Plant Evaluation Intern

The Morton Arboretum ranks among the world's foremost public gardens, noted for its exceptional plant collections, beautiful garden and landscape displays, practical research focus, and rich herbarium and library collections. The Morton Arboretum, located in the Chicago suburb Lisle, Illinois, is offering a Plant Evaluation Internship opportunity. The duration of this internship is three months.

This opportunity will provide experience in plant evaluations of the living collections and in a plant breeding program. The intern will focus on an independent project evaluating trial pack plants distributed by J. Frank Schmidt & Son Company. The experience and results of the project will be presented at a departmental seminar. Rotation through various horticultural programs in the Collections & Horticulture department will provide exposure to all aspects of horticulture that are necessary to manage and maintain a public garden. Application review will begin within two weeks of application submission. Deadline for application submission is February 17, 2025.

Position Summary: This internship offers meaningful professional, educational, and experiential opportunities in public garden horticulture, plant evaluations, new plant development, and curatorial practices and supports the strategic goals of The Morton Arboretum. The intern will focus on plant evaluation projects in the living collections contributing to the execution of the Arboretum mission. 

Essential Functions: 

• Gain practical experience by working in the Collection and Horticulture Program departmental areas: living collections, display horticulture, new plant development, and plant production.

• Complete an independent project focused on the evaluation of plants in the living collections supporting Arboretum goals. Present project results at the completion of the internship. 

• Participate in additional activities to incorporate aspects of a public garden not covered in daily work. These activities may include meetings with staff members, educational sessions, or field trips.

• Demonstrate alignment with the Arboretum’s employee core values to be inclusive, take ownership, work together, keep learning, and make the Arboretum exceptional.

• Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications: Current enrollment in or recent completion of an Associate’s, Bachelor’s, or graduate program in horticulture, plant biology, environmental sciences, or a related life or natural sciences program required. Ability to work in the United States required. 

Success Factors:

Demonstrable interest in plants and a strong interest in learning more about their care and curatorial practices in a public garden setting. Interest and willingness to experience various facets of horticulture. Ability to work outdoors in all weather conditions. 

Physical Demands and Work Environment: The physical demands and work environment characteristics described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform these essential functions.

• Physical Demands:  May be asked to perform some physical activity, including limited lifting and carrying (up to 30 lbs.), climbing (up to 8 ft.), and bending. Ability to travel around the Arboretum on paved, wood-chipped, and dirt paths over varied and uneven terrain, in various weather conditions. 

• Work Environment: Work is performed in a combined indoor and outdoor setting. 

• Equipment: General office equipment, general hand gardening tools, hand power tools, utility cart.

For full consideration, please submit a cover letter and resume.

The hourly rate is $20.00/ hour

The Morton Arboretum is a champion for diversity, supporting a culture of inclusion that attracts, inspires, and engages people to achieve success.  The Arboretum is committed to hire and develop employees based on job-related qualifications irrespective of race, religion, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, disability, or veteran status.  To increase diversity in professions related to the public garden realm, we encourage applications from underrepresented minorities, persons with disabilities, and veterans.  

The Morton Arboretum is dedicated to complying with our obligations as an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer.  All applicants are guaranteed equal consideration for employment.