Science and Collections Summer Studentships

Join an active programme of plant science research and communication at one of the world’s great gardens

​Applications for 2025 are now open

Deadline for applications: Friday 31 January 2025

What does RHS scientific research involve?

  • Biodiversity in gardens
  • Plant health diagnostics and management
  • Plants and human health and wellbeing
  • Science Communication
  • Epidemiology of new and important pathogens and invertebrates
  • Sustainable horticulture
  • Ecosystem services of green infrastructure
  • Cultivated plant taxonomy and nomenclature
  • Cultivated plant identification
  • Herbarium collections management

What can we offer?

  • 6–10 week summer research project
  • Gain experience in fieldwork, lab work, data collection and analysis
  • Develop a wide range of transferable skills
  • Work alongside experienced scientists as part of the RHS Science and Collections Team

​How is it funded?

We will work with you to apply for funding from a number of external sources. Funding is typically around £400 per week.

​Who can apply and how?

If you are an undergraduate student in your second year of a three-year degree (or third year of a four year degree), then please send your CV and a cover letter outlining your interest and project preference to  [email protected].
Please note: Placement opportunities will be subject to funding availability.

​Prospective projects for 2025:

  • Cataloguing orchids from watercolours in Surinam Orchids (1823-1833)
This studentship will involve checking the listed plant names against images of watercolours of orchids in Surinam Orchids for accurate identification and record any changes to current use of plant names, as well as recording inscriptions as seen on the drawings, to support final cataloguing of the collection. Many of the illustrations are examples of early introductions and demonstrate the importance of illustrations for identifying and recording new plant species.
 
  • Companion planting for home gardeners: attracting natural enemies of aphids with the poached egg plant Limnanthes douglasii
Companion planting is often suggested as an effective way of insect management within gardens and allotments, but there are very few studies looking at reliable companion planting combinations and therefore a shortage of practical information for the home gardener. This project will be investigating whether planting Limnanthes douglasii (Poached egg plant) around cabbages to attract hoverflies is an effective way of managing mealy cabbage aphids. 
 
  • Development of methods for studying within-genus variation in resistance to Armillaria root rot in multiple Ligustrum host species
The project aims to assess within-genus differences in resistance to Armillaria root rot in various species of the common hedging plant, Privet. To achieve this, the student will develop methods to measure the progression of symptomatic mycelial fans through root sections of different species and will optimise methods of propagating Privet cuttings. The project will also survey RHS members and garden centres to provide information on the distribution of some of the most susceptible host species throughout the UK.
 
  • Investigating local authority data collection on survivorship and diversity within urban tree plantings
This studentship project aims to enhance understanding of urban tree populations’ vulnerability to climate-change related impacts by collecting data from English councils on tree survival rates and urban specimen selection, including sapling production from seed or vegetative propagation, which has genetic diversity implications. Findings will enhance awareness of urban tree vulnerability to climate-related impacts and help influence policy to enhance resilience of new plantings going forward.

​Our past students and research subjects

2023 – Ella McCutcheon

“My project was fascinating to work on and Wisley was a beautiful place to spend the summer, everyone there was so friendly and helpful”

2023 – Heidi Wheatley

 “My internship was not only a great opportunity to learn more about a subject of interest but also allowed me to apply my skills and knowledge to a working environment supporting my future career progression.”

2022 – Emma Thornton, Royal Society of Biology
Emma worked on a 10-week sluggy Summer Studentship as part of the Royal Society of Biology plant health undergraduate studentship programme. Her focus was a feeding choice lab experiment on home garden slug deterrents. The scientific results have already updated the advice we give to home gardeners.

“I enjoyed the chance to present my work to peers, the public and press as well as create a poster and report for scientific publication.”

2021 – Hazel Irving, Askham Bryan College

Hazel worked with senior plant pathologists Dr Liz Beal and Dr Matthew Cromey, and Dr Jon Banks from Bartlett Tree Experts, on cultural and green chemical control of cucurbit powdery mildew, funded by the British Mycological Society.

 “I enjoyed carrying out a practical experiment and learning how to carry out identifications under the microscope, and through DNA extraction.”

2021 – Melissa Saphra, University of Warwick
Melissa worked with plant health scientists Dr Magdalena Boshoff and Dr Fryni Drizou on sampling and identifying plant parasitic nematodes, funded by the British Society of Plant Pathology.

 “I have explored a fascinating area of science, and have gained a brand new breadth of knowledge. The plant health team were supportive and encouraging throughout my studentship, and I feel really inspired by my time at Wisley.”

2020 – Emma Hallett, University of York
In her third year of studying biology Emma completed a literature review since lab work was not possible due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The review was supervised by Dr Liz Beal and considered environmental factors that favour powdery mildew outbreaks. 

 “The opportunity to write a literature review about powdery mildew provided me with a great insight into the field of plant pathology and advanced my research skills. The support from a leading plant pathology expert was invaluable and has affirmed my interest in this field.”

2019 – Colleen Sellwood, Newcastle University
A third year biology student, Colleen spent 7 weeks working alongside Entomologist Dr Stephanie Bird researching box tree moth oviposition.

“I was based mostly at the field research facility where I reared moths from larvae for experiments and monitored box tree moth infestation on box tree plots. The results from this project will help us work out ways to reduce infestation and protect box tree plants in the future.”

2019 – Julie Lin, Imperial College, London

Working for 10 weeks alongside Dr Hayley Jones, Julie investigated the life cycle of  the agapanthus gall midge.

“The placement was incredibly insightful and rewarding. I received much needed guidance from the RHS research staff and am so grateful for the opportunity to experience life as a research scientist. I learned the principles of experimental design and project management and presented my research findings at a BSPP conference.”

Other subjects have included
  • Investigating endophytic Trichoderma for bio-control of honey fungus
  • Developing molecular methods for honey fungus species identification
  • Identifying gastropod feeding preferences
  • Analysis of soil fauna diversity following slug control

Get in touch

For any questions about Science and Collections Studentships, please email and we will be happy to answer your questions.

Email: [email protected]

Get involved

The Royal Horticultural Society is the UK’s leading gardening charity. We aim to enrich everyone’s life through plants, and make the UK a greener and more beautiful place.