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Botany Garden & Greenhouse - Greenhouse Assistant

Apply now(opens in a new window) Job No: 511632
Division/Organization: College of Letters & Science
Department: Botany
Job Type: UW Student Jobs
Remote Eligbility: Not Remote
Location: BIRGE HALL
Salary/Wage Range or Lump Sum: $13.00
Job Categories: Interpersonal Communication, Critical Thinking/Problem Solving, Teamwork/Collaboration, Professionalism/Work Ethic, Agriculture and Natural Resources, STEM, Facilities and Landscaping, Federal Work-Study Preferred

Department Overview:
The Botany Garden & Greenhouse is seeking a reliable and focused student to help care for diverse plants. Student Greenhouse Assistants will learn a variety of horticultural skills related to plant care and maintenance. They will receive comprehensive training and have opportunities for knowledge and skill development. Greenhouse Assistants work mostly independently once they are proficient in their role, but may also work as part of a team on specific tasks or projects.

The Botany Garden & Greenhouse living botanical collections are among the largest and most diverse university plant collections in the U.S. with 2300 taxa in 220 plant families spread across 8000 sq ft. of greenhouses and a 1.3 acre garden. These collections and facilities are used to support teaching and research in the Botany Department and beyond. Plants are delivered from the garden and greenhouse to all levels of Botany courses to help students learn. Additionally, the Botany Garden & Greenhouse hosts thousands of undergraduate students each year as they visit with their classes. The facility is also open to visitors, including the UW campus community and members of the public.

Anticipated Start Date:

 May/June 2026

Anticipated End Date (If Applicable):

  

Remote Work Eligibility Detail:

Not Remote

 

Anticipated Hours Per Week:

 Minimum: 4 to 10 hours per week; Plus approximately 4 additional hours for each weekend day worked. Maximum: 

Schedule:

 - Shifts will be 3-4 hours and will typically occur between 7:30-1:00PM, depending on the student’s availability and preferred start time.
- During summer, students should be available to work at least 1 weekday morning/week, and also work 3-4 weekend days/month to water the greenhouses.
- This position offers 4-10 hours per week (depending on student’s availability and desired number of hours), plus approximately 4 additional hours for each weekend day worked.

Salary/Wage Range/Lump Sum:

 Minimum: $13.00

Number of Positions:

 1

Qualifications:

 Required Qualifications:
- Currently enrolled as an undergraduate student.
- Able to perform physical tasks while working in a hot & humid greenhouse environment.

Preferred Qualifications:
- Previous work experience caring for plants.
- Academic focus in Botany, Biology, Horticulture, Plant Sciences, or related fields.
- Interest in continuing in the position beyond Summer 2026.
- Eligible to earn a federal work-study award as part of their financial aid package during the Fall 2026 & Spring 2027 semesters if continuing beyond summer.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities:

- Reliable and responsible; can be counted on to work independently during weekend shifts.
- Ability to work effectively both independently and as part of a team.
- Attention to detail and accuracy.
- Open to receiving and feedback and implementing suggestions for improvement.

Position Summary/Job Duties:

Primary Responsibilities:
- Watering plants in the greenhouse collection.
- Coordinate with staff to help care for research plants.

Secondary Responsibilities:
- Greenhouse cleaning tasks such as sweeping, picking-up leaves, and washing pots.
- Plant maintenance including trimming and pruning.
- Repotting plants from the greenhouse collection.
- Working in Botany Garden to help with planting, mulching, and weeding.

Physical Demands:

This is an active job that involves almost continuous movement including standing, bending, kneeling, reaching, and lifting. The greenhouse environment, where primary job responsibilities are performed, can be quite hot and humid during summer months.

Institutional Statements:

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement:

UW-Madison is an Equal Employment, Equal Access Employer committed to increasing the diversity of our workforce.

Institutional Statement on Diversity:

Diversity is a source of strength, creativity, and innovation for UW-Madison. We value the contributions of each person and respect the profound ways their identity, culture, background, experience, status, abilities, and opinion enrich the university community. We commit ourselves to the pursuit of excellence in teaching, research, outreach, and diversity as inextricably linked goals.

The University of Wisconsin-Madison fulfills its public mission by creating a welcoming and inclusive community for people from every background-people who as students, faculty, and staff serve Wisconsin and the world.

For more information on diversity and inclusion on campus, please visit: diversity.wisc.edu

Accommodation Statement:

If you need to request an accommodation because of a disability, you can find information about how to make a request at the following website:https://employeedisabilities.wisc.edu/disability-accommodation-information-for-applicants/
 
 

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Applications close: Central Daylight Time

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