Professional Internship Program

Building Capacity in Plant Biodiversity Conservation and Specimen-based Research

Objective: To provide the intern with practical experience in herbarium operations, enhance their botanical knowledge, and contribute to the herbarium’s collections, research, and outreach activities. The program has 6 stages.

Location: Huye
Hours: Monday – Friday, 8-5 pm. (40 hours per week), 6 months
Supervisor: Dr, Michael B Thomas
Trainers: Pascal Sibomana, Sandrine Uwase, and Anathalie Ingabire
Deliverables: Poster and Oral Presentation on approved topic. Final presentation summarizing internship accomplishments and reflections.

2024 Professional Intern: Yves Ishimwe
A Taxonomic Gap Analysis for the Checklist of Ferns and Lycophytes from Nyungwe National Park, Rwanda.


Month 1: Orientation and Familiarization

  • Goals:
    • Understand the herbarium’s mission, operations, and workflow.
    • Learn basic herbarium techniques and protocols.
    • Initiate passport application.
  • Activities:
    • Orientation of Website and lesson plans
    • Create user accounts for Research Gate, ORCID, Rwanda Biodiversity Specimen data portal
    • Submit resume for review, discuss passport and driver’s license status
    • Tour of herbarium facilities, collection, exsitu nursery, and online taxonomic resources.
    • Orientation on herbarium policies, permits, and ethics.
      Collection Managment Policy (pdf)
      Loan Policy (pdf)
      Destructive Sampling Policy (pdf)
    • Introduction to specimen handling, mounting, labeling, and data entry.
    • Shadow herbarium staff to learn about ongoing projects and research.
      • Review Poster 1
      • Review Poster 2
      • Review Poster 3
      • Review Poster 4
  • Deliverables:
    • Completion of a training checklist for herbarium practices.
    • Initial report on the herbarium work

Month 2: Collection Management

  • Goals:
    • Gain hands-on experience in specimen curation and preservation.
    • Learn about herbarium databases and cataloging.
  • Activities:
    • Assist with specimen mounting, repair, and labeling.
    • Inventory and update records for a specific plant family or region.
    • Digitize herbarium specimens (scanning, photographing, and data entry).
  • Deliverables:
    • Curated and digitized specimens for a designated project or plant group.

Month 3: Fieldwork and Collection

  • Goals:
    • Participate in fieldwork to collect plant specimens.
    • Learn field identification techniques and collection methods.
  • Activities:
    • Assist with planning and logistics for field excursions.
    • Collect, press, and document plant specimens with detailed field notes.
    • Participate in plant identification workshops or field guides’ use.
  • Deliverables:
    • A set of well-documented and preserved specimens from the field.
    • A field report summarizing the collection trip and findings.

Month 4: Research and Taxonomy

  • Goals:
    • Conduct a small research project using herbarium specimens.
    • Develop skills in plant taxonomy and identification.
  • Activities:
    • Identify and classify specimens using keys, literature, and expert guidance.
    • Conduct research on a plant group or ecological question.
    • Attend taxonomy and botanical nomenclature training sessions.
  • Deliverables:
    • A research report or poster summarizing findings and methodologies.
    • Identified and annotated specimens with updated records.

Month 5: Public Engagement and Outreach

  • Goals:
    • Learn how to communicate botanical knowledge to the public.
    • Contribute to the herbarium’s outreach and education initiatives.
  • Activities:
    • Assist with planning and conducting public tours or workshops.
    • Develop educational materials or online content (e.g., blogs, social media posts).
    • Participate in community science initiatives or citizen science projects.
  • Deliverables:
    • An educational product (e.g., poster, brochure, or online article).
    • A presentation for a public or academic audience.

Month 6: Specialization and Final Presentation

  • Goals:
    • Deepen expertise in a specific area of botany or herbarium science.
    • Summarize and present achievements from the internship.
  • Activities:
    • Work on a specialized project (e.g., database improvement, ethnobotanical study, or conservation planning).
    • Compile a portfolio of work completed during the internship.
    • Deliver a final presentation to herbarium staff and peers.
  • Deliverables:
    • A specialized project report or product.
    • Final presentation summarizing internship accomplishments and reflections.

General Responsibilities Throughout Internship

  • Maintain accurate records and documentation of all activities.
  • Adhere to herbarium safety, ethical, and conservation guidelines.
  • Collaborate with staff, researchers, and other interns.

Expected Outcomes

  • Proficiency in herbarium techniques and operations.
  • Enhanced botanical knowledge and field skills.
  • Contribution to the herbarium’s collections, research, and outreach goals.
  • A stronger foundation for future work or study in botany and conservation.