CONTRACTORS CORNER

 

Welcome to the Chicago Botanic Garden’s contract botanist’s page. In this section you can find information on how to appropriately make a seed collection for the Millennium Seed Bank Project, how to ship your collection to us, how to get paid (very important!) and information on other contract botanists.

At the Chicago Botanic Garden, we are trying to make seed collections of 250 species/year throughout the Midwest and northern Great Plains for the Millennium Seed Bank Project. Given that the best seed collections are made when you can frequently visit the target population and there are only a few staff members to make collections, we are looking for qualified botanists to help us out.

The majority of contract botanists are individuals that either work in natural areas, are graduate students that conduct research at a natural site or are avid botanists that can earn some side money for their passion. We are looking for individuals that will work independently while making seed collections for us. Contract botanists are expected to choose their target species, collect herbarium-worthy pressed vouchers, take data using a GPS and sign a contract. If needed, Chicago Botanic Garden staff will train prospective contract botanists and can loan a few plant presses/GPS units on a first-come, first-served basis. Contact us at msb@chicagobotanic.org if you are interested in pursuing the chance to earn some side money while conserving our rich biological diversity for future generations.