Community Announcements

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

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VISITING ASSISTANT DATA CURATOR (aka Digitizer)

Primary position function: Digitization of microfungi specimens for an online international collection database.
Position Description: Manage the workflow of tasks and staff of the digitization project, ensuring each step of the process is efficiently and effectively completed for successful outcome of final product. Supervision, establish taskings, and scheduling of undergraduate students and hourlies. Specimen selection and the photographing of labels, annotation slips and the specimens themselves. Responsible for the organization, backup and transfer of image files to the online portal and a central collection server. Digitize the specimen label information (the what, when, where and by whom collected) of approximately 1.2 million North American microfungi specimens representing well over 95% of all specimens collected in Canada, the United States and Mexico and held by over 38 US non-governmental institutions.
Education:  Required: BA/BS with specialization in a biological science discipline including biology, integrative biology, environmental biology, or plant biology.
Experience Required: Experience in a herbarium, museum, or biological collection/laboratory, or the equivalent combination of education and experience related to the job to total 2 years.
Knowledge Requirements: Demonstrate a well-developed knowledge of systematics and taxonomy; demonstrate an ability to work independently, and also as a team member; demonstrate an ability to seek improved methods and techniques within the field of data collection; demonstrate an ability to think creatively and ensure the highest possible standards of quality, performance, and ethics; demonstrate an ability to communicate effectively, both written and orally.
 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. Anticipated funding for two years.  The estimated starting date is June 16, 2015 (negotiable). A valid driver's license is required for this position.
Salary:  $31,000 - $32,000 per year
Benefits: Generous vacation and sick leave.  State Universities Retirement System.  Group health, dental, vision and life insurance.
Applications must be received by May 22, 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, atamiller7@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).

New Position with NSF: Division Director, Division of Biological Infrastructure

 

Job Title:Division Director, Division of Biological Infrastructure

Agency:National Science Foundation

Job Announcement Number:DBI-2015-0002

Salary Range: $158,700.00 to $178,000.00 / Per Year

Open Period: Tuesday, March 10, 2015 to Friday, April 10, 2015

Location: 1 vacancy - Arlington, VA

JOB SUMMARY:

Become a part of our mission to maintain and strengthen the vitality of the US science and engineering enterprise. For over 60 years, the National Science Foundation (NSF) has remained the premier Federal agency supporting basic research at the frontiers of discovery across all fields, as well as science and engineering education at all levels.

This position will be filled on an Intergovernmental Personnel Act (IPA) assignment basis. Under the provisions of the IPA, assignees remain on the payroll of his/her home institution and the institution continues to administer pay and benefits. The National Science Foundation (NSF) will reimburse the home institution for NSF's negotiated share of the costs.

 

DUTIES:

Serves as Division Director, Division of Biological Infrastructure (DBI) and as a member of the leadership team of the Directorate for Biological Sciences. DBI contributes to NSF mission by supporting the development and enhancement of biological resources, human capital, and centers. These investments underpin advances in all areas of biological research. DBI supports for research resources includes development of informatics tools and resources, development of new instrumentation, the curatorial improvement and computerization of research collections, improvements of research facilities at biological field stations and marine laboratories as well as in living stock collections. The incumbent has managerial and oversight responsibilities for the effective use of division staff and resources in meeting organizational goals and objectives. This includes directing the activities of the Division of Biological Infrastructure, assessing needs and trends, developing breakthrough opportunities, implementing overall strategic planning, and policy setting. Supervises and provides leadership and guidance to senior level DBI staff (Deputy Division Director), program officers, administrative and support personnel. Determines funding requirements, prepares and justifies budget estimates, balances program needs, allocates resources, and oversees the evaluation of proposals and recommendations for awards and declinations. Represents NSF to relevant external groups and fosters partnerships with other Divisions, Directorates, Federal agencies, scientific organizations and the academic community.
 

To learn more visit the original job posting.

Staff Curator Position with the Department of the Interior

 

Job Title:Staff Curator, GS-1015-12/13

Department:Department Of The Interior

Agency:Office of the Secretary of the Interior

Job Announcement Number:OS-EG-15-MM1343557(DEU)

Salary Range: $75,621.00 to $116,901.00 / Per Year

Open Period: Monday, March 9, 2015 to Friday, March 13, 2015

JOB SUMMARY:

The Department of the Interior is devoted to protecting and preserving the natural resources of this great nation, including National Parks, Landmarks, and the well-being of communities, including those of Native American, Alaska Natives, Native Hawaiians, and affiliated Islanders.

The position is located in the Office of Acquisition and Property Management (PAM), Office of the Secretary, U.S. Department of the Interior, Washington, DC. 
 
The incumbent is a member of the Interior Museum Program that guides management and use of over 67 million museum objects and more than 70,000 linear feet of archives. In size, these collections of museum objects are second only to those of the Smithsonian Institution among federal agency collections. The Department of the Interior's museum objects include 57 million archeology artifacts, 1.3 million paleontology specimens, 4 million history objects, 3.2 million biology specimens, 150,000 ethnographic and art objects, and 83,000 geology specimens.
 
The duties of this position are suitable for periodic or situational telework only.  Duty Station is Washington, DC.
 
