Jobs Archive
Curator Microlepidoptera
Role competences:
BEFORE beginning your application - Please read the section below about the ‘Online Application Process’ carefully as we will ask you to attach a CV and Covering Letter.
If you wish to be considered for this role you will need to address all of the following competences in your ‘cover letter’:
1. Relevant undergraduate degree (or equivalent experience)
2. Post-graduate or other qualification in Museum Studies or insect taxonomy (or equivalent experience)
3. Considerable experience of working with institutional Lepidoptera collections
4. Demonstrable specialist knowledge of
- Microlepidoptera
- British and Irish Microlepidoptera
5. Demonstrable ability to dissect Lepidoptera Type specimens for genitalia preparations and molecular work
6. Demonstrable knowledge and experience of KE EMu or other collections database software
7. Proven ability at scientific outreach (spoken, written and online)
8. Experience of
- Dealing with visitors to the collection
- Managing and supporting the work of volunteers
- Works to deadlines, is well organised and able to cope with a number of tasks
9. Demonstrable experience working in/with research teams
10. Understanding of digital photography and specimen digitisation
11. Familiar with the rules of zoological nomenclature, understands the concept of, and different kinds of, type specimens
12. Has a demonstrable understanding of the kinds of users of a major insect collection, and their expected needs and requirements
Postdoctoral Research Assistant - Forams
This NERC-funded project aims to test whether adaptive zones have been important in shaping macroevolution, by focusing on the clade with the most detailed fossil record – macroperforate planktonic foraminifera – over the last 23 million years.
This role involves three main tasks. First, existing IODP cores will be stitched together to provide continuous synthetic stratigraphic columns through the Neogene in each of two widely-separated subtropical gyres. Second, these columns will be sampled at regular intervals, with the foraminiferal community characterized by complete assemblage counts and 2-D morphometrics. Third, the resulting data will be analysed using community phylogenetic and phylogenetic comparative approaches to test a range of predictions, and the results written up for publication.
The post is based with Prof Andy Purvis at the Natural History Museum in London. Some training is available on foraminiferal systematics and R programming, but a reasonable baseline of knowledge is required.
Role competences:
If you wish to be considered for this role you will need to address all of the following competences in your ‘cover letter’:
1. PhD in micropaleontology, comparative biology or a similar discipline
2. Up to 3 years of postdoctoral experience
3. Micropaleontology:
- Considerable experience with planktonic foraminifera is essential
- Expertise in taxonomy of Neogene planktonic foraminifera is desirable
- Ability to rapidly and accurately identify specimens to species is highly desirable
- Experience of assemblage counts is desirable
- Experience mounting, imaging and measuring specimens is desirable
4. Statistical computing:
- Considerable experience with R is essential
- Experience of morphometrics is desirable
- Experience of community phylogenetics is desirable
- Experience of phylogenetic comparative analysis of trait evolution is desirable
- Experience of writing R functions and packages is desirable
5. Other:
- Sufficient knowledge of sedimentology, including preservation and dating, to design the synthetic stratigraphic columns is highly desirable
- Experience of writing publication-quality manuscripts is essential
- Experience with specimen-level databases or Scratchpads is highly desirable
- Experience of stable isotope geochemistry is desirable
- Experience of supervising Masters project students is desirable
Research Assistant, Vertebrate Palaeontology
"TERRA. 375 Million Years of the Diversification of Life on Land: Shifting the Paradigm?"
School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Birmingham
A research assistant position in vertebrate palaeontology is now available based within the research group of Dr Richard Butler, within the School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences. The role would suit a recent graduate with a background in palaeontology or geology, who wishes to build experience and skills in palaeontological research.
The successful applicant will be employed for one year to work as part of a European Research Council-funded team focused on testing the spatial and temporal patterns and abiotic and biotic drivers of the diversification of terrestrial tetrapods over the Phanerozoic. The research assistant will be primarily focused on developing spatially and temporally comprehensive datasets of fossil vertebrate taxonomy and occurrences. They will need to conduct comprehensive literature searches to recover and extract from the scientific literature information on fossil vertebrate distribution, which they will then incorporate into the online Paleobiology Database. Some travel outside of Birmingham (e.g. to London) may be necessary to acquire key scientific literature. Opportunities may be available to attend relevant training courses and conferences, and to collaborate on research publications with other members of the research team.
