Eli Kirk Price Plant Science Apprentice; Morris Arboretum & Gardens

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Eli Kirk Price Plant Science Apprentice;
Morris Arboretum & Gardens

Temporary Employee - Non-Exempt

The Eli Kirk Price Plant Science Apprentice is a joint position between Morris Arboretum & Gardens of the University of Pennsylvania and The Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University. This apprenticeship provides post-baccalaureate training and hands-on experience in managing both physical and digital herbarium collections, as well as exposure to botanical research conducted in the field, laboratory, and herbarium settings.

Designed for individuals who have already committed to a professional career in botany, the apprenticeship offers immersive training in plant science, collections management, and research methodologies. The apprentice will work closely with professional botanists and researchers and will gain experience across multiple institutions and research environments. Whoever is selected for this part-time position should expect to work upwards of 40 hours a week, depending on operational need.

This position pays $16.00 an hour.

• Assist in managing botanical specimens in the nationally significant herbarium the Academy of Natural Sciences, including filing, repairing, imaging, and annotating specimens.
• Participate in ongoing botanical research activities within the Morris Arboretum Plant Science Department, which may include field work, laboratory research, data analysis, and herbarium-based work.
• Contribute to herbarium activities at Morris Arboretum (MOAR), the Morris Herbarium, and virtual platforms such as the Mid-Atlantic Herbaria Consortium portal.
• Follow established safety protocols and best practices in laboratory, field, and collections-based environments.
• Perform additional duties as assigned in support of research and collections management activities.

• Bachelor’s degree in Botany, Biology, or a related field, with coursework in botany required.
• Demonstrated commitment to pursuing a professional career in botany.
• Strong attention to detail and organizational skills.
• Self-motivated, reliable, and able to work independently with minimal supervision.
• Ability to adapt to varied work settings and responsibilities.

Work time is divided between:

• Morris Arboretum Plant Science Department (approximately 3 days per week).
• Botany Department at the Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University (approximately 2 days per week).

Both departments are academic research units, and successful candidates will demonstrate intellectual curiosity, familiarity with primary scientific literature, and interest in data analysis and scientific writing. Laboratory work may include molecular research related to phylogenetic or population genetic studies; prior experience in molecular techniques is desirable but not required. Work may occur outdoors, in laboratories, herbarium spaces, or other research environments.

Occasional travel may be required, including multi-day trips.

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