Company: U.S. National Arboretum
Address: 3501 New York Ave. NE
Location: Washington, DC
Application Deadline: February 17, 2013
Position: 3 Full-time, Paid
Connections
Description
The U.S. National Arboretum was established in 1927 by an Act of Congress. The Arboretum is administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Research Service and maintains three locations in Washington D.C., Beltsville, MD, and McMinneville, TN. The mission of the Arboretum is to serve the public need for scientific research, education, and gardens that conserve and showcase plants to enhance the environment.
The U.S. National Arboretum offers a limited number of internships to qualified individuals seeking on-the-job work experience and training in horticulture, botany, research, and education. Selected individuals gain hands-on experience throughout the Arboretum's various plant collections, greenhouses, and research laboratories. All interns complete a project (group or independent) during their internship. In addition interns will enjoy a series of field trips to area gardens.
Responsibilities
Description: The mission of the U.S. National Arboretum is to enhance the economic, environmental, and aesthetic value of ornamental plants through research, conservation, and display. Pending available funding, the Floral and Nursery Plants Research Unit may have several research internships available this summer in areas such as molecular biology, plant pathology, plant breeding, horticulture, and production. Interns would be located in Beltsville, MD or at the Arboretum in northeast Washington, DC. Interns are assigned to a particular area within the arboretum. All participate in regularly scheduled educational programs and field trips, work on independent projects that benefit the arboretum, and are supervised by the arboretum's professional staff. Compensation is approximately $11.91/hr. The work week for most interns is Monday through Friday, 7:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. College credit may be arranged by the student and is encouraged.
Duties & Working Conditions: These positions are located in the Floral and Nursery Plants Research Unit in Beltsville, MD, or at the National Arboretum in Washington, D.C. Depending on the project, duties could include plant propagation, seed germination, pollinations, transplanting, DNA/RNA extraction and analysis, sequencing, PCR, and other laboratory, greenhouse, or nursery procedures.
To apply: Although these internships have not yet been funded, we are still accepting applications of interested candidates. Please send a cover letter, resume, transcripts (unofficial are acceptable), and a completed supplemental questionnaire via email to USNA.Internships@ars.usda.gov
Requirements
Qualifications: Applicants need to have either completed at least 24 hours of relevant course work or have acquired one year of practical experience in a plant production or laboratory setting. Experience in horticulture, plant science, or laboratory work and the ability to work independently are very important.
