Community Announcements

Tell the iDigBio community about your upcoming events, projects or other items pertinent to biodiversity and biological collections.

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CT Scanning Short Courses

 

Two short courses on generating and working with CT data will be offered at the University of Texas at Austin during July 11–13 and August 8–10, 2022. These are the final two short courses sponsored by the oUTCT grant that is a partner of the openVertebrate (oVert) Thematic Collections Network.  Funds are available to cover travel, lodging, and meals; there are no charges to attend the workshop!

To apply for this course email Dr. Jessie Maisano (maisano@utexas.edu).

Workshop flyer

 

Applications now open for the 2022 Inclusive Teaching Initiative!

The Botanical Society of America is happy to offer several awards including normal travel and conference expenses for the Botany 2022 Conference in Anchorage, Alaska (July 23-27). These travel awards are designed for faculty at 2-Year Colleges, Community Colleges, Tribal Colleges, HSI-HE and HBCU institutions. This is an exciting opportunity to attend an international botanical conference of six scientific societies and to share pedagogical and research ideas, as well as interact with 1000+ plant scientists from across the globe.
 
What is the Inclusive Teaching Initiative?
The Inclusive Teaching Initiative brings together faculty from minority-serving institutions with educators, researchers, and professional botanists to participate in programming and share experiences with evidence-based teaching and inclusive mentoring.

Funding includes:

  • Travel costs
  • A room at the conference hotel
  • Conference registration
  • A $500 stipend
Faculty accepted for this award will be able to participate in the regular conference activities, including attending symposia, contributed papers, and presenting posters if desired. Special programming of interest include: 
  • July 24 Pedagogy Workshop - “Broadening Botanical Pathways in Teaching: Planting Inquiry in Undergraduate Science Classes”
  • July 25 Education and DEAI Research Talks - “Creating an Inclusive Experience in the Classroom and Across the Discipline”
  • July 25 Networking Event - “Making Connections: Networking across the botanical community”
Who is eligible?
Applications from science faculty at the following minority-serving institutions will be accepted:
  • Community Colleges
  • Tribal Colleges and Universities
  • Historically Black Colleges and Universities
  • Hispanic Serving Institutions
  • other Minority-Serving Institutions
Please note: We are not able to fund non-US citizens for this opportunity due to the funding source.
 
How do I apply?
To apply, fill out this short webform by May 25, 2022. Questions may be directed to Sarah Sims, the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Program Coordinator for the Botanical Society of America at ssims@botany.org

NYBG Paid Internships

" Kate Armstrong & I are looking to hire 2 new paid interns to work on NYBG's All Asia Herbarium Digitization TCN! Please send to anyone who might be interested! Funding provided through NSF award 2100755. " From Facebook Post

Description from NY Botanical Garden website: https://www.nybg.org/about/work-with-us/employment/?p=job%2FoTdbjfwk&fbc...

The Digitization Intern – All Asia is a temporary, full-time position that will assist with the data capture of herbarium specimens collected from Asia and the Malay Archipelago and housed in the New York Botanical Garden Steere Herbarium as part of a multi-institutional NSF-funded project: Digitization TCN: Bringing Asia to digital life: mobilizing underrepresented Asian herbarium collections in the US to propel biodiversity discovery.

Additionally, this position supports, through actions and conduct, NYBG’s Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Accessibility initiatives and helps to build and maintain an inclusive organizational culture throughout the institution.

Specific Duties and Responsibilities:

  • Barcode and capture digital images of herbarium specimens
  • Handle (select and refile) herbarium specimens
  • Transcribe specimen data from digital images into database
  • Georeference specimens of plants collected from Asia and the Malay Archipelago
  • Write public orientated stories for the Herbarium’s online scientific communication tool The Hand Lens
  • Participate in public outreach events
  • Occasionally help curate taxa to current taxonomy

Requirements:

  • Must be able to work effectively with others as part of an efficient and detail oriented team
  • Coursework in Biology
  • Experience with digital photography and herbarium procedures preferred
  • Current undergraduate, graduate student, or recent graduate
  • Familiarity with the geography of eastern or southern Asia and the Malay Archipelago
  • Ability to read Cyrillic, Hanzi, and/or Kanji characters is a plus

Please be advised, as a term and condition of accepting a job offer the candidate for employment must submit proof of full vaccination. Candidates for employment unable to submit proof of full vaccination at the time of the offer will not be considered for employment.

This policy is subject to the reasonable accommodation provisions of Title VII and the American for Disabilities Act (ADA) and other EEO consideration.  If you believe that because of a disability or a sincerely held religious belief that you may be entitled to a reasonable accommodation or exemption to this policy please contact HR@nybg.org. 

If you require an accommodation for any part of the application process, please notify the Human Resources department at HR@nybg.org.

EOE/BIPOC/F/Persons with disabilities/Veterans

Assistant Collections Manager, Marine Biodiversity Center, NHM of LA County

https://workforcenow.adp.com/mascsr/default/mdf/recruitment/recruitment.html?cid=2fc0a355-012e-4bef-9c85-724ae074a06a&ccId=19000101_000001&lang=en_US&jobId=9200250496962_1&source=EN

Assistant/Associate Collections Manager, Marine Biodiversity Center

Regular Full-Time

Los Angeles, CA, US

The Natural History Museum of LA County (NHMLAC) seeks an Assistant/Associate Collections Manager for our Marine Biodiversity Center (MBC).  The MBC works closely with several other collecting departments to manage specimens from all marine invertebrate groups, and we integrate traditional preserved specimens, tissue samples, and genetic data in the management of the collection.  NHMLAC  was the first museum in L.A. to open its doors 109 years ago and is poised for an exciting new era as it plans for the future. Having recently completed a new strategic framework, the Natural History Museums of Los Angeles County—including NHM at Exposition Park, La Brea Tar Pits and museum in mid-Wilshire, and the William S. Hart Museum in Newhall—is looking forward to new collections and research initiatives, building projects and campaigns, exhibitions, community outreach, and innovative audience engagement.

