UCSB Aquatic Invertebrate Lab

The responsibilities of being a student volunteer include sorting samples that were taken from sites located at North Campus Open Space, and using a microscope to count and identify various aquatic invertebrate species. Additionally, for two weeks a quarter during sampling season, you will get to go out with other student volunteers/interns and learn how to take samples out in the field! You will take measurements of dissolved oxygen, conductivity, salinity, and more, by using a cool (and expensive!) tool called a YSI meter. Then you will learn our methods of sampling these aquatic sites, observe the live critters that are found, and see how they are preserved. While the majority of being a student volunteer entails lab work, there are also opportunities to pop on some mud boots and get your hands (and sometimes feet) dirty!

Don't be intimidated, especially if this would be your first lab experience! When I first joined the lab, I was nervous that I wasn't qualified enough to be working with these other students, but the truth is that everyone has to start somewhere! You will be taught everything that you need to know, and many of those skills taught are transferable skills that will be helpful to you in future lab work, as well. Your current age doesn't matter, either; first-year or fourth-year, there are students of all levels volunteering at the lab. Overall, if you're interested in gaining experience with species monitoring/identification, sampling, or microscope work, contact us and come try it out!

Hi! My name is Kylie Malone, and I am a second-year Ecology and Evolution Major (or, technically, Pre-Biology). I'm interested in endangered species conservation, and recently I've started looking into restoration ecology. I'm also super into music, games like Stardew Valley, and learning how to cook/bake better!