The Genetics Lab is the first community-based and community-run genetics lab in the country.

We are open 7 days a week to visitors who want to look in and see how a real molecular lab works, and watch real scientists in action. We've enrolled over 2700 museum visitors in our research study on how genetics affects taste and health.

Maybe watching isn't enough, which is why we want YOU to be a part of our study. If you are 18 years of age or older, you can actually participate in our research. Just stop by the lab in Expedition Health and ask a volunteer with a lab coat on to tell you more. This research experience is free with Museum admission, and is subject to the availability of our citizen-scientists working in the lab that day.

Click here to learn more about our study!

We are working hard on graphics and stats and will have the most updated results posted soon!

Who is Yo Pearl the Science Girl?

A cartoon science hero with a mission to make everyone a fan of cool science.

Click to follow Yo Pearl the Science Girl as she tackles new discoveries, hot science topics, your questions and sometimes the just plain weird science.

www.facebook.com/yopearlscigirl

https://twitter.com/#!/yopearlscigirl/

Questions submitted to Yo Pearl (uing the form below, Facebook or Twitter) will be answered on the Blue Tongue Blog. Fire away and check back to see how this super science chick and her team of science experts tackle your questions.

Wanna know more about how Pearl was created? Click Here

The Lab welcomes and trains new citizen-scientists regularly.

Volunteer Citizen Scientists work in our research laboratory, Lab Central in Expedition Health.  They support Expedition Health and Lab Central by stocking the experiment area and preparing reagents.  They also support the community-based participatory research study, The Genetics of Taste, performing research data acquisition by enrolling visitors. We are also featured on the citizen-science website SciStarter!

Training:
The training program consists of 6 hours of general museum orientation, 3 hours of formal training devoted to your position, and 32 hours of on-the-job training. 

The 3 hours of formal training devoted to your position must be completed before you start in the laboratory.  All trainings will be in the evening from 5:30-8:30pm.

Schedule:
One 4.5-hour shift per week, 8:30 a.m.-1:00 p.m. or 12:30 p.m.-5:00 p.m.

Minimum Commitment:
One year

Age Requirement:
Available to individual applicants 16 and older.  Volunteers must be 18 and older to enroll visitors in The Genetics of Taste research study.

To apply: Please complete our Adult Volunteer Application (PDF | 627KB) and mail to:
Volunteer Program
Denver Museum of Nature & Science
2001 Colorado Blvd.
Denver, CO 80205-5798
Please remember that volunteer placement is a selective process and not all applicants are accepted into the program. The Museum reserves the right to place volunteers in the area staff feels is best suited to the applicant's skills and the needs of the Museum.

Genetics of Taste Research Partnerships

Check out our incredible team (on the right of the page). So much of our outreach and research could not be done without the help of these awesome volunteers both in the Museum and externally. A special thanks to the Rocky Mountain Taste and Smell Center for allowing the genetics team to particpate in weekly journal clubs and taste lab meetings.

Teen Science Scholars Program

The scientists and curators at the Denver Museum of Nature & Science strongly support the Teen Science Scholars program. Funded by individual donors and foundations, the program gives local high school students the opporunity to gain hands-on experience via a paid summer intership.

For more information visit the Teen Science Scholars Webpage.

Colorado Bioscience Association Internship Program

The Health Sciences Department works alongside the Colorado BioScience Association on promoting health science careers for Coloradoans. Dr. Garneau co-chairs the CBSA Education Committee and helped the Association to launch a new internship program for undergraduate students seeking bioscience work experience.

As a CBSA intern, you will collaborate with professional scientists in the Genetics Lab at the Denver Museum of Nature & Science. The program is open to students who can demonstrate their commitment to science-related goals. This is a summer program where students will work approximately 10 weeks between June 1 and August 31 and is open to students who are working towards either an undergraduate or graduate degree. This is an unpaid internship, and scheduling is flexible according to the assignment and other time committments of the student.

Each applicant must demonstrate an interest in science through their application, essay, have a strong interest in science communication and education, and supply a recommendation from a teacher or mentor. Students also should have leadership experience and a good academic background.

Applications are being accepted until 5 P.M. on Monday April 2, 2012. Please complete the application form  and submit with your personal essay to Kizra.Sullivan@dmns.org by this deadline. In addition, please have have your recommender directly mail your recommendation to the address below, date marked by the deadline indicated above:

Kizra Sullivan
Health Sciences Department, Box 20
Denver Museum of Nature & Science
2001 Colorado Blvd
Denver, CO  80205

Candidates will be selected for in person intereviews by Monday April 16th. If you are not selected for an interview, you will be notified via email.

To find out more about the internship program as a whole please visit: http://www.cobioscience.com/jobs-and-resumes/internships