Breeding and Curation Intern
Holden Forests & Gardens
Internship
On-site
Madison, Ohio, United States
Outdoor & Landscaping Jobs
Breeding and Curation Intern
David G. Leach Research Station
Internship
Opportunity:
Passionate about plants, botanical gardens, or horticultural research? The David G. Leach Research Station team is seeking a summer intern to assist our Rhododendron breeding, collections, and conservation program. The Breeding and Curation Intern spends their summer gaining hands-on experience in nursery crop breeding projects, collection and field plot maintenance, collection curation, plant propagation, and nursery production. The Breeding and Curation intern will be exposed to a wide array of opportunities and duties at a botanical garden with an emphasis on but not exclusive to rhododendrons. In addition, all members of the Holden Forests & Gardens’ (HF&G) intern cohort will participate in professional development, such as workshops, scientific lectures, networking, and field trips. All interns will have the opportunity to develop and present independent projects at HF&G’s SEARCH symposium.
Holden Forests and Gardens offers over 3,600 acres of forested land, extensive living plant collections, and high-tech laboratories spread across three campuses. This position is based at the David G. Leach Research Station campus in Madison, OH, a 30-acre field station and garden with towering trees, choice landscape plants, and a world-class rhododendron collection. The intern will also have a short rotation in the rhododendron gardens at Holden Arboretum in Kirtland, OH, and will occasionally travel to Cleveland Botanical Garden in Cleveland, OH.
Position Details:
- Position begins mid-May, flexibility in start date with academic scheduling needs
- 12-week internship
- 40 hours per week
- Pay $14.00/hour
- Low-cost housing at Holden Arboretum may be available
- Open to undergraduates, recent college graduates, or others exploring a botanical career
Key Responsibilities:
- Assist with plant breeding projects, including pollinations, field plant evaluation and maintenance, planting of breeding populations, disease screens, and propagation
- Aid with plant collection maintenance and curation, including planting, horticultural plant care, curatorial reviews, and inventories
- Help with nursery production, including watering, transplanting, fertilization, pest and disease management, and pruning
- Work with supervisor to develop and complete an independent project which will be presented at the SEARCH symposium at the end of the internship
- Other relevant duties as assigned
Qualifications and Skills:
- Support Holden Forests & Gardens’ mission vision, and values
- Demonstrate a passion for people and nature
- Passion for connecting people with the wonder, beauty, and value of trees and plants to inspire action for healthy communities
- Pursuing or recently completed an undergraduate degree in a plant-related field, preferred
- Open to anyone exploring a botanical career
- Enthusiasm for temperate woody plants
- Interest in ornamental and conservation horticulture
- Strong communication, organizational skills, adaptability, and critical thinking skills
- Ability to work well in a diverse team
- Ability to work independently when needed
- Familiarity with Microsoft 365 products, specifically Teams, Outlook (email and calendar), Word, Excel, and PowerPoint or ability to learn
- Experience working with volunteers, a plus
- Valid driver's license an acceptable motor vehicle record, required
Physical Requirements
Must be able to perform with or without reasonable accommodation:
- Working outdoors in all weather conditions
- Safely operating small-engine machinery e.g., brush cutter or weed-whip (with appropriate training)
- Driving utility vehicles and small tractors
- Transporting oneself by foot over a variety of terrain that may be wet, slippery, uneven, rocky
- Performing repetitive physical tasks
- Standing, bending, kneeling, climbing, reaching, pulling, pushing, sitting, grabbing, and lifting up to 50 lbs.
Apply:
Would YOU like to join us and play an integral part at this exciting time for HF&G and add a competitive edge to your resume and experience? Review of candidates will begin on February 10, 2025.
Qualified applicants should submit a résumé, a letter of interest discussing your interest in this position and career goals, and contact information for at least two references.
Holden Forests & Gardens (Holden Arboretum and Cleveland Botanical Garden) is an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to hiring a talented work force who contributes to our mission through each individual’s unique perspective. We seek skilled, knowledgeable, and experienced individuals to join our staff and enhance our reputation as one of the country’s foremost public gardens.