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.

Primary Responsibilities: Approx. % of time

• Flow Cytometry – Ploidy Analysis 60%
  1. Collect plant tissue samples in the greenhouse/field
  2. Process plant tissue samples according to pre-established SOPs
  3. Generate and record flow cytometry data
  4. Distinguish between conclusive and inconclusive results by evaluating histograms
• Plant Breeding 20%
  1. Harvest and process pollen
  2. Execute manual pollinations
  3. Collect and clean seeds
• Tissue Culture 10%
  1. Make tissue culture media by following recipes
  2. Perform micropropagation of tissue cultures
  3. Clean and organize glassware

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.

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.