Deborah Lewis
Ada Hayden Herbarium Curator,
Iowa State University

  

Plant Science Career Path

  • Deb first saw a herbarium as an undergraduate student at Arkansas Tech University - she had a great advisor who was the herbarium curator there
  • Attended graduate school at University of North Carolina - had another great advisor who was also a herbarium curator
  • Learned how important herbaria related (and how important they were) to plant sciences from her two professors
  • Her current job as herbarium curator relates to the history and very beginnings of plant science in Iowa
  • She is responsible for taking care of a "museum" of dried and pressed plant specimens - some dating back to 1848.
  • Completes own research projects, supports the research of other folks, identifying plant samples, and answering questions from people around the state and world

What does Deb like about her job?

Expert's Advice to Young People

Want to know more?

" I enjoy the 'diversity' of my job responsibilities -- combining the 'science' of botany and the 'art' of curation and the 'history' of the herbarium and all of the folks associated with in the past.

I like the variety of different activities I get to do -- all the different tasks involved with taking care of the collection; research; working with other researchers, students, and the 'general public'; working both indoors and outdors; giving talks and field trips and tours, and always having a chance to learn new information about plants."
  • Learn about all the many different areas in the plant sciences, and choose one that sounds like it matches your talents and interests.

  • Choose a good collge/university that provides the education and training you need.

  • Look for part-time jobs or internships in the area that you choose.

Email Deb to learn more about her experiences as herbarium curator.

To find out more about the
Ada Hayden Herbarium where Deb works, check out their website.
Copyright 2000, Iowa State University Agronomy Department, Ames, Iowa.
All rights reserved. 
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URL: http://www.agron.iastate.edu/plantscience