Internship Program at Morris Arboretum
Flora of Pennsylvania
Description
The Flora of Pennsylvania Internship is a joint program between the Morris Arboretum of the University of Pennsylvania and The Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University. The Flora of Pennsylvania Intern receives training and work experience in many aspects of managing collections in a major herbarium, and an opportunity to contribute to a modern state flora through a research project on some aspect of the flora of Pennsylvania. This internship requires a dedication to building a professional career in botany. This position is supported by the Eli Kirk Price Endowment.
Janet Mansaray
2017-18 The Eli Kirk Price Endowed Flora of PA Intern
Duties and Responsibilities
- Help manage (file, repair, image, annotate, etc.) botanical specimens in the nationally important herbarium collection at the Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University
- Participate in the ongoing botanical research activities in the Morris Arboretum Botany Department
- Complete an independent study project under the direction of your supervisor
- Work at two weekend Arboretum events - Fall Festival and Plant Sale
- Enroll in and complete two academic courses at Penn: LARP755 (Fall) and LARP756 (Spring)
- Participate in intern sessions as scheduled (typically weekly outside of academic year)
- Learn to follow proper safety practices
- Perform additional duties as requested
Qualifications/Requirements
- Undergraduate degree in botany, or biology with course work in botany
- A dedication to building a professional career in botany
- Self-motivation and reliability is expected
- Keen powers of observation and an active curiosity
- Ability to work independently with minimal supervision
Work Environment
Work time in this internship is divided between the Botany Departments at Morris Arboretum (60%) and the Academy of Natural Sciences (40%). The Botany Department is an academic unit of the Arboretum, thus a healthy intellectual curiosity, an engagement with the primary literature, and the ability to write scientific papers are all desirable characteristics/skills of the intern in this position. The Pennsylvania Flora Intern may spend time out-of-doors, in the laboratory, or in other settings, as required. This position generally requires a willingness to travel, with some travel covering multiple days.
Past Project Topics
- Morphological and Anatomical Analysis of a Putative Hybrid of Potamogeton Found in Pennsylvania Floristic Inventory
- Vegetation Mapping and Management Recommendations for an Area Adjacent to the Pine Swamp Natural Area, French Creek State Park, Pennsylvania
- Characterizing the Habitat of the Globally Rare Sedge Carex polymorpha (Cyperaceae) in Nescopeck State Park, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania
- The Current Status of Ruella in Pennsylvania and Eastern North America: A Natural History, Allozyme, and Mophometric Study
Click here to read the 2011-2012 Flora Intern Report.
Click here to read the 2010-2011 Flora Intern Report.
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