The Flora of Pennsylvania offers a joint one-year graduate internship program where students will spend time in the Botany Department at the Morris Arboretum of the University of Pennsylvania located in northwest Philadelphia and The Academy of Natural Sciences in downtown Philadelphia. Each intern will receive experience and professional training required to become a professional botanist.
The Morris Arboretum where students will be working include botanical laboratories, greenhouses, and an extensive outdoor living collection of trees and shrubs. The Academy of Natural Sciences is the oldest natural history museum that exists in the United States. The Academy includes a herbarium of more than 1.5 million specimens and the Laboratory for Molecular Systematics & Ecology.
Internship:
Interns will gain valuable work experience as they participate in managing collections in a major herbarium as well as having the opportunity to contribute to a modern state flora program through research projects being conducted on a continuous basis. Students will gain first-hand experience as they participate in the curation of botanical collections at The Academy of Natural Sciences as well as being a part of the Pennsylvania Flora Project at the Morris Arboretum.
Internship Positions:
- Arboriculture
- Education
- Horticulture
- Plant Protection
- Urban Forestry
- Natural Lands
- Flora of Pennsylvania
- Plant Propagation
- Rose and Flower Garden
Duties:
- Curate botanical collections at the Academy of Natural Sciences.
- Participate in the Pennsylvania Flora Project at the Morris Arboretum.
- Learn to follow proper safety practices.
- Complete an independent study project under the direction of supervisor.
- Work at two weekend Arboretum events - Fall Festival and Plant Sale.
- Work one afternoon per week in the Arboretum's Plant Clinic.
- Participate in intern core curriculum sessions.
- Perform additional duties as requested.
Qualifications:
- Applicants must possess an undergraduate degree in botany, or biology with courses completed in botany.
- Be able to work both independently and as part of a team
- Be self-motivated and reliable.
- International students are eligible to apply.
Benefits:
As part of the internship program each intern will have an opportunity to attend workshops, seminars, and field trips which will provide a chance to learn about the various aspects of managing and operating a public garden.
Interns will receive a stipend and a benefits package provided by The University of Pennsylvania. The benefits package includes medical and dental insurance, two weeks paid vacation, sick leave, and tuition for students to take an additional 6 graduate credit hours.
To Apply:
All applicants must complete the Penn online application process to apply.
Applicants must follow the complete instructions on the page and then print and sign the completed application form and send to address listed below along with a letter of application, statement of interest in the internship, official college transcript, and three letters of recommendation.
Jan McFarlan, Education Coordinator
Morris Arboretum of the University of Pennsylvania
100 E. Northwestern Ave
Philadelphia, PA 19118
For more information, call or email:
Questions? Call Jan McFarlan, Education Coordinator at 215.247.5777 x 156 or email at jlm@exchange.upenn.edu
