Project Descriptions
2025–2026 Academic Year
Forest Ecology Lab (part-time, September 2025–May 2026): Trees at The Morton Arboretum record and preserve decades to centuries of information on growth responses to environmental conditions in their annual rings. In collaboration with the Herbarium, we are forming a formal archival collection of wood cross-sections so that comparative research on growth trends and wood anatomy can be performed while leveraging the wealth of information and extended records (e.g. Herbarium collections, BRAHMS online living collections database) that is truly unique to The Morton Arboretum. Student interns will assist with the full cycle of collections development and curation, including specimen cataloging, sample preparation, dendrochronological analysis, and digitization.
Special considerations: Interns must be able to lift 30+ pounds assisted (15 pounds unassisted) and must be comfortable using power tools, including belt sanders and potentially saws (after training). Applicants do not need to know how to use these tools already, but must not be afraid to learn. Applicants must also be able to wear an N95 mask respirator and pass a respirator physical and fit test.
Soil Ecology Lab (part-time, September 2025–May 2026): The Soil Ecology Lab at The Morton Arboretum studies plant-soil interactions in a changing world. We investigate how interactions among plants, microbes, and soil influence ecosystem responses to environmental changes. We seek to translate ecological understanding of plant-soil interactions into effective techniques for restoring and managing natural and urban ecosystems. The fellow will participate in a variety of projects where we ask how trees impact soil properties; how plants, fungi, and soils respond to management; and how to improve urban soils for trees and ecosystem services.
This fellowship will expose the fellow to a mix of field, greenhouse, and lab work. Fieldwork includes plant surveys, sample collections, and soil sampling; greenhouse work includes measuring plant growth and photosynthesis rates and destructive harvesting; and lab work includes processing soil samples, analyzing soil and leaf nutrient contents, and sorting litter collected monthly from plots throughout the Arboretum. We seek a fellow with a desire to learn more about soils and plants to join our supportive and passionate group.
Tree Conservation Biology Lab (part-time, September 2025–May 2026): The Tree Conservation Biology lab does work that lies in the intersection of genetics and conservation. In particular, we focus on utilizing genetic information to inform and improve conservation outcomes of threatened tree species. The fellow will participate in these efforts by assisting in all steps of the DNA data collection process, as well as managing data and preparing supplies for fieldwork and outreach, for a project working on an endangered oak species.
Students participating in this fellowship will have the opportunity to gain experience with data collection, database management, and the many steps of genetic lab work (sample organization and preparation, extraction, quantification, amplification, sequencing, and data analysis). Candidates need not have previous lab work experience, but do need to be detail oriented, thorough, and strong in written and spoken communication, and enthusiastic for conservation and teamwork.