Venus Flytrap Intern

Position Overview

The Venus Flytrap Intern will work with the Conservation Department at the North Carolina Botanical Garden (NCBG) to support and advance rare plant conservation research. This position provides hands‑on experience in field botany, plant conservation, and applied ecological research.

The intern will assist with a research project examining how climate change and fire affect Venus flytrap (Dionaea muscipula) and associated plants' populations and how shifting climate conditions may influence optimal prescribed fire frequency in wet pine savanna ecosystems. This project also investigates whether Venus flytrap can serve as an indicator species for understanding how other fire adapted rare plant species respond to climate change.

The intern will have the opportunity to design and conduct an independent field or laboratory research project focused on one or more rare plant species associated with the wet pine savanna community. Additional responsibilities include assisting the Conservation Botanist with rare plant surveys throughout the North Carolina Coastal Plain and helping with long‑term demographic monitoring of Venus flytrap populations.

This position has the possibility to extend into the next academic year, with hours reduced to a maximum of 15 hours per week during that period.

• Driving is required. A driving record check will be conducted as part of the hiring process.