Job Description

[What the role is]

The Singapore Herbarium (SING), located in the Singapore Botanic Gardens, is the second largest herbarium in Southeast Asia, housing approximately 800,000 plant specimens that are actively utilised for research by both local and international researchers. In addition to our preserved collections, we maintain a growing living collection focused on plants from the Zingiberales order and related monocots, species from the Apocynaceae family as well as critically endangered native species.

We are looking for an enthusiastic individual who is passionate about plant research and conservation, and the curation of natural history collections of national and international importance, to support ongoing efforts to ensure that flowering specimens are properly vouchered and catalogued for future research. The role will also contribute to ongoing digitisation efforts by supporting specimen collection and processing activities.

[What you will be working on]

• Assist in collecting and processing herbarium vouchers, spirit specimens, and DNA samples from the SBG, Ginger Garden and Research Living Collection Nursery, with particular focus on the Asparagaceae, Lowiaceae and Zingiberaceae families.

• Monitor and record the phenology of Zingiberales, particularly the genus Curcuma, in the Research Living Collection Nursery, documenting key developmental stages such as flowering, onset of dormancy, and emergence from dormancy.

• Assist in processing data and managing herbarium collections, including spirit samples and DNA samples collected from SBG, Ginger Garden and Research Living Collection Nursery, using OneDrive and BRAHMS databases.

• Assist in compiling and organising research publications related to botanical studies, with particular emphasis on the genus Aspidistra.

[What we are looking for]

• Areas of study or previous work experience in Horticulture, Life/Environmental Sciences or related

• Experience in using Microsoft Excel and aptitude to learn new database software (BRAHMS)

• Strong interest in plants, preferably with basic knowledge of plant identification

• Enjoys working in both indoor and an outdoor field environment

• Meticulous, well organised and able to work as a team-player and independently with a positive attitude

• Proficient in/willing to learn dissecting and taking photographs of the flower parts

• Able to carry out basic photo editing using Adobe Photoshop

Only shortlisted candidates will be notified. The successful candidate will be appointed on a 11-month contract.