Jobs Archive
Curatorial Assistant, Collections Task Force – Life Sciences
he Life Sciences Collections Task Force has been created to provide support to collections and research staff in maintaining and developing a world-class collection of natural history specimens. The post holder will work alongside the Task Force Manager, other Task Force Curatorial Assistants and the Loans and Exhibitions Coordinator to support the delivery of collections-based projects. These will be informed by the Museum’s Collections Plan, highlighted by the Collections Assessment Audit (“Join the Dots”).
The team will work with Life Sciences collections staff on the management and care of collections, tackling a variety of projects and developing standards and workflows for future use. These could include mass digitisation, collections moves, documentation assistance and re-storage projects. The post-holder will also have the opportunity to be involved in departmental activities such as public engagement events and training programmes.
This is an excellent opportunity to help shape the future direction of the team and gain diverse skills working on a range of projects across botany, zoology and entomology collections. The Task Force will be a dextrous team, able to plan, resource and deliver projects as well as supporting routine and one-off activities across the department and in conjunction with other museum groups.
Salary: £24,745 per annum plus benefits
Contract: Permanent
Closing Date: 9am on Monday 20 February 2017
Role competences:
BEFORE beginning your application - Please read the section below about the ‘Online Application Process’ carefully.
If you wish to be considered for this role you will need to address each of the following competences in the ‘other information’ section of your online application:
Academic Qualifications
1. BSc (or equivalent qualification), ideally in Biological or Life Sciences (or equivalent relevant experience)
Competencies
2. An understanding of taxonomic, anatomic and stratigraphic principles (e.g. attained from college or university courses in geology, palaeontology, systematics, biology) and an ability to recognise basic taxonomic terms
3. Flexible and willing to work across collections areas and develop good working relationships with a wide range of people
4. Experience of handling a wide range of objects from small fragile specimens to large heavy ones
5. Well organised, able to work on multiple projects and meet deadlines
6. Highly proficient in Microsoft Office, particularly Excel, with proven experience of manipulating large datasets
7. Good photographic skills and post-processing of images
8. Experience of working effectively as part of a team
9. Proven ability to follow complex instructions
10. Excellent attention to detail with an ability to undertake methodical tasks to a high level of accuracy
11. Excellent written and verbal communication skills
Curatorial Assistant, Collections Task Force - Earth Sciences
The Earth Sciences Collections Task Force has been created to provide support to collections and research staff in maintaining and developing a world-class collection of natural history specimens. The post holder will work alongside the Task Force Manager, other Task Force Curatorial Assistants and the Loans and Exhibitions Coordinator to support the delivery of collections-based projects. These will be informed by the Museum’s Collections Plan, highlighted by the Collections Assessment Audit (“Join the Dots”).
The team will work with Earth Sciences collections staff on the management and care of collections, tackling a variety of projects and developing standards and workflows for future use. These could include mass digitisation, collections moves, documentation assistance and re-storage projects. The post-holder will also have the opportunity to be involved in departmental activities such as public engagement events and training programmes.
This is an excellent opportunity to help shape the future direction of the team and gain diverse skills working on a range of projects across both palaeontological and mineralogical collections. The Task Force will be a dextrous team, able to plan, resource and deliver projects as well as supporting routine and one-off activities across the department and in conjunction with other museum groups.
Salary:£24,745 per annum plus benefits
Contract: Permanent
Closing Date: 9am on Monday 20 February 2017
Role competences:
BEFORE beginning your application - Please read the section below about the ‘Online Application Process’ carefully.
If you wish to be considered for this role you will need to address each of the following competences in the ‘other information’ section of your online application:
Academic Qualifications
1. BSc (or equivalent qualification), ideally in Biological or Life Sciences (or equivalent relevant experience)
Competencies
2. An understanding of taxonomic, anatomic and stratigraphic principles (e.g. attained from college or university courses in geology, palaeontology, systematics, biology) and an ability to recognise basic taxonomic terms
3. Flexible and willing to work across collections areas and develop good working relationships with a wide range of people
4. Experience of handling a wide range of objects from small fragile specimens to large heavy ones
5. Well organised, able to work on multiple projects and meet deadlines
6. Highly proficient in Microsoft Office, particularly Excel, with proven experience of manipulating large datasets
7. Good photographic skills and post-processing of images
8. Experience of working effectively as part of a team
9. Proven ability to follow complex instructions
10. Excellent attention to detail with an ability to undertake methodical tasks to a high level of accuracy
11. Excellent written and verbal communication skills
Documentation Assistant
We are seeking a detail orientated and highly organised team player with good documentation skills to assist with the documentation of the collections at the Oxford University Museum of Natural History in accordance with Museum Accreditation and SPECTRUM documentation standards.
