At The Huntington, we believe that having a team of diverse backgrounds and voices working together will enable us to support and promote the appreciation of the humanities, the arts, and botanical science. The Huntington is proud to be an equal opportunity employer and is committed to providing employment opportunities regardless of race, religious creed, color, national origin, disability, sex, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation or any other characteristic protected by local, state or federal law.
Founded in 1919, The Huntington is a collections-based research and educational institution open to the public, housing world-class library, art, and botanical collections. Its mission is to support research and promote education in the arts, humanities, and botanical science and to display and interpret its extraordinary resources for diverse audiences.
Here we are committed to the highest of standards in all that we do – from preserving and protecting the collections, to exhibitions, educational and scholarly programming, visitor and reader services, and beyond. Achieving excellence across these pursuits requires a diversity of perspectives, expertise, experience, and methodologies.
At The Huntington, our organizational Culture is shaped by the following core values: Intellectual curiosity, Collaboration, Stewardship, Belonging, and Integrity.
Intellectual Curiosity: Knowledge, lifelong learning, and a spirit of inquiry are at the core of our mission and organizational culture.
Collaboration: Teamwork and a collaborative attitude are important at all levels of The Huntington. We foster relationships internally among our departments and externally with organizations throughout the community.
Stewardship: We are committed to the care and development of our collections, our financial and physical resources, our staff, and our community.
Belonging: We strive to attract and maintain a workforce of individuals with diverse talents, backgrounds, and perspectives. Our organizational culture promotes a sense of welcome, inclusion, and connection.
Integrity: We value respect and honesty, working to fulfill our mission with honor and ethical principles.
About the Role
Funded by the Tianqiao and Chrissy Chen Science Initiative, this internship offers hands-on experience in the Herb Garden, focusing on propagation, harvesting, and post-harvest processing of medicinal and useful plants. Interns will develop a small-scale production workflow, organize plant material for future use, and document processes to support long-term garden operations.
The internship includes a culminating project and presentation, demonstrating how plant production systems can support both horticultural practice and educational programming. This is a 9-week, full-time opportunity from June 1 – July 31.
is ideal for students pursuing careers in plant science, horticulture, or conservation.
Interns report to the Assistant to the Curator, Rose Garden and Head Gardener Herb Garden, assisting with daily garden tasks and contributing to the maintenance and development of the collection.
S/he/they will demonstrate a background of working directly with people from diverse racial, ethnic, geographic and socioeconomic backgrounds, using a welcoming, inclusive, and accessible approach.
Essential Duties
Propagation of herbaceous and woody plants (cuttings, division, seed starting)
Seed collection, cleaning, and storage for future seasonal use
Harvesting of plant material for drying, storage, and educational use
Processing plant material (bundling, drying, labeling, storage organization)
Assisting with greenhouse and apothecary management (irrigation, up-potting, monitoring plant health)
Supporting seasonal planting and garden transitions
General garden maintenance (weeding, mulching, irrigation adjustments, bed care)
Assisting with organization of herb garden systems (storage, plant tracking, workflow improvements)
Supporting occasional educational or public-facing activities as needed
Other duties as assigned
Candidate Requirements and Experience
Knowledge, skills, and abilities:
Currently enrolled undergraduate/trade student or recent graduate (within 1 year)
Background or strong interest in horticulture, botany, herbalism, or agriculture
Interest in medicinal plants, plant use, or production systems strongly preferred
Ability to work outdoors in varying weather conditions
Ability to lift moderate weight and perform physical garden tasks
Familiarity with hand tools and basic horticultural practices
Ability to work independently and as part of a team
Strong attention to detail and organization
Working Conditions
Garden work will require awareness and avoidance of potential hazards inherent in a public garden. Appropriate attire for the tasks assigned may include long pants and sleeves, close-toed, sturdy shoes and hat. Gloves and tools will be provided.
Work outdoors in variable weather conditions and in climate-controlled growing spaces with tropical-like temperatures and humidity.
Use of tools and equipment is common.
Ability to perform physical work in the gardens and collections, which may include bending, pulling, stooping, hauling, and lifting up to 50 pounds from time to time.
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
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 employees in this job.
Applicants must be undergraduate or graduate students (minimum age 18) whose field of study aligns with the internship opportunity.
This internship is available to Los Angeles area residents.
The Huntington will not sponsor J-1 visas for internship participants at this time.
Pay Rate: $17.50/hr.
Discounts for staff in The Huntington Store and restaurants
Free admission to various museums and cultural institutions
Free passes each month to welcome family and friends to visit the grounds