The researcher will join a very active community of palaeobiologists and palaeoclimatologists, associated with a significant geological museum and collection (the Lapworth Museum of Geology), and will be part of the broader Geosystems research group of the School.
UK Flora Collections Assistant
This diverse and interesting role in Kew's Conservation Science Department requires excellent organisation skills, a working knowledge of the UK flora and a high level of attention to detail. Your time will be divided between fieldwork, laboratory work and desk-based tasks. You will be a good team-player and communicator. The role offers an opportunity to work with colleagues across Kew and partners within the plant conservation community towards ensuring that high quality seed collections from the UK flora are conserved at the Millennium Seed Bank.
Curator of Natural Sciences
Tullie House Museum & Art Gallery Trust, Carlisle is looking to recruit an enthusiastic, experienced and highly organised individual who is passionate about the care, curation, learning potential and development of natural sciences collections to join the Collections & Programming team at Tullie House in Carlisle.
The postholder will lead on the development of the Natural Sciences Collection (which are subject to a current Designation application) in relation to engagement activities, acquisitions, collections care projects, research, exhibitions and collection displays. This will involve working in collaboration within the Trust and external organisations.
Candidates must have demonstrable knowledge and experience of Natural Sciences collections, developing engagement activity and exhibitions and liaison with internal and external stakeholders.
This role requires a degree in a relevant subject and a postgraduate qualification in museum/gallery studies and/or an AMA or equivalent experience. Knowledge of documentation systems and experience of working with volunteers will also be essential, as will excellent communication skills.
Closing date 12pm Monday 10 August 2015. Application form and more information from http://www.tulliehouse.co.uk/about-us/vacancies
Senior Science Administrator
Role description:
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.
A great opportunity has arisen for a part time vacancy in our Science Resources team for a Senior Science Administrator. Working under the direction of the Head of Science Administration and in liaison with the Head of Science Resources and other Department management teams, the Senior Science Administrator (SSA) supports the delivery of an effective financial and administrative service to the Science Group.
The post holder will manage and authorise expenditure requests, exercise budget control, produce financial regular reports for Department management teams and work closely with the Finance Department to meet best practice guidelines; advocating administrative efficiency through regular and appropriate process reviews.
To be successful in this role, you will have an undergraduate degree or equivalent qualification/experience, preferably in a science discipline. You will have excellent financial awareness and proven ability working in a financially administrative environment. You will be highly organised, with the ability to work independently and as part of a team, and good relationship building skills.
Salary: £13,411.50 (£26,823 full time equivalent) per annum plus benefits
Hours: 18 hours to be agreed between Monday-Friday
Closing date: 9am on Monday 20 July 2015
Interviewing: w/c Monday 27 July 2015
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:
1. GCSE Maths and English at minimum Grade C (or equivalent)
2. Undergraduate degree (or equivalent qualification/experience), preferably in a science discipline
3. Excellent financial awareness and proven ability to work in a financially administrative environment
4. High degree of numeracy
5. Ability to work independently and as part of a team
6. Ability and confidence to communicate effectively at all levels. Excellent verbal and written communication skills
7. The ability to build good working relationships and trust with peers and senior staff within Science Group and across the Museum
8. Ability to manage and prioritise multiple tasks to meet deadlines
9. Proven analytical skills with a systematic approach to problem solving
10. Ability to seek out new and improved ways of working by attaining and assessing feedback to make process improvement recommendations
11. Strong attention to detail and the ability to consistently produce work to a high level of accuracy
12. Excellent IT skills and ability to learn new software packages quickly.
Desirable (Please highlight if you meet any of these criteria by attaching a word document in the supporting documentation section of our online application portal):
1. Experience of working with financial software
2. Project Management qualification or experience
3. Experience of working in an administrative capacity in an academic environment
4. Line management experience
Micro-CT Scanning Specialist
Role description:
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.
