MSU hosts Manhattan high school student for immersive entomology internship

Contact: Lily Grado

STARKVILLE, Miss.—A New York City high school junior swapped the hum of a bustling metropolis for the chirp of grasshoppers across the Mississippi prairie, gaining hands-on experience in entomology through a two-week internship this summer at Mississippi State University.

Hosted by the Mississippi Entomological Museum, part of the university’s Mississippi Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station, or MAFES, Jacob Chen of Manhattan explored field research, specimen preparation and insect curation alongside MAFES scientists.

“There are so many diverse aspects of insects and arthropods that often go unseen,” Chen said. “I want to make a difference and help tell the stories of creatures that often go untold.”

Chen first learned about MSU’s internship opportunities after reading about another student, Oliver Yung, who completed a similar experience in 2024. The chance to learn from MSU faculty drew him from the “concrete jungle” of New York to the biodiversity-rich landscapes of Mississippi and Alabama.

Working under the direction of JoVonn Hill, associate professor in the Department of Agricultural Science and Plant Protection and director of the Mississippi Entomological Museum, Chen focused on grasshoppers, crickets and katydids while also learning museum processes such as digitization and collection management.

“Jacob is a diligent student who is eager to learn,” said Hill, who is also a MAFES scientist. “He’s worked hard learning about museum specimen preparation, digitization and collection techniques. He’s very bright and catches on quickly.”

Chen described his MSU experience as both transformative and educational, reinforcing his growing passion for entomology and providing a strong foundation for his future studies.

 “There’s nothing that can compare to entomology,” Chen said. “There’s always something new to learn and discover about the natural world. My experiences at Mississippi State gave me access to incredible resources and hands-on opportunities to build new skills.”

For more on the Mississippi Entomological Museum, visit mississippientomologicalmuseum.org.msstate.edu. For more on MAFES, visit www.mafes.msstate.edu.

Mississippi State University is taking care of what matters. Learn more at www.msstate.edu.