Volunteer

Support the INHS Mollusk Collection by volunteering your time.  Volunteers provide invaluable support to our researchers and staff.

Why Volunteer?

  • Donate your skills to a valuable community service
  • Gain professional experience & build your resume
  • Explore a career and gain professional references
  • Enhance your education
  • For fun!

Who can volunteer?

We are looking for people with these qualities:

  • Interested in mussels and/or gastropods
  • Detail oriented and able to work independently
  • Willingness to ask questions
  • Ability to follow instructions
  • No prior experience or computer skills necessary

Available volunteering opportunities:

  • Performing maintenance tasks, such as:
    • Replacing failing curation materials (to read more about our issues with failing vial stoppers click here)
    • Cutting felt for our archival boxes
    • Shifting and shelving specimens
  • Databasing uncatalogued specimens
  • Photographing catalogued material
  • Assisting with specimen identification and curation

When and where:

  • Our collection is located in the Forbes Natural Resources Building at 1816 S. Oak Street in Champaign, Illinois.
  • There is metered parking available just south of our building.
  • We can accommodate volunteers most business days between 9a – 5p.

Contact Rachel Vinsel (rvinsel2@illinois.edu) for more details.