An exciting opportunity has arisen in our Imaging and Analysis Centre (part of the Core Research Laboratories Department) for a Micro-CT Scanning Specialist. The post holder will work with the CT Lab manager and will be expected to operate and maintain the Micro-CT facilities at the Natural History Museum for the benefit of Museum scientists and other NHM colleagues, scientific visitors and commercial customers.
The post holder will contribute to the health and safety management of the Micro-CT laboratory by completing necessary documentation, risk assessments and COSHH. You will also oversee the training and supervision of internal and external scientific users to a high level of skill and sample/data interpretation.
Contributing to, and participating in scientific research relevant to the Museum’s science strategy, Micro-CT and its application to the examination of naturally occurring samples, you will also support income generation via grants and commercial activities.
To be successful, you will preferably have a PhD / degree level or equivalent qualification in a relevant science subject, or you could have extensive evidence of relevant experience in the application of Micro-CT to naturally occurring samples. Demonstrable and evidence based theoretical knowledge and recent practical experience of geological and biological X-ray Micro-CT scanning techniques is required.
Salary: £28,188 per annum plus benefits
Contract: Permanent appointment
Closing date: 9am on Monday 27 July 2015
Interviews expected: w/c Monday 3 August 2015
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:
1. Educated to degree level (or equivalent qualification) in a relevant science subject, or extensive evidence of relevant experience in the application of micro-CT to naturally occurring samples
2. Demonstrable and evidence based theoretical knowledge and recent practical experience of geological and biological X-ray micro-CT scanning techniques
3. Significant demonstrable experience in a range of relevant image processing techniques and software, including Drishti, Avizo or VG Studio Max
4. Knowledge of health and safety procedures relevant to micro-CT techniques and sample preparation. Experience in writing risk assessments and COSHH documents.
5. Proven ability to operate as a successful member of a team in a laboratory environment.
6. Evidenced ability to contribute to laboratory-based research
7. Proven methodical approach to data collection, handling and interpretation
8. Experience of 1st line trouble shooting/maintenance of X-ray micro-CT instrumentation
Dawnosaurs Programme Co-ordinator
Role description:
The Natural History Museum is committed to grow as an international centre of excellence for informal science learning, and continued to be considered as such by our audiences, peers, academics and supporters. Our aim is to build on our position as a provider of high quality learning experiences. Our public and school programme will continue to provide access to extraordinary specimens, and we will work with our audiences to create programmes that are relevant to them, responding to and enhancing the ways in which people learn and harness their creativity.
An exciting opportunity has presented itself to be actively involved as a Dawnosaurs Programme Coordinator, leading a new programme that will engage families and children with Autistic Spectrum Condition (ASC). This programme will offer exclusive early access at the Museum and provide tailored opening hours for families with children with ASC and their carers, removing current barriers to access and sharing the Museum and its collections with a wider audience.
To be successful in this role, you will have an understanding of the Autistic Spectrum Condition (ASC) and the effects this may have on gallery visitation, with a good understanding of legislation around equity and inclusion. Some experience in developing and delivering operational plans, activities and events for an audiences with special needs and experience in developing Risk Assessments would be beneficial.
Salary: £10,729.20 (£26,823 full time equivalent) per annum plus benefits
Contract: 36 months fixed term appointment
Hours: 14.4 hours (2 days) per week with some weekend working required
Closing date: 9am on Wednesday 22 July 2015
Interviewing: w/c Monday 3 August 2015
Role competences:
BEFORE beginning your application - Please read the section on the advert about the ‘Online Application Process’ carefully.
