Maxwell/Hanrahan Botanical Art Studentships

Applications have closed for 2026–2027

Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria (RBGV) is seeking motivated and artistically talented individuals for two paid studentships in scientific botanical illustration.

These studentships are generously funded by the Maxwell/Hanrahan Foundation (USA).

You will be in the final year of a visual arts degree program at an Australian institution, have a relevant portfolio demonstrating your skills, and ideally a demonstrable interest in plant or fungal form and illustration.

Other candidates with experience in the production of scientific or botanical illustration will also be considered provided an appropriate portfolio of work is available.

Two studentships are available this year and these will be awarded for an agreed eight week period between January and February 2027.

The students will work on separate projects with our team of botanists and curation staff to produce scientifically accurate pen and ink line drawings of specimens in Victoria’s State Botanical Collection, held within the National Herbarium of Victoria at RBGV's Melbourne Gardens.

The illustrations produced as part of this studentship are envisaged to accompany the species entries and keys to species featured in VicFlora.

The work calls for meticulous attention to detail and highly developed artistic skills to create black and white illustrations that are technically accurate, aesthetically pleasing and, critically, usable for identification. For many species it may be necessary to work exclusively from herborised (dried and pressed) material, sometimes requiring the illustration of microscopic details acquired through dissection beneath a microscope.

The incumbent will essentially translate their observations into an effective display format reproducible at different sizes.

Key accountabilities:

• Produce accurate, diagnostic line drawings of specimens using pen and ink
• Work closely with botanists or mycologists to understand the relevant features of the subject material required for accurate identification
• Follow general taxonomic guidelines for botanical or fungal illustration
• Develop and implement a feasible work plan to ensure a schedule of delivery
• Produce a portfolio of work that can be made publicly available at the end of the studentship

Key Selection Criteria:

• It is preferable but not required that applicants be enrolled in a degree program to which botanical illustration, illustrative art, or technical drawing is key component
• Strong drawing skills demonstrated by a relevant portfolio of works, with excellent pen and ink skills prioritised (see here for examples of appropriate style)
• Demonstrable knowledge of taxonomic terms, botanical anatomy and morphology, and an awareness of botanical nomenclature
• Sound knowledge of design and display techniques
• Excellent accuracy and attention to detail
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team
• Proficiency in computer software for image editing and layout
• A good understanding of printing and graphic technology (relating to reproducibility of work prepared) desirable
• Effective communication skills

Suggested projects

Extinct plants of Victoria:
This project will develop scientifically accurate botanical illustrations of selected plant species considered extinct in Victoria. Drawing on specimens in the National Herbarium of Victoria, historical illustrations and other archival material as required, the student will work with Gardens botanists to reconstruct the appearance and key diagnostic features of species for which living material and contemporary photographs are not available. The resulting illustrations will provide a visual record of Victoria’s lost flora and may be incorporated into Victoria's online identification resource, VicFlora

Insufficiently illustrated Victorian grasses:
This project will develop scientifically accurate botanical illustrations of selected Victorian grass species that are currently poorly represented by existing illustrations or photographs. Working with RBGV botanists and herbarium specimens, the student will illustrate the habit and key diagnostic features of each species, with particular attention to small or complex structures such as inflorescences, spikelets and florets that are important for identification but difficult to capture photographically. The resulting illustrations will improve the visual documentation of Victoria’s grasses and may be incorporated into Victoria's online identification resource, VicFlora.

With clear justification, candidates may also propose alternative projects of personal interest for RBGV consideration, but only providing the outcomes contribute meaningfully to RBGV's existing plant identifications provisions (see e.g., keys to species on VicFlora).

To apply

Applications must be submitted in the form of a single, self-contained PDF file suitable for offline review and emailed to Dr Alastair Robinson, Manager Biodiversity Services, Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria, via alastair.robinson@rbg.vic.gov.au, by 5pm (Melbourne time/AEDT) Friday 23 October 2026.

Applications must include:

• a curriculum vitae (including university transcript where applicable) with two named referees;
• a short cover letter (max. 500 words) explaining how the applicant would benefit from the studentship, would contribute to identification provisions at Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria, and provide an indication of their preferred project(s) stating the reasons for their project preference; and 
• an included portfolio containing a curated selection of no more than 5 supporting illustrations. Online portfolios will not be considered as part of the initial selection process.

Applications are assessed based on the quality of the application package, including cover letter, portfolio, and adherence to the submission requirements listed above.

Shortlisted candidates will subsequently be invited to interview and given an opportunity to present their portfolio of relevant artworks.

Previous studentships have attracted a diverse range of skilled applicants. Interviews are allocated competitively to a very limited number of applicants based on their submissions; we necessarily prioritise those who demonstrate both the strongest pen and ink skills and meet the submission criteria. Please note that our ability to provide individual feedback to unsuccessful candidates is limited.

These studentships take place on site at Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria's Melbourne Gardens at the National Herbarium of Victoria. Consequently, applicants must be resident within commutable distance of the Gardens for the duration of the studentship.

All studentship applicants are expected to hold a valid Working With Children check by the time they commence their studentship, therefore this studentship is only available to residents of Australia.