internship Opportunities

Students will have the opportunity to assist with curatorial work and research in the Princeton Bird Collection, a remarkable collection of approximately 6,000 taxidermy bird specimens that will move to a new facility in Briger Hall in 2026. Working alongside postdoctoral researchers, students will help update and organize the collection, creating a state-of-the-art, geo-referenced inventory of specimens in the process. Students will also have the opportunity to assist with hands-on research, including advanced 3D imaging of specimens, and will help design outreach and education activities for the Princeton University community and beyond.

Students will learn what it takes to be a curator of a museum specimen collection, gaining skills in: caring for taxidermy specimens, organizing specimens according to modern taxonomic and phylogenetic methods, creating an online inventory and database of specimens, and supporting novel, specimen-based research. Students will work each day in the Briger Hall Princeton Bird Collection, supervised by postdoctoral researchers with extensive experience working in museum collections.

At the end of the summer, students will have a rich understanding of how specimen collections are organized and maintained. Students will have gained experience working with historic bird specimens, creating a detailed online inventory, working with a team, and assisting with cutting-edge research that makes use of museum specimens.

We seek risking sophomores and juniors (and, in rare occasions, seniors) with a strong interest in ecology, evolution, conservation and the environment. Coursework in ecology and/or evolution preferred. Students with an interest in website design, computer vision/AI and photography are also encouraged to apply, as projects could be developed with these skills in mind.

Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail are required. Strong communication skills and the ability to work with a team are essential. Students with a keen interest in birds, working with museum specimens and archival/curatorial work are encouraged to apply.

• Students will meet with internship mentors in the spring, prior to the internship start date. Reading materials may also be provided.
• Students are responsible for securing accommodations for the duration of their internship. On-campus summer housing is typically available the first week of June until the first week of August (details to become available in Spring 2026). If the internship falls outside of on-campus housing availability, students will need to secure alternate housing.