Tell us a little about you. 

Desiree: My name is Desiree Simental. I will be starting my fourth year at UCSD, and I am studying ecology, behavior, and evolution. I am doing my apprenticeship in the Entomology Department.  

Lynna: I’m Lynna Thai and I study ecology and evolutionary biology as a part of Yale’s class of 2027. My apprenticeship is with the Botany Department. 

What are you working on this summer? 

Desiree: This summer I am helping sort insects collected from the field by one of our entomologists, Eva, into their taxonomic orders using a microscope. The insects I’m organizing are part of a project that is creating DNA barcodes for each species. Genetic, or DNA, barcoding is when DNA is extracted from each specimen so that we can create a library full of genetic information that will never expire.  

Sometimes I also prepare specimens that will be transported to the wet collection, which are collections that contain specimens in ethanol-filled vials or jars.  

I also help our Entomology Project Assistant, Christiana, organize the marine invertebrate collections. Mainly, I log the genus and species of each vial or box contained in each drawer and double-check each specimen to make sure they are properly labeled. If there are specimens that aren’t labeled correctly, I input the genus and species names into a spreadsheet and correct the name on the vials.  

Lynna: This summer, I’ve spent my time assisting the botany collections manager, Layla, in the herbarium. My average workday consists of organizational tasks like sorting the collections, data entry, imaging, and filing our plant specimens. Occasionally, I will assist our botany curator, Jon, on his work with plant taxonomy or diversity surveying in the field. Our collection includes both fungi and plant specimens, primarily from San Diego County, Imperial County, and the Baja California Peninsula.  

Through mediums like iNaturalist, the San Diego Plant Atlas Project, and BioBlitz events, our department has been supported by community scientists for years in recording the extremely diverse flora of Southern California. From my time at the museum, I’ve gained valuable knowledge about the active research and conservation projects in our region and in collaboration with Mexican scientists across the border.  

I support the herbarium by ensuring that specimens move through the process from start to finish smoothly, and I take pride in providing high-quality work and getting through the backlog of specimens quickly. 

Why is this work important to you and to our region’s conservation?  

Desiree: I get to learn about different aspects of my department every day. It is very important to know the biodiversity in your area, and collecting specimens shows us that there is diversity even on a species level, so you cannot use a singular specimen to represent a whole species. Their sizes and appearances may vary by the slightest bit, so it's important to have multiple specimens of the same species to understand those variations. Genetic barcoding is a more efficient way for biologists to identify specimens since it is unique to each species regardless of physical variations.  

Organizing the collections is crucial to museums because each specimen is a snapshot in time, giving us tons of information about that specimen and its surroundings when it was first collected. Scientists can contact the museum to borrow specific specimens for their research, or even just to observe them. Organizing that space makes it easier for the scientists to easily identify which cabinets and/or drawers each species is found in.  

Lynna: As someone who was born and raised in San Diego, it’s significant to me that I have this opportunity to learn about the biodiversity I’ve always been surrounded by in this city. It was a shock to me when I first discovered that San Diego is the most biodiverse county in the contiguous United States because I had always lived in a more urban area and was sheltered from science as a kid. Despite living in a populated area of the city, the museum helped me realize that nature thrived even in my backyard.  

The Healthy Canyons initiative is one of the projects we support and learning about various endangered and rare species of plants has helped me realize the need for more community science. I’m extremely interested in pursuing a field in evolutionary biology, so it’s important in my line of work for scientists to have a map and understanding of the environment we live in. If we can better understand the life that thrives around us, we can better understand how to improve in building a stronger foundation for our next generation of scientists. 

What’s been your favorite part of working at The Nat? 

Desiree: I have loved museums since I was a kid, so participating in this apprenticeship has been a dream come true. I am so grateful to have had thorough tours of the different departments within the museum, courtesy of Layla and Lynna, and learning about how each department is run behind-the-scenes. One of my favorite things about this apprenticeship has been learning about taxonomic orders, morphospecies, and pretty much everything related! 

I have especially loved the environment of the Entomology Department because everyone there is so kind and you can tell they truly love and care about what they do. This job has been inspiring and exciting, and I’m so glad I get to be a part of it. 

Lynna: My favorite part of this apprenticeship so far has got to be the people I’m surrounded by in the Botany Department. I’m grateful to work alongside volunteers and scientists who are as passionate about nature as I am. Layla is an amazing mentor, and one of the most meaningful things has been her guidance in understanding how different departments collaborate with one another, and systematics of how the museum operates in general.  

I definitely see myself coming back to a museum setting in the future and appreciate that this entire experience has solidified my love for science and research. 

We loved hosting Desiree and Lynna at the Museum and are excited to learn more about their future contributions to the world of science and conservation. 

The Nat’s Apprentice Program was made possible by the David B. Jones Foundation, and John DeBeer and Mona Baumgartel. 

All future paid apprenticeships with The Nat will be posted on our employment page.