This role will primarily involve working with digital documentation records to improve the quality of object and archive catalogue records by checking their validity, consistency and completeness. Other duties include assisting the Documentation Officer with the integration of the museum’s documentation into a single system.
The successful candidate will have first-rate IT skills with experience in working with museum or archive documentation. Familiarity with museum documentation standards and collections management systems is essential, with direct experience using KE EMu, desirable.
Only applications received before midday on Friday 17th February can be considered. As part of your online application, you will be required to upload a covering letter that shows how you meet the selection criteria, and a full CV.
For further details see the website (www.oum.ox.ac.uk) or contact , Kate Diston Head of Archives and Library (T: +44 1865 272982; E: Kathleen.diston@oum.ox.ac.uk
Closing date: Noon (UK time) Friday 17th February 2017
Interview date: Monday 27th February 2017
Curator
The Finnish Museum of Natural History LUOMUS (www.luomus.fi/en) is an independent institute of the University of Helsinki and the national museum in the field of natural history in Finland. The museum’s duties are to amass, maintain and display its collections, and to conduct related research, particularly in the field of species-level biodiversity. The collections serve research, teaching, and public education in biology, geology, and biodiversity, and form part of the international network of natural history repositories. The Finnish Museum of Natural History, established in 1988, has four units: Zoology, Botany, Natural Sciences, and General Services. The institution has a staff of c. 130, of which 40 work in the Zoology Unit.
The Finnish Museum of Natural History invites applications for a permanent position of
CURATOR
specialising in systematics and biogeography of either vertebrates or invertebrates (excluding insects). At the moment, the Zoology Unit lacks vertebrate expertise, and therefore we are primarily looking for a vertebrate researcher. The appointment will begin on 1 July 2017 or as mutually agreed.
The curator will be part of the Metazoa Team of the Zoology Unit (https://www.luomus.fi/en/zoology-unit). The duties of the curator will include independent research in collection-based and specimen-based systematics and zoogeography (at any taxonomical level, and including molecular approaches), as well as managing, amassing and developing the scientific collections together with the other team members. As an expert in the field, the curator will participate in the museum’s tasks related to teaching and societal interaction. The curator is expected to be active in obtaining external funding, forming and leading his/her own research group and supervising students and junior colleagues.
The curator must hold a doctoral degree and have a record of international publications demonstrating competence in research in the field. Experience in working with scientific collections, participation in university teaching and supervision, proven success in obtaining external funding, experience of societal interaction, as well as knowledge of Finland’s nature and fauna and an inclination to team work are considered further assets.
The official languages of the University of Helsinki are Finnish and Swedish. Foreign citizens, non-native Finnish citizens or citizens who have not been educated in Finnish or Swedish may be exempt from formal language requirements. To successfully attend to the duties of the position, the appointee must also have good skills in English.
The salary will be based on levels 5-7 of the demands level chart for teaching and research personnel in the salary system of Finnish universities (a senior position equivalent to University Lecturer). The salary includes a component based on personal work performance. The starting salary will be 3 300–4 500 euros/month.
Applicants are requested to submit in English, as a single pdf file:
• an application
• CV
• list of publications
• optionally other documents that demonstrate the applicant’s merits
• a brief report (1−2 pages) on the applicant’s previous research activities and how the applicant intends to develop his or her research and focus his or her scholarly activities, if appointed.
Or, alternatively, an academic portfolio containing the above documents and information (http://www.helsinki.fi/recruitment/academicportfolio.html).
The application, together with the required attachments, must be submitted through the University of Helsinki electronic recruitment system by clicking on Apply for job.
