Chicago Botanic Garden in partnership with the Bureau of Land Management is
looking for botanists to intern with an exciting national botany project, Seeds
of Success.
Internships begin in early July and last for 5 months.
Compensation is $750 each two weeks.
We are looking for recent graduates who have good plant identification
skills, some field work experience and love to work outdoors! The ability to
use a GPS unit is important and GIS software experience is preferred, but not
necessary.
The SOS program operates through the Plant Conservation Alliance, an
interagency program in which BLM and CBG participates. The SOS program serves
two purposes. SOS is the United States contribution to the Royal Botanic
Garden KEW (England) Millennium Seed Bank project under which seed from
approximately 10% of the worlds flora are to be collected for long-term
germplasm storage and conservation research. Secondly, approximately half of
the seed collected by BLM is returned for storage in the U.S. to support
development of plant materials for land restoration purposes by BLM and other
entities.
The internships are 5 months in length but opportunities exist to continue
work overseas (Australia and/or UK) in seed biology or other botany related
field. Opportunities also exist to initiate a Masters program in Plant Biology
and Conservation with Northwestern University.
Richfield BLM Field Office, Utah
2 internship positions
Substantial time will be spent establishing and reading monitoring plots for
rare plant species in the Utah Basin. Some inventorying actions will also
occur. This is a particularly important assignment in that several rare plant
species in this area are in peril due to extensive oil and gas energy
exploration and development. The interns will also continue to be involved in
the collection of native plant seeds. This will be a continuation of the Seeds
of Success program. In all of these actions, the interns will normally be
accompanied by the primary mentor. However, there will be times that they will
be on their own. Therefore, they need to be willing to spend time in the field,
sometimes in rather difficult, remote conditions.
Rawlins BLM Field Office, Wyoming
Rock Springs BLM Field Office, Wyoming
3 internship positions
The major duties of this position will involve the collection of seeds for
the Seeds of Success program. The ability to identify native plants/weeds in
sagebvrush steppe, mountain shrub and salt desert communities of the The
Wyoming Basin and Intermountain West, knowledge of vegetation sampling
techniques and skill in plant collection and pressing is required. The ability
to navigate using map/orientation skills, as well as use of GPS units and GIS
software is desired.
New Mexico BLM State Office, Las Cruces, New Mexico
2 internship positions
Interns will perform standard Seeds of Success collections via established
protocol. Plant identification is a large part of this program. Previous
field experience, particularly in botany or related subjects is desired.
Familiarity with ArcMap GIS and mapping grade GPS would be useful. While SOS
is the primary focus, where possible, interns will assist with other plant
conservation program projects in progress during the summer. Projects may
include, inventory for rare plant species, completion of plant studies,
vegetation transecting, etc. Routine office work including record filing,
database input, etc may be assigned. Interns will be integrated into a field
office setting with various resource management specialists. When or if
available, interns may participate in local BLM sponsored training sessions and
outside symposia.
Colorado BLM State Office, Lakewood, Colorado
1 internship position
The plan for this internship is twofold working to implement the Seeds of
Success program in Colorado from the State Office and to participate in the
on-going rare plant monitoring and inventory program in Colorado. This intern
will have the opportunity to work with other graduate students and CBG interns
at the State Office as part of a team so the work will be quite variable and
will require a fair amount of field time. Strong plant identification skills
would be desired.
Medford BLM Field Office, Medford
2 internship positions
The major duties of this position will involve the collection of seeds for
the Seeds of Success program. The intern will be required to identify native
species using dichotomous keys, find desired plant populations in remote
locations using map and GPS technology, track phenology, and follow seed
collection and storage protocols. A variety of other duties will be assigned to
the intern to broaden their experience as time permits.
Requirements:
· Ability to use a dichotomous key
· Ability to identify plants to the family or genus
· Ability to work in the field for long hours
· BS or BA in ecology or plant biology
· US citizen or current work visa for the US
· Vehicle needed for personal use, work vehicle is provided
To Apply:
· Send a Letter of Interest and Resume to:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
· Ask 2 referees to direct a Letter of Recommendation to the same email
· Email an unofficial academic transcript to the same email
· Send an official, sealed academic transcript to:
Chicago Botanic Garden
Kristen Kordecki
1000 Lake Cook Road
Glencoe, IL
60022
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