The Nursery Intern Program at NWREC is designed for students interested in ornamental crop production, Christmas tree research and Integrated Pest Management. The program focuses on research methods for solving problems commonly found in the nursery and Christmas tree industries.

We accept students from throughout the United States and around the world. We accept only the most ambitious students. The intern program challenges students to think creatively and develop problem-solving skills.

There are two primary learning objectives for this program. First, improving research skills by developing experiments to solve common production problems in Oregon nurseries. Second, developing communication skills by helping students with written and oral presentations about nursery-related issues.

To view the  2013 Nursery Intern Program flier (PDF)

Research

We work closely with nurseries and Christmas tree growers throughout Oregon to identify production problems and develop experiments to provide practical solutions to those problems. Examples of research conducted by student interns include:

• Alternative soil-less substrates
• Asexual plant propagation
• Insect life cycle
• Nursery crop fertility
• Plant evaluation
• Plant pathology
• Soilless substrate physiochemical properties
• Technology evaluation and integration
• Water and irrigation management

Communications Skills

Applied research has no value unless the results can be effectively communicated to others. This internship program will improve student communication skills in one or more of the following ways:

• Learning to develop web pages for publishing on the Internet,
• Writing articles for publication in trade magazines,
• Delivering oral presentations at nursery workshops or science meetings,
• Improving written and spoken English.

Quick Facts About the Program

• Primary Instructor: Professor Chal Landgren
• Location: Aurora, Oregon (20 miles south of Portland)
• Duration of Internship: 3-to-18 months
• Time of Internship: Year round, although most interns are hired for the summer growing season. Special consideration will be given to students who want to work during the months of February through May.
• Education:
  • For students in the United States, you must be enrolled in a college or university with plans to continue classes after completing the internship.
  • For international students, you must be enrolled in or have completed a college or university program equivalent to a bachelor of science in the USA.
• Pay: Students work 40 hours per week and are paid for each hour of work. Pay is based on experience.

Becoming a Nursery Intern at NWREC~

Applications for 2013 are currently closed. Please check back again for other possible opportunities~

Are you an ambitious student interested in ornamental crop production? Consider applying to become a nursery intern at North Willamette Research & Extension Center!