Internal applicants (i.e. current employees of the University of Helsinki) must submit their applications through the SAP HR portal.
After closing of the call, if requested, applicants should be prepared to submit up to 5 publications of their choice to be evaluated.
For further information about the position, please contact Unit Director Aino Juslén (aino.juslen(at)helsinki.fi). For more information on Luomus, please see: http://www.luomus.fi/en
Apply at latest on Monday 20 February 2017.
Senior Curator in Charge, Historical Collections and British and European Seed Plants
The Natural History Museum is one of the world’s leading museums, internationally recognised for its dual role as a centre of excellence in scientific research and as a leader in the presentation of natural history through exhibitions, public programmes, publications and the web.
Embedded within the Algae, Fungi and Plants Division of the Department of Life Sciences, the Senior Curator in Charge (SCiC) Historical Collections and British and European Seed Plants will lead and manage the Historical Collections and the British and European seed plant herbaria, ensuring best practice in collections care and strategic development of the collections. An expert in a relevant field, the SCiC will provide a high level of scholarship across these collections specifically in collections-based science (e.g. taxonomy, systematics, organismal biology). Working towards maximising the significance of the collections for their various purposes, emphasis will be on achieving the strategic goals and values of the NHM. This post will report to the Principal Curator in Charge of the Algae, Fungi and Plants Collections.
Salary: £35,164 (plus 5% responsibility allowance) per annum plus benefits
Contract: Permanent
Closing date: 9am on Friday 10 February 2017
Role competences: Academic Qualifications
1.Relevant higher qualification (MSc or relevant postgraduate experience is relevant, a PhD is desirable), or equivalent experience, with an emphasis on taxonomy or systematics and the use of natural history collections in science.
Role competencies
2. In depth knowledge and experience of collections management, care and development
3 .Detailed knowledge of a collection, its associated literature and its systematics/taxonomy with the ability to apply and discriminate taxonomic/diagnostic characters for identification and organisation
4. Proven ability to effectively lead and manage curatorial or other science teams
5. Ability to supervise graduate, undergraduate level students and/or visiting scientists
6. Successful track record in publishing scientific articles
7. Knowledge or awareness of major current questions in organismal biology
8. Demonstrable working knowledge and practical experience of associated information management systems for collections (e.g. EMu)
9. Experience of successful delivery of collections/curatorial projects
10. Excellent communication skills; presenting, writing
11. The ability to develop and maintain effective relationships with a variety of stakeholders (internal and external researchers, public engagement, visitors, students, volunteers)
Curatorial Assistant, Street Fdn
Role description: The Department of Life Sciences holds some of the world's most important Natural History Collections, within the Division of Insects alone more than 30 million specimens dating back to the 1700s and still developing today.
The Natural History Museum has an new opportunity for a Curatorial Assistant, who will be responsible for for invertebrates (mainly but not exclusively Coleoptera) collected on recent African Project, and manage their entire process from wet field samples to identified, mounted, labelled, digitised, incorporated specimens.
The successful candidate will have experience of working with insect collections and have a passionate understanding of collecting Coleoptera and other insect specimens.
Role competences: BEFORE beginning your application - Please read the section below about the ‘Online Application Process’ carefully.
If you wish to be considered for this role you will need to address each of the following competences in the ‘other information’ section of your online application:
Academic Qualifications
1.Degree in a biological science or equivalent experience
Role competencies
2.Skilled at working with Museum insect collections
3.Skilled at mounting and labelling insect specimens (different techniques)
4.Able to identify Coleoptera to family and experienced at species level identification
5.Computer literacy and experience of using relational databases
6.Understanding of collecting Coleoptera in tropical environments
7.Familiar with the rules of zoological nomenclature, understands the concept of type specimens (Curator Competency 3.i. Systematic and taxonomic principles)
8.Experienced fieldworker, experienced in use of a wide range of fieldwork techniques to collect insects in a variety of habitats and environments
9.Demonstrable knowledgeable about the theory and practice of collecting, the history of and reasons for entomological collecting
Herbarium Digitisation Technician
Contract Type: Part Time (2 days, Thurs & Fri)
Salary: £7,641.02 per annum (based on an FTE of £19,102.56 per annum)
To deliver the RHS Vision and Science Strategy the RHS is creating a virtual reference collection for cultivated garden plants online. Over half of the specimens have already been scanned and we are keen to increase the speed of delivery and completion of this work. We seek an enthusiastic person work with our existing scanning technician, to scan the specimens and manage the image files, as well as to carry out essential curation and conservation activities on the specimens.
