Volunteer
Volunteering at the DLC is open to all undergraduate and graduate students, regardless of university/college affiliation. We offer a variety of volunteer opportunities suited for varying interests and time availability. For additional information regarding volunteer opportunities, requirements, and online applications, please visit our volunteer page.
Internships
Internships at the DLC are open to all undergraduate students, regardless of university/college affiliation. We typically offer Husbandry and Field Research internships during the academic year. During the summer we offer additional internship opportunities, including Education, Communications, Fossil Collection, and Animal Welfare internships. Internships run for 10 weeks. Each internship has different hours requirements and responsibilities. To learn more about our internship program and application deadlines, please visit our internship page.
Research opportunities
Studying at the DLC is a once-in-a-lifetime experience! We encourage undergraduate and graduate students, regardless of university/college affiliation, to become involved in research at the DLC, either as their own PI or as a Research Assistant for an active research protocol. To read more about research at the DLC, please visit our research pages. Undergraduate and graduate students are welcome to apply for a number of awards to support research projects at the Duke Lemur Center. Click here for more information on student funding opportunities!
Duke student opportunities at the DLC
The Duke Lemur Center employs both graduate and undergraduate Duke students that have work-study funds, both federal (75/25) and Duke (50/50).
Opportunities are available in our animal husbandry, education, veterinary medicine, development, communications, animal behavior, and fossil collection departments.
Openings are posted in August of each year on DukeList, per the Duke Financial Aid website. Search using "lemur" or "fossil" for any jobs available and listings will include specific details on who to contact. Should we have additional openings for the spring, those will be posted in January and if there are summer opportunities, look for those in April.
Some DLC work-study positions have specific health requirements, including proof of a negative TB test, proof of measles vaccine, and completion of the Duke Animal Handler Form. Instructions for submission of these requirements will be provided upon hiring.
Be advised that the Duke Lemur Center is located off-campus in the Duke Forest on the west side of 15-501, between Cameron Blvd. and West Cornwallis Road. The DLC works with Duke Transportation to offer free Lyft rides to work-study students who don't have their own transportation from campus.
The unique educational opportunities available to undergraduate students at Duke are unparalleled. Students are often found out in the natural habitat enclosures trailing their study subjects or in a laboratory setting discovering secrets long-held by these endangered species. Below is a listing of just a few of the courses currently offered through Duke’s Evolutionary Anthropology and Biology Departments that partner with the DLC:
EVANTH 344L – Primate Field Biology
Survey of field methods used to document primate behavior; development of research project; data analysis and writing of formal research articles. Laboratory includes observations of free-ranging and captive primates at the Duke Lemur Center. Students work outside and need a current TB test. Transportation is provided.
EVANTH 393 – Research Independent Study
Individual research under the supervision of a faculty member resulting in a substantive paper or written report. Projects typically include background research, formulation of hypotheses and predictions, data collection, data analysis and interpretation of results. Area of study must be connected to discipline of Evolutionary Anthropology. Open to qualified students, who, before being given permission to register, must submit to the faculty advisor a written proposal outlining the area of study and listing the goals and meeting schedule. Consent of instructor and director of undergraduate studies required.
EVANTH 495S – Advanced Research in EvAnth
Advanced research in Evolutionary Anthropology topic, typically leading to Graduation with Distinction. Course includes a one-hour weekly seminar on topics such as hypothesis testing, writing proposals, research design, data analysis with a strong emphasis on writing. Students will complete the introduction (literature review) and methods of their thesis along with a tentative results. Students are also expected to work with a faculty mentor conducting original research equivalent to a research independent study. Instructor consent required.
EVANTH 544L – Methods in Primate Field Ecology
200+-level course in behavior or ecology. Primate taxa as ecologically adaptive radiations. Survey of field methods used in the study of primate ecology, including the habitat assessment, mapping, and behavioral observations using computer technology. Laboratory includes observations of primates at the Duke Lemur Center.
Click here for more information on student research funding opportunities!
The DLC is in partnership with Duke Transportation and Lyft to provide rides to Duke students who work-study, conduct research, intern, or volunteer at the Center. This program is only available to Duke students. For additional details or if you have any questions, please contact Erin Hecht (erin.hecht@duke.edu).
