Internship Opportunity: Petcavage Seed Conservation Internship at Native Plant Trust

[Jessamine Finch]

Petcavage Seed Conservation Internship

Framingham, MA

Native Plant Trust is the nation’s first plant conservation organization and the only one solely focused on New England’s native plants. We save native plants in the wild, grow them for gardens and restorations, and educate others on their value and use. We are based at Garden in the Woods, a renowned native plant botanic garden that attracts visitors from all over the world. From this flagship property in Framingham, Massachusetts, 25 staff and many of our 1,500 trained volunteers work throughout New England each year to monitor and protect rare and endangered plants, collect and preserve seeds to ensure biological diversity, manage sites for ecological balance, conduct research, and offer a range of educational programs. Native Plant Trust also operates a nursery at Nasami Farm in western Massachusetts and manages six sanctuaries in Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont that are open to the public. Native Plant Trust is among the first organizations worldwide to receive Advanced Conservation Practitioner accreditation by London-based Botanic Gardens Conservation International (BGCI), which included an endorsement by an International Advisory Council representing six continents. Please visit http://www.NativePlantTrust.org.

Two of Native Plant Trust’s core initiatives–the New England Plant Conservation Program and Plant Conservation Volunteer program–engage professionals and community volunteers in rare species monitoring, seed collection, and habitat management. By working closely with Natural Heritage programs and conservation organizations in all six New England states, seed of rare species are banked for conservation purposes, such as population augmentation, reintroduction, and research. Since beginning seed collections in 1989, the bank has amassed over 2,000 collections of 459 unique taxa.

Internship Description

Native Plant Trust is offering a 6-month internship in applied seed conservation starting January 2023. The intern will work closely with the Research Botanist and Seed Technician to manage the seed bank of rare and endangered plants. Position duties will vary seasonally, including field work (e.g. plant surveys, seed collections), lab work (e.g. seed cleaning, germination trials), data management (IrisBG), and applied conservation administration (e.g. permits, reporting).

The intern will work with conservation staff to create a personal education plan, have the opportunity to take Native Plant Trust’s educational programs and courses at no cost, and design and execute an independent project in the form of an original experiment, statistical analysis, literature review, and/or protocol development. Interns are encouraged to present their work at local and national scientific conferences and invited to co-author manuscripts.

NOTE – The position may include challenging field and lab work conditions, such as inclement weather, repetitive motions, and risk of exposure to ticks, poison ivy, and similar organisms. Personal protective equipment will be provided.

Desired Skills

Ideal candidates will have an interest in seed biology, seed banking, and/or plant conservation. Experience in environmental or plant research preferred, but not required. Interns must respect and maintain the confidentiality of rare species locations and sensitive data.

Details

Starting date – Tuesday Jan. 3, 2023 (some flexibility available)
Location – Garden in the Woods and Framingham State University, Framingham, MA, with time at our Nasami Farm nursery.
COVID-19 – All employees must provide proof of full vaccination, including boosters, and must follow all COVID-19 safety precautions while on site.
Hours and Compensation – 40 hours/week at $15/hour. Interns are covered by worker’s compensation and receive sick-time benefits, but Native Plant Trust does not provide health insurance or vacation benefits to seasonal employees.
Housing – Interns have the option of renting a room ($300/month) for the duration of the internship in a five-bedroom house a short walk from Garden in the Woods.

Native Plant Trust is an equal opportunity employer and values diversity. All employment is decided on the basis of qualifications, merit, and business need.

To Apply

Submit a cover letter and resume via email (Subject: “Seed Internship Application”) by November 28, 2022 to:

Dr. Jessamine Finch

Research Botanist

jfinch@NativePlantTrust.org

Include the names and contact information (email & phone) for three references in your resume. Please submit your application materials as attached PDF files entitled “NPT-SeedIntern-CoverLetter_[LastName].pdf” and “NPT-SeedIntern-Resume_[LastName].pdf”.

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