About the role
The Herbarium at Royal Botanical Gardens (RBG) plays a vital role in conserving biodiversity, managing natural lands, supporting the recovery of at-risk species, and documenting both wild and cultivated plant collections. Home to approximately 65,000 plant specimens, the Herbarium includes many historically significant collections from our region and RBG’s nature sanctuaries.
We are seeking an enthusiastic and detail-oriented Botany Student to join our Science Department for the summer. This is an exciting opportunity to gain hands-on experience in botanical research, herbarium practices, and fieldwork across diverse ecosystems. You will contribute directly to the documentation and stewardship of RBG’s living and preserved collections while building valuable skills for a career in botany, ecology, or conservation science.
What You’ll Do
- Assist with floristic surveys in RBG’s terrestrial, wetland, and aquatic natural areas, following Ontario’s Ecological Land Classification (ELC) protocol and other survey methods
- Collect and prepare botanical specimens for inclusion in the Herbarium
- Identify plants in the field and in the Herbarium (pressed specimens) to species level, including woody and herbaceous plants from forest, grassland, wetland, and submerged aquatic environments
- Accurately record field data, conduct data quality checks, and prepare field notes and datasets for reporting
- Support herbarium collection care, including specimen processing and digitization
- Assist with other duties as required, including occasional support for restoration projects with other teams
What You Bring
- Advanced knowledge of the wild flora of southern Ontario, including terrestrial and wetland plants
- Experience using taxonomic keys and a solid understanding of botanical nomenclature
- Strong organizational skills and exceptional attention to detail, particularly in maintaining accurate field notes
- Proficiency with computers, including spreadsheets and digital record-keeping systems
- Ability to work both independently and collaboratively in a team-based environment
Why Work at RBG
At RBG, you’ll work alongside passionate scientists and conservation professionals in a setting that blends world-class gardens with ecologically significant natural lands. This role offers meaningful, hands-on experience in applied botany while contributing to important conservation and biodiversity initiatives.
Royal Botanical Gardens is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to fair and accessible employment practices. We encourage applications from members of equity-seeking communities, including women, racialized and Indigenous persons, persons with disabilities, and persons of all sexual orientations and gender identities/expressions.
Please submit your cover letter and resume as a single file through https://www.rbg.ca/careers/
Application deadline: March 25, 2025
Accommodation is available upon request under the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA).
We thank all applicants for their interest; however, only those selected for an interview will be contacted.
RBG uses Artificial Intelligence (AI) to support an efficient and fair recruitment process. AI assists with consistent application review, skill matching, and communication, with all decisions subject to human oversight. Questions about AI use may be directed to hr@rbg.ca .
About Royal Botanical Gardens
OUR MISSION We dedicate our expertise in horticulture, conservation, science and education to connect people, plants and place for the purpose of nurturing and preserving healthy growing life on our planet.
OUR VISION A world in which everyone is awake to the beauty, diversity and necessity of plants, and from that consciousness more actively works together to protect and preserve plant species and habitats and, by extension, our planet.
About the role
The Herbarium at Royal Botanical Gardens (RBG) plays a vital role in conserving biodiversity, managing natural lands, supporting the recovery of at-risk species, and documenting both wild and cultivated plant collections. Home to approximately 65,000 plant specimens, the Herbarium includes many historically significant collections from our region and RBG’s nature sanctuaries.
We are seeking an enthusiastic and detail-oriented Botany Student to join our Science Department for the summer. This is an exciting opportunity to gain hands-on experience in botanical research, herbarium practices, and fieldwork across diverse ecosystems. You will contribute directly to the documentation and stewardship of RBG’s living and preserved collections while building valuable skills for a career in botany, ecology, or conservation science.
What You’ll Do
- Assist with floristic surveys in RBG’s terrestrial, wetland, and aquatic natural areas, following Ontario’s Ecological Land Classification (ELC) protocol and other survey methods
- Collect and prepare botanical specimens for inclusion in the Herbarium
- Identify plants in the field and in the Herbarium (pressed specimens) to species level, including woody and herbaceous plants from forest, grassland, wetland, and submerged aquatic environments
- Accurately record field data, conduct data quality checks, and prepare field notes and datasets for reporting
- Support herbarium collection care, including specimen processing and digitization
- Assist with other duties as required, including occasional support for restoration projects with other teams
What You Bring
- Advanced knowledge of the wild flora of southern Ontario, including terrestrial and wetland plants
- Experience using taxonomic keys and a solid understanding of botanical nomenclature
- Strong organizational skills and exceptional attention to detail, particularly in maintaining accurate field notes
- Proficiency with computers, including spreadsheets and digital record-keeping systems
- Ability to work both independently and collaboratively in a team-based environment
Why Work at RBG
At RBG, you’ll work alongside passionate scientists and conservation professionals in a setting that blends world-class gardens with ecologically significant natural lands. This role offers meaningful, hands-on experience in applied botany while contributing to important conservation and biodiversity initiatives.
Royal Botanical Gardens is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to fair and accessible employment practices. We encourage applications from members of equity-seeking communities, including women, racialized and Indigenous persons, persons with disabilities, and persons of all sexual orientations and gender identities/expressions.
Please submit your cover letter and resume as a single file through https://www.rbg.ca/careers/
Application deadline: March 25, 2025
Accommodation is available upon request under the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA).
We thank all applicants for their interest; however, only those selected for an interview will be contacted.
RBG uses Artificial Intelligence (AI) to support an efficient and fair recruitment process. AI assists with consistent application review, skill matching, and communication, with all decisions subject to human oversight. Questions about AI use may be directed to hr@rbg.ca .
About Royal Botanical Gardens
OUR MISSION We dedicate our expertise in horticulture, conservation, science and education to connect people, plants and place for the purpose of nurturing and preserving healthy growing life on our planet.
OUR VISION A world in which everyone is awake to the beauty, diversity and necessity of plants, and from that consciousness more actively works together to protect and preserve plant species and habitats and, by extension, our planet.