Community Announcements

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

Anyone with an iDigBio account may create a community announcement. Once logged in, you can create a new community announcement here: New Community Announcement

Discovering new plant species on Guadalcanal's mountains

By Dr Shelley James

Backed by Denny Luan, Tracie Mackenzie, Amy Collette, Nikki & Friends, Elise & Tiffy, Bo Sprotte Kofod, John B. Hall, David Esopi, Donna Robbins, Pureum Kim, Robert Whitton, and Perth Friends

About This Project

The Solomon Islands archipelago in the Pacific Ocean has an estimated plant diversity of 4500 species, the same diversity as Texas, but on only 4% of the land area. Intensive biodiversity surveys are urgently needed in this remote location as many new species await discovery. This project will rapidly assess the flora of the highest peaks of Guadalcanal and develop conservation plans to protect against deforestation and invasion of non-native species threatening this unique floral biodiversity.
What is the context of this research?

Few botanical specimens have been collected from the upper elevations of Guadalcanal. For example, Bishop Museum has only about 800 botanical specimens from the island, and none are from the high, biologically diverse mountain tops. Intensive surveys are expected to result in the discovery of many new species and the documentation of new populations of rare species.

Collecting new specimens will enable scientists and Solomon Islanders to better understand the floral biodiversity and distribution of plants on Guadalcanal in order to develop conservation plans for the region. I have been developing an up-to-date species list of the flora of the Solomon Islands, and new botanical surveys will help validate this already gathered data.

What is the significance of this project?

The rainforests of the Solomon Islands are listed on the World Wildlife Fund's (WWF) Terrestrial Ecoregions of conservation priority. The flora and fauna of the archipelago are considered to be vulnerable due to the clearing of forest for tropical timber, large-scale agricultural plantations and subsistence gardening, largely as a result of population growth. The native forest is also increasingly threatened by non-native species that invade the diverse native forests.

Climate change is expected to influence the diversity of the region, but a baseline measure of the flora in the mountains is needed to gauge these effects into the future. Collections made will also provide needed specimens for other botanical researchers around the world unable to travel to this remote region.

What are the goals of the project?

Working with a team of scientists from around the globe, and with your support, I will survey the intact forest of the high-elevation interior of Guadalcanal for ca. 20 days in September, 2015. Each flowering and fruiting plant specimen will be photographed and collected to document the diversity of species in each area surveyed. Pieces of tissue will also be sampled and preserved for molecular research projects. Specimens resulting from this expedition (>1,000 specimens) will significantly enhance the understanding of the floral biodiversity of Guadalcanal. The distribution and density of endangered, rare and threatened species, and invasive species will be documented. The project will also involve the training of at least one Solomon Islander in biodiversity assessments.

To help fund this exciting expedition go to the original announcement!

Join the Master Plant Science Team

 

Plantingscience.org is now accepting applications for the 2015-2016 Master Plant Science Team.

Apply by August 21, 2015

Are you a graduate student or post-doctoral researcher interested in a chance to get involved and trained in K-12 outreach?  Would you like to mentor student research teams, without ever leaving your desk?  Do you have the time to commit to mentor ~4 teams in both the Fall and Spring PlantingScience Sessions?   

Discover the rewards: 

  • Free annual society membership
  • Reduced annual meeting fees
  • T-shirt
  • Support of a mentor cohort

 What are the expectations of the Master Plant Science Team members?

  • One year commitment (~2 hours per week time commitment when sessions are active)
  • Mentor ~4 teams in fall and spring
  • Communicate ~3 times per week when teams are active
  • Connect with classroom teacher as appropriate
  • Provide feedback to staff and mentor team

Interested members of the Master Plant Science Team may also participate in field-testing of new curricular modules, shadowing student experiments, communicating with teachers and module authors, and providing feedback on module materials and development.

Sponsorship is provided by the following partner societies:

 

Learn more from plantingscience.org and apply now!

Katherine Esau Director (Director) of CCBER

Katherine Esau Director of the Cheadle Center for Biodiversity and Ecological Restoration



The University of California Santa Barbara is recruiting for a Director for the Cheadle Center for Biodiversity and Ecological Restoration (CCBER).  CCBER fulfills the university's mission of education, research, and outreach through its preservation and management of natural history collections, outreach programs, and stewardship and restoration of campus lands.   

