Intern - R&D

Spring Meadow Nursery produces potted shrub liners which are shipped throughout the United States and Canada. The liners are propagated by cuttings, they are rooted in 10 acres of Westbrook® greenhouses which are outfitted with traveling irrigators, high pressure fog system and computer controlled environment. After the cuttings are rooted, they are moved to Westbrook® open roof greenhouses to finish off the plants for sale. We continue to expand our operations every year and currently have over 40 acres of production area. Much of our growth can be attributed toward our focus on introducing new and exciting varieties thorough our Proven Winners® Color Choice® brand. We travel extensively throughout the world in search of new varieties, in addition to our own breeding efforts on site.

We are continually looking for qualified candidates to strengthen our staff. Our success as a company is directly related to the success of our team members. Without them we would not be where we are today. We offer internships to those looking to increase their experience level while still attending school. Each of our interns will rotate through the three main production departments in order to gain a well rounded perspective of the full production cycle.

 

The Laboratory and Plant Breeding Intern will be responsible for collecting, organizing, and processing plant tissue samples from seed lots which have been subjected to polyploidy-inducing treatments. Using a QuantaCyte flow cytometer, this individual will generate and record data in Excel. A portion of their time in the lab may also be spent preparing tissue culture media, performing micropropagation, and other laboratory-related tasks.

 In addition to flow cytometry, the Laboratory and Plant Breeding Intern will spend equal time performing plant breeding tasks, including but not limited to: hand-pollinations, pollen collection, and application of polyploidy-inducing treatments to germinating seedlings.

Primary Responsibilities:    

• Laboratory Work
  1. Flow Cytometry                                                                                                     Approximately 40% of time in the role
     • Collect plant tissue samples in the greenhouse/field
     • Process plant tissue samples according to pre-established SOPs
     • Generate and record flow cytometry data
     • Distinguish between conclusive and inconclusive results by evaluating histograms
  2. Tissue Culture                                                                                                     Approximately 10% of time in the role
     • Make tissue culture media by following recipes
     • Perform micropropagation of tissue cultures
     • Clean and organize glassware
• Plant Breeding                                                                                                              Approximately 50% of time in the role
  • Harvest and process pollen
  • Execute manual pollinations
  • Collect and clean seeds

Additional Responsibilities:

• Performs other related duties as required.
• Follow Spring Meadow Nursery, Inc. Employee Handbook
• Follow Spring Meadow Nursery, Inc. Safety Handbook.

 Knowledge and Skill Requirements:

• Pursuing an Associate or Bachelor’s degree in a plant science-related field or have 1-2 years or related work experience. Must be able to follow written instructions for laboratory procedures (SOPs). Must possess a high attention to detail as well as proficiency in operating basic laboratory tools such as digital scales and pipettes. Strong computer skills are required for data entry into Excel and navigation of CyPad programming. Ideal candidates will be self-motivated, hard-working, and passionate about plant research and breeding.
• Must possess the ability to lift, carry, or otherwise move 20 pounds.

Performance Requirements:

• Must maintain a level of performance equivalent to company standards, that being a “Meets Expectations” in all areas of your performance evaluations (including but not limited to, Self and Management reviews).

 *The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this job. They are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required of personnel so classified. 

Job Type: Full time Seasonal

Pay: starting at $18.50 hourly

Benefits: Subject to new hire waiting period. Including but not limited to health insurance, 401k, and paid time off. 

How to apply:

Please send a cover letter and resume via the external link or visit www.springmeadownursery.com.

This organization participates in E-Verify Employment Eligibility Verification. If you require an accommodation in the application process, please contact a member of our Human Resources team at (616) 846-4729.