If you wish to be considered for this role you will need to address each of the following competencies in the 'other information' section of your online application:
1. Educated to degree level or equivalent qualification and/or proven relevant experience
2. Significant, demonstrable experience and a practical working knowledge of legislation relating to equality and inclusion
3. An excellent understanding of Autistic Spectrum Condition (ASC) and how this relates to the museum experience
4. Significant experience of developing and delivering accessible programming for different audiences
5. Demonstrable experience in developing and delivering training programmes
6. Proven experience of working collaboratively across an organisation, and the ability to work effectively with a wide group of stakeholders
7. The ability to act as an advocate for the Dawnosaurs programme, both internally and externally
8. Able to work effectively and independently using own initiative as well as part of a team
9. Excellent organisational skills with the ability to manage demanding workloads and prioritise multiple tasks.
Operations and Project Officer
An exciting new post has become available at Lyme Regis Museum, a small but prestigious institution located within metres of the Jurassic Coast, England's only Natural World Heritage Site.
This post will provide a challenging but exciting and highly rewarding opportunity for an early-career museum professional to play a key role in shaping the future of an important small museum in a prestigious location.
Commitment, creativity, flexibility and problem solving as well as a willingness to learn new skills are more important than experience in every area of work.
A current CV and an accompanying letter explaining your suitability for the position and why you would like to be considered should be sent to David Tucker (director@lymeregismuseum.co.uk) by 27th July 2015.
Please address the criteria in the below Job description.
Note: This is a two year post and will only proceed should the museum receive a Stage 2 pass from the Heritage Lottery Fund SW in September 2015.
Purpose & aims of post
Lyme Regis Museum has recently submitted a Round 2 submission to the Heritage Lottery fund for £798,000. Should this submission prove successful, the museum expects to build the Mary Anning Wing, a £1.5 million extension to the museum, which will open in June 2017.
This post (which is dependent on the Mary Anning Wing initiative progressing) has come into existence following the retirement of the museum's part-time administration and finance manager. The trustees of the museum have decided to extend this part time role into a full time role, combining the museum's administration functions with supporting the museum through a period of great change. It will provide a challenging opportunity for an early-career museum professional to contribute to an important capital build, gallery redisplays and significant organisational change of a much-loved and very popular museum built, on the site of Mary Anning's home at the birthplace of the science of palaeontology.
The post-holder will work with David Tucker, the museum's director and a small team which includes a part time learning officer, part time geologist and weekend duty managers. Lyme Regis Museum receives over 25,000 visitors a year and is supported by a large team of volunteers and very experienced trustees. The museum is currently working with a project manager, architect and designer to move the Mary Anning Wing Project forward.
The post-holder will be someone with ambition and drive, able to make a full contribution to the Mary Anning Wing Project and develop the skills necessary to support their further career. Applications are welcome from any suitably qualified candidate, irrespective of subject specialism.
Please see 'Essential Skills' below for more details:
Duties
To support the work of the Director of Lyme Regis Museum by overseeing the museum's administration functions and contribute the development of the Mary Anning Wing.
Operational Duties
- Overseeing the museum's day to day financial procedures through the museum's SAGE accounting system
- To become an authorised signatory and coordinate the museum's banking, invoicing and payments regime.
- Supporting the museum's Learning Officer through the administration of all learning visits
- Administer the museum's popular Fossil Walks programme
- Support the work of the museum's part-time retail manager and contribute to the museum's retail team
- To support the Director in a wide range of operational functions
- Assisting in the development & realisation of the Museum's business plan
- To work with the Director and other colleagues ensuring the museum is staffed and safe for the public
- To work with the museum's many Front of House volunteers, creating rotas and ensuring the museum is staffed
- To operate the museum's Gift Aid programme
- To develop a comprehensive understanding of the museum's till and booking systems
- To organise and contribute to the museum's outreach 'Fossil Polishing Programme'
- To work with the museum's volunteer webmaster in coordinating relevant information through the museum's website
- When appropriate making written and verbal presentations to the trustees of Lyme Regis Museum
- Assisting the Director in the preparation and maintenance of the annual budget.
Researching and advising on potential new developments to maximise the Museum's commercial effectiveness.
- Deputising for the Director when required
Training will be provided where necessary.
Project Duties
- Support the Director and work with the gallery designer, learning officer and museum geologist with the creation of the museum's new geology gallery.
