POSITION ANNOUNCEMENT
COLLECTION MANAGER
The University of Kansas Biodiversity Institute seeks a collection
manager to oversee its world-class research collections in
herpetology. The collections consist of fluid-preserved specimens,
frozen tissues, wet and dry skeletons, histological preparations,
acoustical recordings, digital and film-image archives, and extensive
library holdings. The collections have an historical strength in
Neotropical amphibians and reptiles, and a developing a focus in
Southeastern Asian herpetology. University curators and students,
and national and international scholars use the collections
extensively for research and education. The collections manager is
responsible for day-to-day activities in the collection and reports
to the curator-in-charge. This is a full-time (12-month appointment),
academic, non-tenure track position.
The successful candidate for the position must be eligible to work in
the U.S. prior to the start date of the appointment.
Duties include:
* Collections management and conservation of the various collections
* Acquisition and collection development in conjunction with
curators and students
* Museum operational service including day-to-day care and use
of the collections
* Supervision of graduate and undergraduate research assistants
and students
* Professional development to maintain currency in and advance the field
* Other duties as appropriate
Required qualifications include:
ASSISTANT SPECIALIST:
1. Master's degree or Ph.D. in museum studies, systematics, or
herpetology from an accredited university; OR a bachelor's degree
plus 5 years experience working with museum collections in a position
with similar responsibilities. Recent graduates with a bachelor's
degree in museum studies, who can demonstrate thorough training in
herpetological collection management, may waive the required 5 years
of experience. Thorough training can be demonstrated by the
equivalent of a curatorial assistantships (GRAs) held in another
collection-based university institution or similar advanced training
at a free standing museum.
2. Working knowledge of the taxonomy and identification of
amphibians and reptiles as demonstrated through coursework and as
addressed in the statement of collection management philosophy.
3. Demonstrable knowledge (academic training or professional
experience) of care and management of natural history collections,
with a special emphasis on preventative conservation,
collection-storage environments, and techniques pertaining uniquely
to fluid-preserved collections.
4. Demonstrable familiarity (as demonstrated in letter of app)
with collections-based relational databases (e.g. Specify) and
web-based applications.
ASSOCIATE SPECIALIST:
In addition to the requirements listed above, to be considered for
appointment at this level candidates must also show six or more years
of experience at the assistant rank (or equivalent) in a
herpetological research collection. This experience must meet
University guidelines for appointment at this rank.
And preference will be given to applicants with:
1. Previous collection-management experience in a natural history
collection, with a special emphasis on herpetological collections.
2. Expertise in one or more taxa that constitute divisional
strengths and programmatic priorities.
3. International field experience with knowledge of numerous
techniques for the collection of herpetological specimens.
4. Experience handling cryogenically stored tissue samples.
5. Familiarity with the larger field of biodiversity informatics
and experience with distributed networks
A complete application will include a letter of application
addressing all required and preferred qualifications, CV, names,
contact information and statement of relationship for three
professional references; and a statement of curatorial and collection
management philosophy. Copies of representative publications are optional.
A complete position description may be obtained by contacting:
Jordan Yochim
Associate Director
Biodiversity Institute
[email protected]
or Dr. Rafe Brown
Curator-in-charge
Division of Herpetology
Biodiversity Institute
[email protected]
The workplace is located in Dyche Hall on the university campus. The
Biodiversity Institute is a healthy, dynamic, nourishing intellectual
environment that values creativity, professional growth and
collaborative interaction. The University of Kansas offers a fine
benefits package for this permanent full-time position.
Application review begins 26 April 2010. EO/AA. We celebrate
diversity in all life forms.