We are looking for someone who is used to working with a range of software programmes and specifically is experienced in managing information in a database. Experience with handling digital images or with scientific information and working in a herbarium would be desirable.
The successful applicant would be working in one of the world's leading horticultural herbaria, alongside our internationally recognised botany and horticultural informatics teams.
Curatorial Assistant
UCL Culture manages museums, theatres, and collections and facilitates engagement within and outside of UCL. This includes the Bloomsbury Theatre, the Grant Museum of Zoology, the Petrie Museum of Egyptian Archaeology, the Art Museum, the Pathology Museum and collections including the auto icon Jeremy Bentham. We bring diverse performers and audiences into the heart of UCL to energise the student experience and fuel UCL's creative culture with cutting edge cultural experiences. We collaborate with UCL students and staff to provoke, connect and engage more powerfully. We use our objects, insights and expertise to reframe questions and surface new ideas. We believe that open minds see further.
The Grant Museum is one of the UK's foremost zoology museums, with a reputation for innovative and experimental work. It is named after its founder Professor Robert Edmond Grant, who was the country's first Professor of Zoology and Comparative Anatomy. The collection comprises around 68,000 skeletal, taxidermy, fossil and wet specimens, covering the whole of the animal kingdom. It is accredited by Arts Council England and works to influence the museum sector in areas of audience engagement and collections management. Alongside a lively public events programme, the Museum is used daily in academic programmes across the disciplines at UCL and other Higher Education institutions.
Duties and responsibilities
UCL Culture invite applications for the post of curatorial assistant in the Grant Museum.
The post holder will assist with all aspects of museum work and collections care, contributing to public engagement and visitor services, with a particular focus on providing access to collections and support for collections management tasks.
Key requirements
The successful candidate will have experience of working with museum collections and cataloguing systems, providing information to the public and using social media platforms professionally and an interest in, and knowledge of natural history.
Further details
For further information about this post contact: Briony Webb (briony.webb@ucl.ac.uk)
Tanyptera Regional Entomologist
Background
Are you passionate about insects and wildlife conservation?
Would you like to share this passion with more people?
The Tanyptera Trust and National Museums Liverpool are looking for an exceptional person to promote the conservation of insects and other invertebrates in North West England. As well as your enthusiasm, you will be a capable entomologist with good field skills and will be excellent at communicating with fellow enthusiasts, specialists, conservation organisations and the wider public.
The post holder will be based in the Entomology section of World Museum (Collections and Estates Division) and will initially be managed by the Director of World Museum. The post holder will work actively across Lancashire, Cheshire, Merseyside and Greater Manchester. The post and project will report to a group comprising the Director of World Museum (or nominated representative) and three external appointees of the Tanyptera Trust.
Purpose of the Job
To support the Tanyptera Trust's objectives in understanding, publicising and promoting the conservation of insects and other invertebrates in the Lancashire and Cheshire region (Lancashire, Greater Manchester, Cheshire and Merseyside).
To develop and co-ordinate activities and projects funded by the Tanyptera Trust.
This will be achieved by working with NML's Entomology Section, developing and strengthening partnerships with external organisations and individuals.
To support the work of NML’s Entomology Section in advancing, promoting and facilitating regional entomology, developing scientifically valuable, well documented, collections and bringing people and wildlife closer together.