The Katherine Esau Director of CCBER works under the general direction of the Chair of the CCBER Advisory Committee. Provides oversight of the acquisition and care of biological specimens used in teaching and research, preparation and implementation of planning documents and interaction with departmental officers and committees, and represents the CCBER in regards to institutional issues including the development of campus wide programs such as the natural areas program. Serves as the curator of one or more of the specimen collections, manages and maintains a database for the collections, and supervises numerous staff associated with CCBER's many programs including the natural history collections, ecological restoration, and education programs. Raises extramural funding through grants/contracts and works with the Office of Development on major fundraising programs for CCBER. Maintains a research program, supervises CCBER's activities in university level education, and public service including the leadership of an active academic preparation program for local K-12 schools, which supports the "broader impacts" requirement of NSF grants and engages the department's faculty and graduate students.   

Job Title: Katherine Esau Director (Director) of CCBER    

Department: CBER-Ctr for Biodiversity and Ecological Restoration    

Job Number: 20150252    

Job Close Date: Primary consideration by 6/10/15; thereafter, open until filled.   

https://jobs.ucsb.edu/

-- 
Jennifer Thorsch, PhD 
Katherine Esau Director 
Cheadle Center for Biodiversity and Ecological Restoration 
University of California 
Santa Barbara, CA 93106 
Office 805.893.2401 
FAX 805.893.4222

Employment Opportunities @ the Botanical Research Institute of Texas (BRIT)

The Botanical Research Institute of Texas (BRIT; located in Fort Worth, Texas) has multiple employment openings. Please see the brief descriptions below and links to the full job announcements on the BRIT website (http://brit.org/about/employment).
 
Herbarium Research Botanist (http://www.brit.org/employment#herbarium_research_botanist)  
 
The Botanical Research Institute of Texas (BRIT) seeks a full time Herbarium Research Botanist that will be a split appointment emphasizing the utilization, improvement, and growth of the BRIT herbarium collection. Equal time will be spent on (1) herbarium curation and management and (2) conducting original research focused on botanical and ecosystem exploration in Texas and elsewhere. Research projects must either utilize existing collections or result in the acquisition of additional collections to be deposited in the BRIT herbarium. Candidate must have experience in the herbarium and a record of successful grant-writing, project management, and publishing. The ideal candidate is self-motivated, demonstrates the ability to disseminate one’s scientific work effectively to various audiences, and has been trained to analyze biological data. Strong interpersonal skills, organizational and planning skills, and ability to communicate effectively are a must.
 
An advanced degree in Botany or a closely related discipline is required, with knowledge of regional/southwest flora preferred. The Herbarium Research Botanist must be able to work in varying conditions indoors as well as outside in the Texas climate. BRIT strives to maintain a positive work environment focused on growth and success of individuals working together in a collaborative, professional manner with communication a priority. To apply, please submit a cover letter with salary requirements and a resume to: Brithr@brit.org. Applications will be considered until the position is filled. Selection of applicants will be made through assessment of necessary skills, related experience, and applicable education/plant knowledge. BRIT is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Full Position Description: http://www.brit.org/webfm_send/1394
 
 
 
Herbarium Assistant (http://www.brit.org/employment#herbarium_assistant)
 
The Botanical Research Institute of Texas (BRIT) seeks a temporary, full time Herbarium Assistant to assist the Collections Manager in the processing, preparation, and filing of plant specimens and in maintaining the BRIT-SMU-VDB herbarium collections and associated databases. Strong interpersonal skills and ability to communicate effectively are required. The ideal candidate is self-motivated with attention to detail, has strong organization skills, and can work independently and take on supervisory and organizational responsibilities.
 
Candidate must have a degree in Botany, Biology, or a related field, with experience working with scientific collections. BRIT strives to maintain a positive work environment focused on growth and success of individuals working together in a collaborative, professional manner with communication a priority. To apply, please submit a cover letter with salary requirements and a resume to: Brithr@brit.org. Applications will be considered until the position is filled. BRIT is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Full Position Description: http://www.brit.org/webfm_send/1393
 
 
 
Director of Research (http://www.brit.org/employment#dir_research)
 
The Botanical Research Institute of Texas (BRIT) seeks a full time Director of Research. This position oversees the Research program at BRIT, which includes the library and herbarium collections, the press, biodiversity informatics, and research projects. The Director of Research conceptualizes a broad vision for the overall program, aligned with the Institute’s strategic goals, and leads the program in annual and long-range strategic planning. In this leadership position, the director will work collaboratively with cross-departmental teams on projects that build the organization’s standing in the field of botany and conservation. Candidate must have a minimum of 10 years experience to include a combination of conducting research and managing research programs, along with a strong record of successful grant-writing and project management.
 
