Eli Kirk Price Plant Science Apprentice; Morris Arboretum & Gardens

University of Pennsylvania • Philadelphia, PA

4d • Onsite

About The Position

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.

Requirements

• 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.

Nice To Haves

• prior experience in molecular techniques is desirable but not required
• intellectual curiosity
• familiarity with primary scientific literature
• interest in data analysis and scientific writing

Responsibilities

• Assist in managing botanical specimens in the nationally significant PH Herbarium at 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.

Benefits

• Penn offers comprehensive medical, prescription, behavioral health, dental, vision, and life insurance benefits to protect you and your family’s health and welfare.
• Penn offers generous retirement plans to help you save for your future. Penn’s Basic, Matching, and Supplemental retirement plans allow you to save for retirement on a pre-tax or Roth basis. Choose from a wide variety of investment options through TIAA and Vanguard.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Part-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Number of Employees: 5,001-10,000 employees