Botany Volunteer
Colorado Natural Heritage Program
Fort Collins, Colorado
| Job Type | Unpaid |
| Salary | This is an unpaid, volunteer position |
| Benefits | Training in plant specimen preparation and data processing, professional mentorship, and the opportunity to contribute valuable data to CSU’s Charles Maurer Herbarium. |
| Deadline | Nov 08, 2025 |
| Experience | 0 - 1 years |
Title: Botany Volunteer
Position Type: Volunteer, Part-time
Work Location: Based in Fort Collins, CO at Colorado State University
Pay Rate: This is an unpaid, volunteer position.
Duration: Flexible, minimum commitment of 4 hours per week.
Position Summary
Colorado Natural Heritage Program (CNHP) botanists have been collecting plant specimens for over 40 years all across the state of Colorado. As a result, there is a backlog of valuable botany data locked up in plant specimens and in field notebooks. Some of these specimens are of rare and endemic plant species and others are relatively common but they all help to paint a picture of Colorado’s biodiversity through time. That’s why the Colorado Natural Heritage Program needs you! This is an excellent opportunity for students, naturalists, or community members eager to gain hands-on experience in botany, biodiversity research, and museum curation.
We are seeking detail-oriented volunteers to help process plant specimens and their associated data. Volunteers will assist CNHP’s botanists with specimen organization, data digitization, and specimen preparation. Training will be provided with the goal of each volunteer becoming self-sufficient within one month.
Responsibilities/Duties
- Find and match data from field notebooks with their respective plant specimen.
- Sort specimens by potential conservation value.
- Digitize hand-written notes and ensure accurate data documentation.
- Sort prepared plant specimens by taxonomic order and assist with deposition into the Charles Maurer Herbarium at Colorado State University.
- Label and mount plant specimens for CNHP reference/training herbarium.
- Potentially identifying some of plant specimens.
Required Qualifications
- Ability to commit at least 4 hours per week.
- Attention to detail and commitment to accurate scientific data entry.
- Strong organizational and time management skills.
- Willingness to work independently after training.
- Interest in plants, biodiversity, or conservation science
Preferred Qualifications
- Coursework or background in botany, biology, ecology, or a related field.
- Prior experience with laboratory work and/or data entry
- Experience handling scientific specimens.
Application Instructions
To apply, email a resume to Jessica Cheadle at CNHP_Volunteer@colostate.edu and fill in CNHP volunteer application under Apply Here.
Please include “Botany Volunteer” in the subject line.
Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis and will remain open until filled.
CNHP is interested in finding the best candidates for these positions. We encourage you to apply, even if you don’t think you meet every one of our preferred qualifications – use your application to let us know what excites you about this role and what transferable skills or other qualities you would bring.
When you apply, please indicate that you are responding to the posting on Conservation Job Board.
| Category | Botany |
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