| Hosting Organization |
Meadowview Biological Research Station 8390 Fredericksburg Tnpk. Woodford, VA 22580 www.pitcherplant.org meadowview@pitcherplant.org 804-633-4336 |
| Number of Positions | 4 internships |
| Location | Meadowview headquarters in Caroline County, VA and The Center for Biodiversity at Joseph Pines Preserve, Sussex County, VA. |
| Start / End Date | May 18 – July 31, 2026 |
| Application Close Date | March 15, 2026 |
| To Apply | Please visit pitcherplant.org – Job Openings for the application. Complete applications include application form, cover letter, resume, transcripts, three letters of reference, and a VA State Police Sex Offender and Criminal History background check (SP-167), for applicants over 21 years of age. |
Position Description & Requirements
The Horticulturist Intern position is designed for a current horticulture or biology student, or a college graduate with a degree in those or related fields. Minimum GPA requirement is 3.2. The intent of the program is to train the individual in the five-step process of Meadowview Biological Research Station including discovery, propagation, research, reintroduction, and education. The work for the interns will focus on Meadowview headquarters and the National Sarracenia Collection. The interns will work at Meadowview headquarters, nursery, and Central Virginia Preserve.
The intern must: be able to produce well written reports; be in excellent physical condition; lift 50 pounds; possess a valid driver’s license and have an insured motor vehicle; be familiar and proficient with scientific methods, techniques, and tools. Meadowview expects a well rounded individual who can work with the public and represent the organization in a professional manner. We expect a strong work ethic, interest in the subject we are presenting, and a willingness to put in the time to master the material. This may involve extensive internet research, or work in the evenings reading, studying, and understanding scientific papers.
No smoking or pets are allowed. The intern must supply a composition notebook and make daily notes of activities and accomplishments in a manner consistent with acceptable scientific standards. The notebook becomes a historical record of the intern work at Meadowview and becomes the property of Meadowview at the completion of the internship. The intern must arrive prepared with steel toed work boots, leather work gloves, safety glasses, work clothing, and Permethrin 0.5% (Repel or similar product) tick repellant for field work. The intern will be expected to read and critique scientific articles on a weekly basis. The intern must receive a grade of B to successfully pass the Meadowview intern program.
Grading
Interns will be evaluated based on testing through weekly quizzes (20%), how well they meet production goals in a nursery (15%), maintaining cleanliness in the workplace and living quarters (15%), notebook (15%), positive attitude and social skills (15%), and final (20%).
Specific Duties
- Assist horticulturist in plant sales and orders
- Groom plant collection and weed walkways
- Maintain greenhouse facilities and collection
- Maintain and repot outside plant bed collection
- Provide brochures to general public, answer their questions, and have visitors sign guestbook
- Maintain facilities and living quarters by mopping, vacuuming, and dusting on a weekly or daily basis, whichever is needed first
- Provide general oversight of facilities
- Participate in dialogue with staff and other interns pertaining to reading assignments, research, and intern observations
- Assist in research projects
- Assist in habitat restoration, invasive species control, and data collection on Meadowview preserves. Activities include, but are not limited to: map and census rare plant populations, assist with cordwood collection, collect data from monitoring wells on a daily basis.
- Other duties as assigned