Mississippi State University

Mississippi State University and its partners (Fort Worth Zoo, the North Carolina Zoo, and Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium) will hire and train students from underserved communities to transition into the leadership pipeline of future professionals focused on biological collections management. Students will research amphibian collections at the university's partner organizations to learn about sustainable reproduction, husbandry, and genetic management. The team will share study results through a host website and across digital media platforms. In the short term, hiring these individuals will help with the COVID-19 pandemic economic recovery. Over the long term, the university and its partners will promote a more diverse and inclusive employee structure. Success indicators will include numbers of graduated and hired trainees, new digital products, and a positive impact on the collection's genetic management.