Plant Collections Management Internship

Job Description

Opportunity:

The Arboretum at Penn State is offering one paid (starting at $14.00/hour) internship in plant curation and collections management for undergraduates, graduate students, and recent graduates interested in career paths in museum studies, plant science, horticulture, biology, GIS, or related topics. This position will run for up to 6 months, preferably beginning in April and ending in October; however these dates are negotiable.
This is a short-term position for up to 40-hours per week; full-time equivalent hours will not exceed 16 weeks. Scheduled internship activities generally take place between 7:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. on weekdays with few exceptions for professional development opportunities and field trips. This is a hybrid position with some remote work opportunities available, although the majority of time will be spent on-site at the Arboretum.

Experience:

This internship will help develop skills relevant to a career in collections management, plant curation, and professional horticulture. Work with the Arboretum’s Curator of Living Collections to manage the Arboretum’s plant collections utilizing IrisBG recordkeeping software and other technology, as well as mapping, labeling, and inventorying the living collections. This position will also introduce interns to the world of research, public gardens, media, and visitor services.

About Us

The mission of The Arboretum at Penn State is to engage the academic strengths of the University in promoting scholarship and education about plants and their history and importance on earth.

The Arboretum at Penn State strives to be a place of beauty and renewal, a venue for the arts, and a pathway to discovery and enrichment.

Find out more about our gardens and plant collections here:
https://arboretum.psu.edu/gardens/

Duties & Responsibilities

Primary Responsibilities:

•Assist in the management of the Arboretum’s plant records system using IrisBG recordkeeping software (e.g., verify plant nomenclature and ID; accession, de‐accession, update records, export and import reports and data) for internal and public use.
•Collect GPS field data using mobile mapping and GIS technology to assist with plant records, public mapping projects, and research at the Arboretum.
•Create and fabricate public-facing plant display labels, accession tags, commemorative plaques, and other signage in-house for the Arboretum’s plant collections.
•Conduct annual plant field inventories in the Arboretum’s botanic gardens and greenhouse facilities.
•Research and create plant-specific information about the Arboretum’s collections for web, print, and social media distribution.
•Assist with plant specimen collection for research, herbarium, educational, or disease testing purposes.
•Compile, organize, and archive images of Arboretum plants and commemorative assets.
•Assist with supply inventories and other operational/visitor service tasks as needed.

Education and Experience

Qualifications:

•Applicants should be undergraduates, graduate students, or recent graduates and should demonstrate a strong interest in horticulture, plant science, biology, environmental studies, GIS, geography, museum studies, or library and information science. This position will require working outside in variable weather conditions. The preferred applicant will demonstrate a working knowledge of plant ID skills/taxonomy or the desire to learn. Strong organizational ability, attention to detail, familiarity working with data sets, Microsoft Office suites, ArcGIS applications (desired), and the ability to learn new software and technology will be expected. Preference will be given to candidates who can explain how this opportunity will help them reach their career goals.

Application Instructions

Application Requirements:
•Resume or CV
•Cover letter
•Contact information for at least two professional references with one of these highly preferred as a written letter of recommendation.

Application Instructions:
•Applications must be submitted online via Workday utilizing the Penn State Jobs website at https://hr.psu.edu/careers by Friday, 1/31/25. This position is listed as Job # REQ_0000061483
•Please make certain to include a cover letter, resume or CV, and reference materials with your application materials.
•Instructions for using the PSU Jobs website are available at https://hr.psu.edu/content/frequently-asked-questions-careers.
•Qualified applicants will be contacted for interviews to be scheduled beginning in February 2025.