A Ph.D. in botany, ecology, or conservation biology, with publications, is required. Strong oral and written communication skills are necessary and supervisory experience is preferred. BRIT strives to maintain a positive working environment focused on growth and success of individuals, working together in a collaborative, professional manner, with communication a priority. To apply, please submit a cover letter with salary requirements and a resume to: Brithr@brit.org. Applications will be considered until the position is filled.  BRIT is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Full Position Description: http://www.brit.org/webfm_send/1392

ASSOCIATE DATA CURATOR (aka Project Manager)

Primary function: Responsible for the management and workflow associated with the digitization of microfungi specimens.
Position Description: Provide technical assistance by training staff on digitization protocols within the project. Provide management support for the NSF funded Microfungi Collections Consortium (MiCC) project, which aims to digitize information from specimens in fungal collections at 38 institutions across the United States by closely monitoring progress, and effectively communicating with lead Principal Investigator to inform and resolve any issues. Manage data produced through the project as well as digitization workflows at INHS to ensure continued progress amongst all collaborators. Coordinate with our national collaborators in making data available through the project's data portal (http://mycoportal.org) and the central hub at iDigBio (Florida) including functionality of website uploads from various collaborators. Edit data contributed to the project to ensure it conforms to the Darwin Core format, add collections as well as datasets to the portal, and develop/manage specimen-based resources for the MiCC data portal. Communicate with Principal Investigator and collaborators including (but not limited to): attending and participating in project related meetings in person (or via video-conferencing); being available to respond to questions on the phone or through email during normal business hours; attending seminars and conferences pertaining to projects; providing data for, and assisting with the preparation of, project reports. Oversee training, supervision, and scheduling of undergraduate student and hourly workers involved in digitizing fungal specimens at INHS and providing general training (in person or remotely) to project participants.
Education:  Required: BA/BS with specialization in a biological science discipline including plant biology, biology, integrative biology, or environmental biology.
Experience Required: Work in a herbarium, museum, or biological collection/laboratory, or the equivalent combination of education and experience related to the job to total 4 years. Database management experience. Course work in mycology, museum studies, or related fields. Computer skills (e.g., Excel, Word, PowerPoint) including some experience with software for databasing (e.g., MySQL) and imaging (e.g. Photoshop, Lightroom). Experience training and supervising undergraduate students.
Knowledge Requirements: Basic knowledge of biological classification. Strong verbal and written communication skills. Strong organizational skills. Ability to multitask with experience prioritizing multiple projects.
Salary:   Commensurate with experience and education; Benefits: Generous vacation and sick leave.  State Universities Retirement System.  Group health, dental, vision and life insurance.  This is a regular, academic professional, full-time grant supported 12-month position, renewable annually based upon satisfactory progress in the position and continued funding.  The estimated starting date is May 16, 2015 (negotiable). A valid driver's license is required for this position.
Applications must be received by May 17, 2015. To apply, all candidates must submit an online profile through https://jobs.illinois.edu by the close of the posting period. Qualified candidates must upload a cover letter detailing qualifications and skills, curriculum vitae or resume’, working e-mail address, and the names, addresses, phone numbers, and e-mail addresses of three professional references.  All requested information must be submitted for your application to be considered. Incomplete information will not be reviewed. Applications may be reviewed prior to closing.
For further information please contact Erica Hanson, Human Resources, Illinois Natural History Survey, 217-333-6897, elhanson@inhs.illinois.edu.  For technical questions, please contact: Dr. Andrew Miller, Search Committee Member, at amiller7@illinois.edu.
Illinois is an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, status as a protected veteran, or status as a qualified individual with a disability. Illinois welcomes individuals with diverse backgrounds, experiences, and ideas who embrace and value diversity and inclusivity (www.inclusiveillinois.illinois.edu).

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