Student Diagnostician

 **If you are interested in applying to this position, you will need to attend an information session for the Campus internEXP program to qualify. Please register for an information session. Once you have viewed/attended a session, you will gain access to apply within 2 business days.**

The Virginia Tech Insect Identification Laboratory (VTIIL) was founded in 1967 to support Virginia Cooperative Extension agents, volunteers, and collaborators in identifying and treating problem pests in both agriculture and people’s daily lives. We identify insects submitted by people all over Virginia, provide recommendations for whether they should be controlled or appreciated, and support educational programs with K-12 students and the general public. Current projects include Museums in Miniature, which provides displays and educational materials for 100 common insects to schools, libraries, and agent offices, invasive species surveys, urban entomology education for pest control agents, and designing 4-H programs to encourage kids to look for and appreciate insects. Because we are an Extension lab that assesses insects and their kin as a whole rather than focusing on a specific topic, diagnosticians are encouraged to pursue their own interests and share their findings in posters, presentations, workshops, and Extension publications. 

The student diagnostician will work with the VTIIL manager and laboratory staff to assist in daily functions, including but not limited to specimen preparation, identification, diagnostic recommendations, client support, and networking with VCE professionals and volunteers while pursuing Extension program development and field studies.

Position Overview:

• This paid internship ($16/hr) is for the Spring 2027 semester, with the potential for continuance contingent on funding availability
• Intern will work 8-12 hours per week at a schedule set at the beginning of the semester. These hours will be flexible with proper notice. Hours will fall between 8 and 5 PM Monday-Friday with the opportunity to work weekend events if interested
• Training will be provided on insect identification, curation, field and laboratory safety and techniques, and science communication
• Position is on-site on the main campus in Blacksburg with the opportunity for travel
• Dress for your day policy (casual most days, but close toed shoes are required for laboratory work)

Job Description:

• Curate and digitize insect specimens for use in natural history and educational applications
• Participate in weekly lab meetings to discuss project progress, current literature, and contribute to lab community
• Collect data on the proficiency of mirror balls for insect sampling
• Collaborate with lab personnel on Extension publications, presentations, and cross-disciplinary projects

Required Qualifications:

• Ability to safely complete field work which may include walking in difficult terrain, exposure to weather conditions typical of Virginia, and carrying 10-15 lbs

Preferred Qualifications:

• CALS or CNRE student at Virginia Tech
• Experience with dichotomous keys
• Experience with publication software (InDesign, Photoshop, Canva, Adobe Acrobat, etc)

The VTIIL is led by Dr Pat Wooden, who recently joined the faculty in March 2026. The previous lab manager and diagnostician regularly volunteer in the lab, and there is one wage diagnostician and two undergraduate students currently employed, bringing our grand total to six. We are a diverse and team-oriented group, with a variety of interests including wetlands, woodboring beetles, pollinator health, parasitoid wasps, and parasites. If there is something neat under the microscope, everyone gathers around to see it. We regularly have walk-in clients that span from VCE agents to state agencies and the public, so there is always something new to look forward to. We participate in numerous Extension and outreach events, including Entomological Society of America meetings, Hokie BugFest, and library and school events. Some days are for curation, others for sampling insects for a lab member’s project, and some for trying out a craft we’d like to take to a children’s event. The lab is currently undergoing a renovation, so we are hoping that spring will also bring a new lab environment that we can claim as our own.   

The intern will work for the Insect ID Lab Manager, who has worked on a wide variety of arthropods, including millipedes, wetland specialists, and mountaintop endemics across four states (Louisiana, Virginia, Mississippi, and South Carolina). Dr Wooden is project manager for Museums in Miniature, a regional outreach program that provides insect displays and educational materials to teachers, Extension agents, and librarians to utilize in their own programming. She has worked in five museums, served as an environmental scientist and inspector for Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality, and maintains a windowsill of houseplants in the lab. As lab manager, Dr Wooden strives to have plans A, B, and C at the ready and eagerly supports lab personnel in their interests and professional development.

The Insect Identification Laboratory is active in the department, CALS, Virginia Cooperative Extension, and the Entomological Society of America. The student will have the opportunity to present their work to stakeholders, participate in Extension and outreach activities with laboratory staff, and be a part of an active service laboratory. This position will train the intern in field and laboratory work, curation, insect taxonomy, and public engagement. There is opportunity for the intern to pursue their own interests as they relate to the lab’s Extension mission while being supported by the lab manager, staff, and volunteers.