Main Activities
The post-holder will:
Be an advocate and ambassador for the objectives of the Tanyptera Trust and NML
Negotiate and develop partnerships with societies, academic institutions, conservation organisations, individuals and other organisations at regional and national levels as appropriate and communicate with the wider community
Promote the work of the Tanyptera Trust and NML regionally and nationally through appropriate activities and media to wide-ranging audiences through websites, blogs, social media and publications as appropriate
(NML) in relation to the Project and the museum's entomology collections and related activities
Represent the Project and NML at meetings and events
Reporting to the Steering Group
Liaise with NML Education staff and external organisations/partners to deliver invertebrate engagement programmes for the public through activities such as talks, workshops and events Enable wider access to the products of the Project and NML's entomological resources (including websites, blogs, social media, collections, expertise, publications, events)
Support the work of NML's Entomology Section in helping to develop collections, databases, networks and the library
Encourage applications to the Tanyptera Trust's grants scheme and to advise on selection of projects
Develop, manage and co-ordinate invertebrate biodiversity projects in partnership with entomologists, conservation bodies and land-owners
Assist with financial planning, place purchase orders where appropriate, manage the Project budget and provide quarterly financial reports to the Steering Group
Maximise funding opportunities by developing partnerships and identifying external funding opportunities
Liaise with and provide information to the Marketing and Communications Team
Contribute to the updating and delivery of the Entomology Team's innovative Development Plan
Participate in wider meetings, symposia and conferences at NML and assist with their development and delivery
Other Requirements
When required, supervise staff, students and/or volunteers in association with other NML staff in relation to the Project
Maintain a commitment to continuing professional development
Maintain and develop a personal research specialism, including fieldwork, in an agreed area and disseminate the products to the wider community
Develop NML’s commitment to Equality and Diversity and promote non-discriminatory practices in all aspects of work undertaken
Manage NML’s Health and Safety Policies and Procedures and make a contribution to the continuance of a sound health and safety culture within the department and in relation to Tanyptera Trust funded external projects
Undertake additional duties, as required, from time to time
Undertake training and development courses and programmes, as required
Show the highest integrity and confidentiality in the pursuance of these duties
Collections Assistant - Mineralogy and Petrology
The Sedgwick Museum is pleased to offer this opportunity to join the Museum's collections team working with its extensive world class mineralogy and petrology collections.
The Sedgwick Museum of Earth Sciences is the departmental museum of the University of Cambridge's Department of Earth Sciences. It houses a collection of over 1.5 million rocks, fossils and minerals used for research, training, teaching, and public display. The Museum receives over 130,000 visitors a year.
The petrology collection contains about 250,000 igneous and metamorphic rock thin sections and about 160,000 hand specimens. This includes about 500 meteorites. It also has about 100,000 sedimentary rocks. The mineral collection comprises about 40,000-50,000 specimens.
The role holder will assist the Collections Manager and Curator of Mineralogy & Petrology with the identification and cataloguing of specimens, organisation of museum stores, processing of incoming and outgoing loans and the provision of specimens for research, teaching and examinations.
The role will contribute to the development of policy, procedure and strategy relating to the management and use of collections.
The role holder will be required to undertake the following duties: catalogue specimens and maintain Collections Management System records for the Museum's collections in accordance with agreed policies, procedures and standards; identify rocks and minerals in hand specimen and thin section using appropriate techniques; contribute to the Museum's enquiry and identification services; carry out inventories of Museum collections and contribute to the Museum's Collections Management and Documentation strategies; undertake the movement of specimens between Museum premises and to and from external organisations, maintaining up to date documentation of all items and their whereabouts; assemble and return to stores specimens used in research, teaching and display; promote the collections and carry out reporting and administrative duties as required.
Applicants will be expected to demonstrate the following essential skills and experience: degree level qualification or equivalent in a relevant subject; knowledge of geology and an enthusiasm for mineralogy/petrology; ability to identify rocks and their mineralogy in thin section (knowledge of optical petrology); good ICT skills (word processing, image processing, spread sheets, email, museum documentation and databases); excellent communication skills; ability to work independently and as part of a team; effective problem solving skills.
The following attributes are desirable: experience of museum documentation and standards; familiarity with Health and Safety and COSSH regulations; full clean drivers licence;r ecognise and mitigate the risks of hazardous rocks and minerals.
Once an offer of employment has been accepted, the successful candidate will be required to undergo a health assessment and a standard Disclosure and Barring Service check.
This post is part time (0.6FTE) and we envisage that the person appointed will work 3 days/week.