Hybrid Plant Collections Management Internship

Penn State; University Park (TX); Hybrid; USD 22,000 - 23,000; Full time

Job summary

Penn State's Arboretum is offering a paid internship in plant collections management for undergraduates, graduate students, and recent graduates. This hybrid position runs up to 9 months, ideally starting in early spring 2027, with on-site work the majority of the time and some remote work opportunities. Interns will gain experience in plant curation, recordkeeping, GIS mapping, and public-facing displays.

Typical schedule is 7:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

Qualifications

• Interest in plant science, horticulture, biology, GIS, or related fields.
• Willingness to work outdoors in variable weather.
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail.

Responsibilities

• Assist in managing plant records using IrisBG for internal/public use.
• Support public plant finder/visitor tools (Arboretum Explorer).
• Collect GPS data using mobile GIS for plant records and mapping.
• Inventory living collections in botanic gardens and greenhouses.
• Create and fabricate plant display labels and accession tags.

Skills

Plant science

Horticulture

Biology

GIS

Geography

Museum studies

Library information science

Education

Undergraduate or graduate student or recent graduate

Tools

IrisBG

GIS software

Job description

Penn State's Arboretum is offering a paid internship in plant collections management for undergraduates, graduate students, and recent graduates. This hybrid position runs up to 9 months, ideally starting in early spring 2027, with on-site work the majority of the time and some remote work opportunities. Interns will gain experience in plant curation, recordkeeping, GIS mapping, and public-facing displays.

Typical schedule is 7:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.