How IU Northwest’s STEM Center helped one student land a position at the Field Museum
Senior geology major turns passion for paleontology into a dream opportunity
It’s early on a Friday morning, but the Field Museum is already buzzing. Voices of guests and curious children echo through the levels of sprawling exhibits, ancient fossils and scientific wonder.
On the upper level, right outside where the world’s largest and most complete T. rex specimen, SUE, resides, Alex Brower works diligently in one of the museum’s fossil preparation labs.
The lab is exposed to the public and curious passersby peek in to see what Brower is doing. A nearby clipboard explains that Brower is using a mini jackhammer to chip away at the matrix (surrounding rock) to reveal the skeleton of the Phareodus encaustus, a 52-million-year-old fish.
Brower’s obsession with paleontology started when she watched the original “Jurassic Park” movie, and that love never went away.
For the past year and a half, the senior geology major has been pursuing paleontology thanks to a unique partnership through Indiana University Northwest’s Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Center, which provides students with paid work opportunities, tutoring and so much more.
“The fact that the STEM Center was able to arrange this for me is amazing,” Brower said. “I’m very grateful for it because I don’t know if I would have ever had this opportunity on my own.”
From lectures to the laboratory
Brower’s path to the Field Museum wasn’t straightforward. She started her collegiate career at IU Bloomington before returning to Northwest Indiana.
It was the right choice for her – as she quickly became comfortable in a smaller, supportive academic environment, one where she felt professors were more accessible and invested in student success.
Looking for internships, Brower knew she wanted to work at the Field Museum. She didn’t care what it was – working in the lab, collections or elsewhere – she just knew that’s where she wanted to be.
After applying for an internship and not getting it for two years, Brower decided to reach out to the STEM Center to see if they could help.
One thing led to another, and former STEM Center Director Savannah Bennett learned about the museum’s volunteer program, which has around two dozen rotating volunteers working in the fossil lab.
Becoming a volunteer isn’t as easy as dropping in. There are motor skill requirements and a lot of patience involved in preparing fossils. After Brower passed the tests, Bennett coordinated a paid volunteer opportunity thanks to funding from the STEM Center.
Connie Van Beek, a Fossil Preparator at the Field Museum for 27 years and Brower’s direct supervisor, saw Brower’s skill and eagerness to learn early on. Since starting, Brower’s progressed from small fish fossils to larger, more complex specimens.
Finding a museum job isn’t easy. But Van Beek began as a volunteer – just like Brower – and was offered a full-time position.
“Alex has been remarkable regarding fossil prep,” Van Beek said. “She has really taken to it. … The best advice I give anybody who wants a job in a museum, no matter what it is, is to start as a volunteer.”
Finding the right opportunity for every student
IU Northwest’s STEM Center was created through a grant with a clear mission: to provide paid, hands-on opportunities for students in science, technology, engineering and mathematics — especially for those who can’t afford to pursue unpaid internships.
“We knew many of our students needed to work to afford school,” STEM Center Project Director Kris Huysken said. “So, we built a system where they could gain meaningful experience in their field without sacrificing financial stability.”
At IU Northwest, STEM includes students majoring in biology, chemistry, geosciences, computer information systems (CIS), psychology, math and actuarial sciences.
In the past year alone, Huysken said the STEM Center has supported over 50 students through paid internships and campus jobs. These include placements with the U.S. Geological Survey, the Nature Conservancy and local hospitals where IU Northwest students are working as field techs, lab assistants, IT interns and more.
Beyond internships, the STEM Center offers:
- STEM tutoring in subjects like biology, chemistry, math and computer science
- Flexible study spaces for group projects, club meetings or quiet work
- Career support, including resume help, graduate school applications and job prep
- Connections to campus resources, such as mental health services, food bank, and advising
“We want the STEM Center to be a welcoming place where students can come for anything STEM-related,” Huysken said. “Whether it’s tutoring, career guidance or just a place to study, we’re here to help.”
Everything the STEM Center does is to set IU Northwest students up for future success by giving them the experience necessary to succeed in their chosen field. For students who are unsure of their next step, Huysken recommends dropping by or reaching out to the STEM Center.
A campus that prioritizes student success
Brower’s experience reflects how IU Northwest empowers undergraduates, where faculty and staff are invested in helping students thrive.
“At IU Northwest, the professors are accessible. They really care about undergraduates and help guide you based on your interests,” Brower said.
That guidance helped Brower find her niche in fossil preparation — a field she hopes to pursue professionally. After graduation, she plans to attend graduate school and eventually work at a university or museum.
As she prepares to graduate from IU Northwest this fall, she’s confident she has the tools and experience to succeed. It’s even opened her eyes to new opportunities.
“I used to think I’d go straight into paleontology, working in the field,” she said. “But now I realize how important fossil prep is. You don’t have to be the one who finds the fossil to make a meaningful contribution.”
At IU Northwest, opportunities exist for all students – sometimes, all it takes is a little support.
“If you’re at IU Northwest, go to the STEM Center and tell them what you’re looking for,” Brower said. “Even if they can’t set something up directly, they’ll help you with applications, resumes, and finding the right path.”