Using collections for student professional development: Examples from Texas Tech University

Biological collections offer rich opportunities for students to develop a diverse set of skills, ranging from soft skills—such as effective communication, time management, and task execution—to specialized technical skills in specimen handling, processing, and biodiversity data management. In this presentation, I will highlight how the Invertebrate Zoology Collection at Texas Tech University (TTU-IZC) has supported the professional development of both undergraduate and graduate students. Students are offered hourly positions to execute specific tasks, some of them focusing on digitization projects. Those who remain involved for more than one semester are encouraged to turn their task into a basic research project which they can present at the university's Undergraduate Research Conference during the spring semester. Since 2021 eight undergraduate and two graduate students have paticipated in these professional development opportunities at the TTU-IZC.