Internship Opportunities in Applied Systematics

Preparing native seeds for prairie
restoration in the Willamette Valley

Students will have an opportunity to gain practical experience through a 3 to 6 month-long internship in industry. During their internship, students will learn more about plant systematics and taxonomy applicable to the private and public sectors. Problems related to the conservation of endangered plants, the control of invasive plant species, and habitat restoration with native plants are examples of potential areas of focus for the internship.

The internship should be a rigorous training experience (http://psm.science.oregonstate.edu/internships), but is flexible with respect to focus and timeline to attract corporate partners and meet students’ specific career goals and interests. The student’s Graduate Committee and PSM Program Coordinator will provide guidance during exploration of project options; however, it is up to the student to formally secure and initiate the internship.

Measuring natural variation in
Sidalcea campestris, a Willamette Valley endemic

The following companies have provided internships for PSM Applied Systematics in Botany students in the past or have hired graduates from this program:

• Institute for Applied Ecology (Corvallis OR)
• U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Portland OR)
• U.S. Department of Agriculture – Forest Service (Corvallis OR)
• Winterbrook Planning, LLC (Portland OR)
• Department of Environmental Quality (Portland OR)
• Seeds of Success (Albuquerque NM)

The following organizations might be helpful or have an interest in hiring interns in the future:

• Willamette National Forest (Eugene OR)

An overview of companies that have hired and supported PSM students in the U.S. can be viewed on the national PSM website.