Volunteering with Mammals

The Division of Mammals has limitless volunteer opportunities!

Who can volunteer?

• people 14 or older
• people younger than 14, if accompanied by a parent or guardian
• college students exploring opportunities in biology
• retirees looking to try something new
• high school students fulfilling internship requirements
• everybody!

What is there to do?

• process incoming mammal specimens, for use in scientific research
• gather materials to be borrowed by researchers
• help manage our dermestarium
• help curate newly acquired collections
• label specimens and learn how to install them into our permanent collection
• enter specimen data into our online database
• and maybe even help with fieldwork!

How much time should I volunteer?

• we request a 60-hour commitment, to be completed within about four months. That works out be about 4 hours per week
• after the 60 hours are complete, volunteers are more than welcome to stick around, with no further commitment
• our staff is available to work with volunteers Tuesday - Friday, 9am - 4pm.
• volunteers should set up a regular schedule, within the above time constraints.

How do I get started?

• fill out this form. A Google account is required.
  
• our staff coordinator will be in touch to arrange next steps.
• if you've never visited before, we’ll arrange a time for you to stop by to get a feel for what we do
• once you're in our system, your volunteering will begin with a training session. UNM students can complete this online, but others will need to complete the trainings in person.
• after that, you will learn as you go!