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Volunteers make a difference.
Volunteering makes a difference.


Volunteers on a Herbarium Foray
Volunteers on a Herbarium Foray.
Photo by David Giblin
Become a Volunteer at the Burke Museum!

Volunteers help make the Burke Museum and its programs a success! Volunteer positions at the museum vary from working in research collections to leading school tours to helping with craft activities during public programs. If you are interested in volunteering please fill out our online volunteer application. If you have any questions please contact Brian Richards by phone at (206) 221-7083 or by e-mail at brianr@u.washington.edu.

Job Title: Docent (multiple openings)
Description: Docents make exhibits come alive for museum visitors of all ages. Duties include introducing tour groups to the exhibits and facilitating visitor learning through a combination of discussion and hands-on activities. This is a great opportunity for people interested in teaching in a non-traditional learning environment, and engaging others in an on-going experience with the rich natural and cultural history of Washington State.
Desirable Skills: Enjoy working with children of all ages.
Minimum Requirements: Training consists of observing tours and completing selected brief readings. After training, volunteers must work at least one tour shift per week during the school year.  
Contact: For an application, click here. For more information, please contact Larkin Hood at lnapua@u.washington.edu or (206) 616-4415. Please note that successful applicants will be subject to a background check.

Job Title: Genetic Resources Collection Assistant
Description: The Burke Museum maintains a collection of over 40,000 frozen tissues of wild animals for molecular study. Curatorial assistants help the GRC manager organize and label tissues, and prepare tissues for loans. Volunteers should possess a desire to help contribute to scientific research in biodiversity and evolution, be able to work independently, and have outstanding attention to detail. Prior experience in the biological sciences or with work in a laboratory setting is desirable, but not necessary.
Volunteers must be college age or older and be willing to commit at least 3 hours per week for one year.
Contact: For more information contact Sharon Birks at sbirks@u.washington.edu.

Job Title: Herbarium Volunteer
Description: Assist Herbarium staff with the maintenance and development of the Herbarium's vascular plant, bryophyte (mosses), lichen, and fungal collections. No previous botanical experience is necessary. Attention to detail, sincere interest in contributing time and energy to the collections needs, and the ability to work with people from a variety of backgrounds are required.
Contact: If interested, please contact David Giblin at dgiblin@u.washington.edu or (206) 543-1682.

Job Title: Ornithology Collection Assistant
Description: The Burke Museum maintains a research collection of over 150,000 ornithology specimens. Curatorial assistants help the Ornithology Collection Manager organize, label and photograph specimens among many other tasks. Volunteers should possess a desire to help contribute to scientific research in biodiversity and evolution, be able to work independently, and have outstanding attention to detail. Prior experience in the biological sciences or with work in a laboratory setting is desirable, but not necessary. A general interest in ornithology is important.
Minimum Requirements: Volunteers must be college age or older and be willing to commit at least 3 hours per week for one year.
Contact: For more information contact Rob Faucett at rfaucett@u.washington.edu

Job Title: Spider Collection Assistant
Description: The main task of this volunteer position is labeling, filling, stoppering, and installing vials of preserved spiders but it's really varied with all sorts of clerical, packing/unpacking, and miscellaneous tasks. Some biology background is a plus but the only real requirement is for a careful and precise worker with some interest in the subject who is willing to work in the basement! Participation in field trips is possible if the person is interested, but not required.
Also: If anyone out there is experienced in mounting butterflies, we could use you, too!
Contact: If interested, please contact Brian Richards by phone at (206) 221-7083 or by e-mail at brianr@u.washington.edu.








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Seattle, WA 98195-3010, Phone: 206-543-5590.
On the UW campus at 17th Avenue NE and NE 45th Street.
University of Washington