Farley Internship
Internship Provides Insights into Career Possibilities
Kylah Farley is a Loyola senior majoring in environmental science. She shared her thoughts on how interning at Chicago’s Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum broadened her view of the career opportunities in her field. The internship is one of many available to students in the School of Environmental Sustainability within the school and through partnerships with Chicago-area environmental and cultural organizations and businesses.
An internship at the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum introduced Kylah Farley to a new side of the environmental science field.
Why did you decide to come to Loyola and SES?
I was initially interested in Loyola because I wanted to be in the city, and I heard about the sustainability initiatives at the university. I originally enrolled in the environmental engineering program at Loyola, which is known for its very competitive and appealing program. After the first semester as an environmental engineer, I decided that my passion lay elsewhere, mainly in understanding our world’s ecological systems and climate crisis rather than in engineering climate solutions. I decided to switch my major going into the second semester, and I have been very pleased with my decision to join the SES program at Loyola.
How did you get involved with your internship?
During the summer of 2024, I got involved with the Office of Sustainability internship at Loyola. One of my coworkers had previously interned for Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum (PNNM), and that inspired me to apply. The role sounded very interesting and had different responsibilities from other internships that I have had before. I originally applied for the fall 2024 internship and then was asked back for the spring 2025 semester, so I have been interning there this year again.
What was your role as an intern?
As a collections intern at the PNNM office in Ravenswood, I help manage a collection of approximately 15,600 plant specimens. Keeping the collection updated and accessible requires various tasks, including cataloging, labeling, digitizing, and integrating specimens into the larger archive. Many specimens have handwritten labels dating back to the 1800s, so my first step is deciphering their details and entering them into our online database. Once cataloged, I create printed labels for easy identification. I then scan the specimens and upload images to the database, ensuring accessibility for researchers and other users. Finally, I integrate the processed specimens into the collection, organizing them by family and genus.
In addition to my hands-on work, I wrote a blog post about my internship experience and a research paper on buckthorn for my Fall 2024 semester.
What did you learn during your internship process?
I learned a lot about botany that I hadn’t known before, especially the significant role collections like the one at PNNM play in environmental research. Herbarium records provide valuable insights into how our planet has changed over time since plants are direct reflections of their environment. For example, chemical analyses of plant roots can reveal heavy metal intake, helping track pollution levels in specific areas and their changes over time. Additionally, my work at PNNM improved the collection’s accessibility, allowing more researchers to utilize it for their studies.
How did your internship impact your career plans or advancement?
This experience introduced me to an entirely new side of the environmental science field that I hadn’t explored before. With so many career paths available, it can be overwhelming to understand all the options. Working in a collections office is a great career choice, especially for those passionate about plants and plant history. If the opportunity arises, I would definitely consider pursuing a career like this.
What do you hope to do after graduation?
Right now, I’m still exploring my options. As a potential career path, I’m particularly interested in working with the state government, either at the IEPA or IDNR. After graduation, I plan to seek any opportunity within the environmental science field. If all goes well, I’d love to continue working with PNNM, whether as an intern or in a different role.
What advice would you give to other students considering an internship during their time at Loyola?
I’d recommend applying to anything that seems even remotely interesting. There are so many career paths in this field, and it’s worth exploring all the possibilities. Internships are especially valuable because they provide a glimpse into different careers, helping you gain a better understanding of what path you might want to pursue.
--By Danielle Hurtt
Why did you decide to come to Loyola and SES?
I was initially interested in Loyola because I wanted to be in the city, and I heard about the sustainability initiatives at the university. I originally enrolled in the environmental engineering program at Loyola, which is known for its very competitive and appealing program. After the first semester as an environmental engineer, I decided that my passion lay elsewhere, mainly in understanding our world’s ecological systems and climate crisis rather than in engineering climate solutions. I decided to switch my major going into the second semester, and I have been very pleased with my decision to join the SES program at Loyola.
How did you get involved with your internship?
During the summer of 2024, I got involved with the Office of Sustainability internship at Loyola. One of my coworkers had previously interned for Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum (PNNM), and that inspired me to apply. The role sounded very interesting and had different responsibilities from other internships that I have had before. I originally applied for the fall 2024 internship and then was asked back for the spring 2025 semester, so I have been interning there this year again.
What was your role as an intern?
As a collections intern at the PNNM office in Ravenswood, I help manage a collection of approximately 15,600 plant specimens. Keeping the collection updated and accessible requires various tasks, including cataloging, labeling, digitizing, and integrating specimens into the larger archive. Many specimens have handwritten labels dating back to the 1800s, so my first step is deciphering their details and entering them into our online database. Once cataloged, I create printed labels for easy identification. I then scan the specimens and upload images to the database, ensuring accessibility for researchers and other users. Finally, I integrate the processed specimens into the collection, organizing them by family and genus.
In addition to my hands-on work, I wrote a blog post about my internship experience and a research paper on buckthorn for my Fall 2024 semester.
What did you learn during your internship process?
I learned a lot about botany that I hadn’t known before, especially the significant role collections like the one at PNNM play in environmental research. Herbarium records provide valuable insights into how our planet has changed over time since plants are direct reflections of their environment. For example, chemical analyses of plant roots can reveal heavy metal intake, helping track pollution levels in specific areas and their changes over time. Additionally, my work at PNNM improved the collection’s accessibility, allowing more researchers to utilize it for their studies.
How did your internship impact your career plans or advancement?
This experience introduced me to an entirely new side of the environmental science field that I hadn’t explored before. With so many career paths available, it can be overwhelming to understand all the options. Working in a collections office is a great career choice, especially for those passionate about plants and plant history. If the opportunity arises, I would definitely consider pursuing a career like this.
What do you hope to do after graduation?
Right now, I’m still exploring my options. As a potential career path, I’m particularly interested in working with the state government, either at the IEPA or IDNR. After graduation, I plan to seek any opportunity within the environmental science field. If all goes well, I’d love to continue working with PNNM, whether as an intern or in a different role.
What advice would you give to other students considering an internship during their time at Loyola?
I’d recommend applying to anything that seems even remotely interesting. There are so many career paths in this field, and it’s worth exploring all the possibilities. Internships are especially valuable because they provide a glimpse into different careers, helping you gain a better understanding of what path you might want to pursue.
--By Danielle Hurtt