Summer Research Intern
Opportunity:
The Research department seeks several Summer Research Interns. Research Interns spend the summer conducting research at the Holden Arboretum, a part of Holden Forests & Gardens (HF&G), located near Cleveland, OH. The Arboretum offers over 3,600 acres of forested land, extensive living plant collections, and high-tech laboratories. Skills learned over the summer may include: plant and insect identification; microbial isolation and culturing; extracting, amplifying, and analyzing DNA; measuring plant gas exchange. Interns will also learn about experimental design, data analysis in R, and science communication. In addition, interns will be involved in professional development, such as weekly workshops, scientific lectures, and networking. The intern will have the opportunity for cross-departmental working and to participate in professional development experiences with all Holden Forests & Gardens’ interns. All interns will have the opportunity to develop and present their research at HF&G’s SEARCH symposium. This position is based at the Holden Arboretum campus at the Long Science Center building in Kirtland, OH with occasional travel to the Cleveland Botanical Garden in Cleveland, OH.
Position Details:
- Position begins in May, flexibility in start date
- 12-week internship
- Approximately 40 hours per week
- Pay $12.50 / hour
- Low-cost housing may be available
- Open to U.S. citizens and permanent residents
- Open to undergraduates or recent graduates
Key Responsibilities:
Key Responsibilities of the Research Interns will include, but are not limited to:
- Support Holden Forests & Gardens’ mission vision, values, and core commitment
- 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 duties as assigned
Summer Research Interns will conduct research under one of five broad themes:
Evolutionary ecology – How do plants respond to environmental change through the lens of ecology, genomics, and microbiome?
Plant physiology – How does plant physiology vary across environments and over time, and how does this shape the distribution of plants on earth?
Restoration ecology – How do global change drivers, including climate change, affect the natural world and how can we employ restoration techniques to support healthy ecosystems?
Soil ecology – How do microbes in the soil shape plant communities and their function in the ecosystem?
Qualifications and Skills:
- Demonstrate a passion for people and nature
- Pursuing or recently completed an undergraduate degree, preferred
- Passion for connecting people with the wonder, beauty and values of trees and plants to inspire action for healthy communities
- Ability to understand basic instructions is required
- Strong communication, organizational skills, adaptability, and critical thinking skills, highly desired
- Able to work well in a diverse team
- Able to work independently when needed
- Proficient use of Microsoft 365 products, specifically Teams, Outlook (email and calendar), Word, Excel, and PowerPoint
- Working with volunteers, a plus
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 applications will begin on February 01, 2023.
Qualified applicants should submit résumé, letter of interest specifying research themes of interest, 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 diverse and talented workforce. Interns who join the HF&G team will receive a comprehensive experience that supports individual department needs, integrates professional experiences to develop skills, and fosters opportunity recognition for future professionals. We strive for all HF&G Interns to have a transformative experience exploring and growing in their area of study and gaining exposure to a variety of career options.