Plant Records Curation Intern

Are you a student who is passionate about plants and our environment, loves collecting data, and committed to supporting the Gardens’ IDEA (Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Accessibility) goals? We’re looking for a Plant Records Curation Intern excited about inspiring meaningful connections among people, plants, and nature in one of the most beautiful settings in Maine. See the full listing on our website: https://www.mainegardens.org/employment/  

The Plant Records Curation Intern will gain hands-on experience in data recording, mapping, and imaging the Gardens’ living collections. With the opportunity to work throughout Coastal Maine Botanical Garden’s diverse garden spaces and engage with plants each day, this intern will be immersed in the daily operations and deep project work that form the backbone of plant records work. This will include updating our plant records database and our accompanying web portal, Garden Explorer, thereby improving delivery of our living collections information to the public, staff, and volunteers, increasing the engagement and dissemination of educational content to these audiences.  

Full-time, hourly, $16.00 per hour  

Late May through Mid-August 2024  

Intern housing is available for a biweekly rate 

Primary Functions:  

Under the supervision of the Plant Science and Collections Specialist, and using various software and mapping equipment, the intern will:   

• Assist with creating and installing accession tags throughout the living collections.
• Assist with photographing and mapping the living collections.
• Assist with adding new accession records of plant material to the plant records database.
• Assist with data recording and database updates for the living collections.
• Assist with creating display plant labels.
• Work collaboratively with a team of staff and volunteers.

Requirements 

 Qualifications:  

• Coursework or training in plant science, botany, horticulture, or a related field.
• Familiarity with the conventions of plant nomenclature.
• Experience using databases, spreadsheets, and GIS is preferred but not required.
• Commitment to working across the organization to support the integration of IDEA (Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Access) principles into Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens’ internal operations and its relationships with visitors and guests.

Work schedule:  

This is a twelve-week internship at 40 hours/week from late May to mid-late August. Flexible start and end date. There is an hourly wage for this internship. The successful candidate is responsible for his/her own transportation to and from the workplace. Assistance finding housing is available.   

Physical and environmental factors:   

Approximate percentages of time tasks are performed in carrying out the essential functions of this position:  

70% of the time bending/stooping, squatting, reaching above shoulder level, kneeling, hand/fingers used for repetitive motion, hands/fingers used for fine manipulation, hands/fingers used for firm grasping, head/neck in rotational movements, head/neck in extension movements, head/neck in flexing movements.  

30% of the time in a sitting position.  

The maximum load the employee will be required to lift/carry is 35 or 50 lbs. per Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens Employee Manual.