- Support the operation of the Museum's Programme Advisory Board, which coordinates and advises on the Mary Anning Wing Project
- To work with and coordinate museum staff and volunteers with the temporary closure and partial evacuation of the museum
- To work with the Director in ensuring the protection of all items of the collection
- To contribute to the redisplay of the museum's geology and literary galleries
- To contribute to the reorganisation of the museum's shop and organisational processes in advance of the museum re-opening in June 2017
- To contribute to the creation of the museum's new website and to contribute to the delivery of the museum's extended marketing functions
- To work with the museum's HLF funded Activity Plan Coordinator and Learning Officer in the delivery of a wide range of activities with diverse audiences
This list in not exhaustive and may be amended as the Mary Anning Wing Project develops.
Responsible to: Director of the Museum.
Responsible for:
- Volunteers
- Cleaner
- Other contract staff where appropriate as the Mary Anning Wing Project proceeds.
Key working relationships
The post holder will work closely with the Museum's other staff, as well as a range of external audiences, relevant support groups, agencies and visitors.
This group includes (but not exclusively) the following:
- The museum's Learning Officer, Geologist, Weekend Duty Managers and Cleaner
- The Museum's Trustees
- The Museum's Programme Advisory Board
- Project Manager, Architect, Gallery Designer and other members of the Mary Anning Wing delivery team
- Visitors - individual and groups
- The Friends of the Museum
- Local Authority representatives
- Members of other museums and archives
- Donors and sponsors
- The media
- Participants in the Museum's events programme
- Relevant freelance, contract staff and advisors
- The museum's many Front of House volunteers, and also the volunteer research team leader, volunteer web manager and collections care and documentation volunteers
Essential Skills, Qualifications & Attributes
The post-holder will be ambitious, hardworking, flexible and committed to the Mary Anning Wing Project.
They should possess:
- A good degree
- A post-graduate qualification in museum studies
- An understanding of the leadership, management and administrative needs of smaller museums and cultural institutions
- High standards of literacy and numeracy
- The ability to prioritise
- Well-developed interpersonal skills.
- Ability to work as part of a team.
- Personal authority.
- Well-developed communication skills.
- Exemplary time-keeping.
- Diligence, attention to detail.
- Loyalty and resilience
Desirable Interests:
- An enthusiasm for palaeontology, literature and social and maritime history.
Museum Curator
Grant Museum Curator
UCL Public and Cultural Engagement
Duration of post: Permanent, full time
Salary: Grade 7: £33,353 - £40,313 (Inclusive of London weighting; annual cost of living increase pending)
UCL Museums and Collections is a dynamic and growing service that has won national awards. The museums are part of the UCL Public and Cultural Engagement (PACE) department that also includes the university’s Public Engagement Unit and the Bloomsbury Theatre. The collections house over half a million outstanding artefacts and specimens across arts and science disciplines. Promoting research and teaching with these collections is a high priority, and the museums play a key role in engaging new audiences with UCL’s academic work.
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.
The Grant Museum Curator’s primary responsibility will be to undertake curatorial work and collections care and management for the Grant Museum collection, including documentation, imaging, storage, collections development and databases. The post-holder also plays an active role in the development and delivery of appropriate university teaching, and encourages and facilitates research and teaching use of the collection. The Curator participates in the development of new exhibitions and displays, and will participate fully in the Department’s public engagement programmes.
The Curator will work closely with colleagues across UCL Museums and Collections and PACE and will report to the Grant Museum Manager. The post-holder will play an active role in the Grant Museum team and will work closely alongside the Museum Manager, Learning and Access Officer and UCL Museums Collections Management team in developing and delivering the overall strategic aims of the Grant Museum and wider UCL PACE services.
The role requires very good levels of subject-specific knowledge and collections management experience, as well as a track record in public engagement and advocacy within the museum sector.
We particularly welcome applications from black and minority ethnic candidates as they are under-represented within UCL at this level.
For a FULL JOB DESCRIPTION and TO APPLY, please follow the instructions on our web site
CLOSING DATE 03/08/15
INTERVIEWS in week beginning 17/08/15