Research Intern

 Research Intern  

Holden Arboretum  

Internship  

Opportunity:   

The Research department seeks several Summer Research Interns. Research Interns will spend the summer conducting research at Holden Forests & Gardens (HF&G) within the Arboretum campus’ 3,600 acres of forested land, extensive living plant collections, and high-tech laboratories. Types of skills learned over the summer may include, for example: plant and insect identification; microbial isolation and culturing; extracting, amplifying, and analyzing DNA; thermal and spectral phenotyping, micro-controllers for environmental monitoring. Interns will also learn about experimental design, data analysis in R, and science communication. Interns may work with other Holden Forests & Garden Departments, with opportunities for cross-training. In addition, all members of the Holden Forests & Gardens’ (HF&G) intern cohort will have the chance to participate in professional development, such as workshops, scientific lectures, networking, and field trip experiences. All interns will have the opportunity to develop and present their research at HF&G’s SEARCH symposium. This position is based at the Holden Arboretum campus’ Long Center for Plant and Environmental Science in Kirtland, OH with occasional travel to the Cleveland Botanical Garden in Cleveland, OH.   

​Position Details:   

• Internship begins on May 19, 2026, flexibility in start date with academic scheduling needs
• Applications are due February 9, 2026 
• 12-week internship   
• Approximately 40 hours per week   
• Pay $14.00/hour   
• Low-cost housing may be available   
• Open to U.S. citizens and permanent residents   
• Open to undergraduates and recent graduates   

Key Responsibilities:   

Key Responsibilities of the Research Interns will include, but are not limited to:    

• Work with supervisor to develop and complete an independent project which will be presented at the SEARCH symposium at the end of the internship   
• Other duties as assigned   

Summer Research Interns will conduct research under one of the following broad themes:      

1. Evolutionary Ecology – How does trait variation in natural populations shape their potential for evolutionary responses to climate change? 
2. Forest Health – How do plant diseases and infestations impact native trees and ecosystems?   
3. Plant-Microbe Symbiosis – How do microbe-microbe and microbe-host interactions influence organismal and ecosystem resilience under climate change?  
4. Plant Physiological Ecology – How do plants manage and respond to climate stress, and how does this shape the future of plants on earth?   
5. Restoration Ecology – How do global change drivers, including climate change, affect the natural world and how can we employ restoration techniques to support healthy ecosystems?   
6. Soil Ecology – How do microbes in the soil shape plant communities and their function in the ecosystem?    
7. Population Ecology  – How do microenvironments impact growth, survival, and distribution of tree species and structure forest types? 

  Qualifications and Skills:   

• Support Holden Forests & Gardens’ mission, vision, and values 
• Demonstrate a passion for people and nature   
• Pursuing or recently completed an undergraduate degree, preferred   
• Strong communication, organizational skills, adaptability, and critical thinking skills, highly desired   
• Able to work well in a diverse team, with other interns, and volunteers   
• Able to work independently when needed   
• Familiarity with Microsoft 365 products, specifically Teams, Outlook (email and calendar), Word, Excel, and PowerPoint or the ability to learn   
• Reliable transportation and ability to get to both the Holden Arboretum and Cleveland Botanical Gardens for various trainings, a plus

Apply:   

Would YOU like to join us and play an integral part at this exciting time for HF&G and add a competitive edge to your resume and experience? Applications are due February 9, 2026. 

Qualified applicants should submit résumé, cover letter specifying research themes of interest from the seven broad themes above, and contact information for at least two references directly through this link. 

Holden Forests & Gardens is an equal opportunity employer and values an authentic sense of belonging at all levels of the organization, including staff, volunteers, Board of Directors, and visitors. HF&G believes that working toward an equitable culture that values all perspectives enriches the work environment, helping achieve our goal to build a greener and healthier Northeast Ohio. We are working to create and sustain a supportive environment and sense of belonging for people of all backgrounds.  HF&G promotes an equitable approach in its hiring, retention, and promotion; in Board recruitment efforts; and in community partnerships and programming.