Visiting Arthropod Systematist Program
University of Arizona Insect Collection
Supported by the Schlinger Foundation
Explore one of North America’s richest and least-known arthropod faunas
The Sonoran Desert Region is a scientific frontier. Stretching across the southwestern United States and northwestern Mexico, it includes coastal and inland dunes, desert, thornscrub, tropical deciduous forest, riparian corridors, and the Sky Islands, where a single mountain climbs from desert scrub to subalpine conifer forest. New arthropod species are discovered here every year, yet much of the fauna remains poorly understood.
That gap matters. The region is changing quickly under pressure from climate change, invasive species, and land use. Knowing which arthropods live here, where they occur, and how they vary is essential for understanding those changes and for making sound decisions about land management and conservation.
The University of Arizona Insect Collection (UAIC) invites systematists to help close that gap.
About the program
Through a generous endowment from the Schlinger Foundation, the UAIC supports visiting systematists who come to Tucson to work with our collection on their taxon of expertise. Visitors advance their own research while building knowledge of Sonoran Desert Region arthropods and strengthening the collection for future researchers.
The UAIC holds approximately 2 million specimens, including historic holdings that provide a valuable baseline for tracking change in the region’s fauna.
Who should apply
We welcome applications from arthropod systematists at any career stage and in any setting, including university and museum researchers, government scientists, and retired or independent taxonomists. Applicants should have expertise in a taxon represented in the Sonoran Desert Region. Proposals that place the regional fauna in a broader taxonomic or geographic context are encouraged.
What the award supports
Awards are flexible and are designed to cover the costs of conducting research in Tucson and the region, including:
- Temporary housing during your visit
- Regional field expeditions and field vehicle rental
- Publication costs for research resulting from the visit
- Other research-related expenses, including some incurred before or after your time in Tucson
The Department of Entomology and Insect Science provides office and laboratory space for visiting systematists.
Please note: awards cover research expenses only and cannot be used for salary, benefits, or honoraria.
What we ask of visitors
Visiting systematists will:
- Study their focal taxon within the context of the Sonoran Desert Region
- Publish on the taxonomy of the group, and ideally on its ecology, biogeography, and diversity as well
- Work with the UAIC Curator to curate and database UAIC specimens of their focal taxon
How applicants are selected
Applications are reviewed by a committee chaired by the UAIC Curator. The committee considers the applicant’s expertise and record, how well the focal taxon is currently known in the Sonoran Desert Region, and the need and urgency for further study of that group.
How to apply
Applications are accepted on a rolling basis, with no deadline. We encourage you to get in touch early to discuss your project and the timing of your visit.
Please send the following to wmoore@arizona.edu:
- A brief proposal (2-3 pages) describing your focal taxon, research goals, and proposed timing and length of visit
- A CV
- A preliminary budget
Questions? Contact Dr. Wendy Moore, Curator, University of Arizona Insect Collection, at wmoore@arizona.edu