The Assistant/Associate Collections Manager will participate in collections activities including processing incoming and outgoing loans and accessions, creating, maintaining, and improving database records, conserving and organizing specimens, developing and troubleshooting molecular genetics procedures for sample processing and analysis, improving and enhancing the collection through physical improvements and digitization projects, facilitating the use of the collection by researchers and other users, and supporting the needs of other NHMLA divisions and priorities.  They will oversee the work of staff, students, and volunteers, including training, supervising, creating workflows, and ensuring quality control for collections projects.

The Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County values and endeavors to support diversity, equity, inclusion, and access within its organization and communities. Candidates who identify as Black, Indigenous, or a Person of Color (BIPOC), neurodiverse, a woman, a person with a disability, a veteran, and/or a part of the LGBTQAI+ community are welcome and encouraged to apply.  We are especially interested in candidates whose background and experience have prepared them to contribute to our commitment to engage and include culturally diverse audiences in museums and in science.  It is an exciting time as we embark on new journeys of becoming a museum of, for, and with L.A.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

  • Assists with the care and operation of the Marine Biodiversity Center collection, including organizing and conserving specimens, preparing and processing loans and acquisitions, and facilitating collection visits.  Curates specimens as directed, including tissue subsampling and preservation for molecular genetic analysis, processing genetic extracts, generating archival genetic sequences, and developing and troubleshooting molecular genetics protocols. Participates in the development and implementation of collection growth and improvement projects. 

  • Assists in managing collections data and documentation, including data retrieval, cataloging, entering/updating database records, inventorying, managing genetic data associated with specimen records, and enhancing documentation through digitization.  

  • Participates in education and other public program activities of the Museum including but not limited to collection tours, supporting exhibitions, and participation in public museum events. May handle inquiries from the public and researchers and respond to requests for information about the collection.  

  • Develops working knowledge of trends and techniques in collections management, collection-based research, conservation, digitization, biodiversity informatics, government regulations, and/or documentation relevant to ongoing projects and the work of the collection.

  • Participates in the recruitment, training, and oversight of personnel including interns, students, part-time staff, and volunteers.  Develops and implements workflows to ensure quality in collections operations.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:

  • 1-3 years experience in the collection, organization, care and/or conservation of natural history specimens/collections; relevant experience may have been gained through work as a student or professional.  We encourage applicants in their cover letters to explain how their particular combination of education and experience qualifies them for the position.

  • 1-3 years experience in molecular genetics lab techniques, data management and analysis, including the ability to extend existing protocols, develop novel protocols, and successfully troubleshoot lab and analytical procedures.

  • Working knowledge of biological taxonomy and the organization of  natural history collections.

  • Basic knowledge of database software and common principles of biodiversity informatics, and working knowledge of software typically used in natural history collections.

  • Experience training and supervising others.

DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS:

  • Experience writing technical documents such as workflows and procedures.

  • Experience effectively presenting information to and responding to questions from individuals or groups of managers, scientists, and the general public.

  • Demonstrated commitment to diversity, equity, access and inclusion work.

OTHER INFORMATION

The hourly wage for this position is $22.00-$26.44.  This is a full-time, regular, non-exempt position with excellent benefits. An offer will be made either at the Assistant or Associate level depending on the qualifications and experience of the successful candidate.  Candidates must be eligible to work in the United States.

The primary location for this job is at the Natural History Museum in Exposition Park in Los Angeles.  Some offsite travel will be required.

Applicants and employees are invited to identify reasonable accommodations that can be made to assist them to perform the essential functions of the position they seek or occupy. The incumbent must be able to perform this job safely, with reasonable accommodation if necessary, without endangering the health or safety of him/herself or others.

Screening of applications will begin immediately and will continue until the position is filled.  Submit a current CV or resume, a cover letter describing how your experience, knowledge, and interest qualify you for this position, and the names and contact information of three professional references through the Museum’s employment site at https://nhm.org/careers-our-museums/careers-natural-history-museum.

The NHMLAC is establishing a COVID-19 vaccination mandate for staff, effective August 10, 2021. NHMLAC is requiring that all staff receive the vaccine for COVID-19 as a condition of employment. Exemptions for documented medical reasons or a sincerely held religious belief may be requested.

The Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County is an Equal Opportunity Employer. 

International Symposium: 400 Years Botanical Collections

 

Bauhin 2022 – Conference

15 & 16 September 2022, University of Basel, old town of Basel, Switzerland

400 Years of Botanical Collections – Implications for Present-Day Research

International Symposium in honour of Caspar Bauhin (1560-1624)

Caspar Bauhin, (1560-1624) was the first professor of Botany at the University of Basel, and one of the most prominent plant systematists of his time, a forerunner of Linnaeus. He also founded one of the first University Botanical Gardens and collected a herbarium of thousands of plants that survives to today. He published his pioneering Flora of Basel „Catalogus Plantarum circa Basileam sponte nascentium“ exactly 400 years ago – one of the first comprehensive local floras. This international Symposium will trace 400 years back from the origin of local floras and botanical collections to their significance for present-day research in Evolution, Systematics, and Global Change. 

Learn More: https://herbarium.unibas.ch/en/bauhin2022/ 

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