Project Description: 

Background: The study of modern and fossil pollen grains (palynology) provides insight into vegetation changes through time and space. A key methodological component of palynological research is the identification of pollen grains to the highest taxonomic resolution possible. The most efficient and accurate way to do this is through physical reference collections. The UC Berkeley Museum of Paleontology possesses one of the country’s largest pollen reference collections with samples from around the world. This set of reference material, called the Chevron Collection, is composed of over 6,000 paper reference cards with meta-data associated with unique pollen types sealed in glass slides. Currently, access to this reference material is limited because the collection has not been digitized and added to an online database, despite its significant research value. Digitizing this collection will provide a database of unprecedented depth for research on pollen morphology and vegetation studies.

Project Aim: The aim of the project is to make the Chevron Collection accessible to palynologists and other researchers by adding it to the Global Pollen Project, a newly developed online database built to aid in the identification of pollen grains for research (https://globalpollenproject.org/). In order to contribute, the reference slides and corresponding metadata of the Chevron Collection must be digitized. 

Department: 
ESPM
Undergraduate's Role: 

The student will contribute to the field through the digitization of a large collection, enabling novel research on pollen morphology. Specifically, the undergraduate will undertake the creation of a database to catalogue reference card material. The undergraduate will become proficient with a light microscope/camera to capture and record images of each specimen in the collection. Each specimen must be paired with its associated meta-data so that future users of the collection can easily navigate an online interface. The photographs will be catalogued and published in an online forum so that other researchers have access to the material. The student will gain laboratory experience in taxonomic and palynologic research. 

Undergraduate's Qualifications: 

We are looking for a motivated and diligent undergraduate with a desire to learn ecological laboratory research techniques and methodology. The student must be able to take direction, have high competency in data recording, and be meticulous in their handling of specimens.  

Location: 
On Campus
Hours: 
To be negotiated
Project URL: 
https://nature.berkeley.edu/pottslab/