This vacancy is also announced as OS-EG-15-MM1343560 (MP) for those applicants who wish to apply and be considered under Merit Promotion procedures.
 

Visit the original job posting to learn more.

Biodiversity Informatics Manager position opening at Harvard University

 

Auto req ID

34999BR

Business Title

Biodiversity Informatics Manager

School/Unit

Faculty of Arts and Sciences

Sub-Unit

------------

Location

USA - MA - Cambridge

Job Function

Research

Time Status

Full-time

Schedule

Monday - Friday, 35 hours per week

Department

Harvard University Herbaria

Salary Grade

059

Union

00 - Non Union, Exempt or Temporary

Duties & Responsibilities

The Harvard University Herbaria (HUH), with more than five million specimens, comprise the world’s largest University herbarium. Research at HUH in evolution, biodiversity, and conservation revolves around the scientific collections and libraries. In recent years, several ambitious projects to digitize the entire HUH holdings have been initiated. At present, 10% of the collections are digitized.
 
The Biodiversity Informatics Manager at HUH will provide leadership, management, and stewardship of the informatics collections and initiatives. The successful candidate will be responsible for addressing the needs of the academic and scientific community engaged with HUH collections, and the natural history collections more broadly. To meet these needs, the candidate will work with the HUH Director and staff, including a three member biodiversity informatics team, to set priorities and develop plans and initiatives. This may additionally involve interacting with FAS Science Division Research Computing to develop and implement technical solutions.
 
The Biodiversity Informatics Manager will oversee the development, maintenance, and enhancement of the databases that document the collections and support HUH activities, including library related goals. The candidate will supervise and manage HUH’s digitization activities and oversee the management and sharing of the resulting digital assets. With database and informatics support from Research Computing, the successful candidate will initiate, develop, implement, and manage scientific and academic applications and informatics projects and initiatives to ensure access to and sharing of biodiversity data with the world. Tasks include, but are not limited to: collecting, organizing, and analyzing natural history specimens, spatial modeling, and databasing. The candidate will work with the Director and HUH staff to develop grant proposals for the funding of informatics projects by external agencies, including the National Science Foundation. The person in this position will also act as a liaison to organizations and projects internally, nationally and internationally, including the Harvard Museums of Science & Culture, in which acquisition and delivery of biodiversity information is central.

Basic Qualifications

Masters Degree in botany or a related discipline and five or more years experience in planning, development, and implementation of biodiversity informatics projects. Fluency in at least one programming language is a requirement. Previous experience with highly technical and collaborative projects, including digitization of biological collections and digital media access to collections via databases, digital tools, and websites. Familiarity with at least some of the following: UNIX, HTML, XML, CSS, PHP, SQL, MySQL, ArcGIS, Mac OS X, Windows 7/8, Microsoft Office, Adobe Photoshop, WordPress.

Additional Qualifications

Proven ability to lead, manage, and engage a broad constituency is required. Demonstrated knowledge of museum collections and biodiversity informatics preferred. Superior communications skills required. Must be able to work with people with varying degrees of IT expertise.

Additional Information

When applying for this position please submit your resume and cover letter in our preferred format as one combined document (resume followed by cover letter).

All formal offers will be made by FAS Human Resources.

Pre-Employment Screening

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EEO Statement

We are an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, gender identity, sexual orientation or any other characteristic protected by law.

 

Please apply to this job on the Harvard Employment website: http://hr.harvard.edu/jobs/

M.S. research assistantship in Ichthyology or Herpetology at Austin Peay State University

 

An M.S. research assistantship in Ichthyology or Herpetology is available through the Center of Excellence for Field Biology (CEFB) at Austin Peay State University (APSU) with an intended start date in August 2015.

The student will be supported by and assist in activities of an NSF-funded Collections in Support of Biological Research grant to improve the infrastructure and utility of the David Snyder Museum of Zoology and APSU Herbarium. Although the specific thesis research topic is open, the successful applicant will be expected to engage in natural history collections-based research related to the ecology or evolution of amphibians, reptiles, or fishes.

The assistantship includes payment of tuition and a 12-month stipend for two years (totaling $16,800/year). Additional resources such as field vehicles and equipment will be available for use in research through the CEFB. Renewal of this award in year two will be based on performance in the preceding year.

Austin Peay State University is located in Clarksville, TN, in one of the most biologically diverse regions of the southeastern U.S. For more information about the Center of Excellence for Field Biology, visit: http://www.apsu.edu/field-biology. For more information about the graduate program in Biology visit: http://www.apsu.edu/biology/graduate.

Required qualifications include

(1) a B.S. in Biology, Ecology, Evolution, or a related field,
(2) excellent interpersonal, written, and oral communication skills, and
(3) strong self-motivation and ability to work well independently and with a team. 

Previous research experience and work in specimen curation or museum operations are not required, but applicants possessing these skills will be favored.

To apply submit the following as a single pdf file: (1) statement of research background and interests, including an explanation of your interests in museum collections and research; (2) curriculum vitae; (3) names and contact information for three academic or professional references; (4) unofficial GRE scores, and (5) an unofficial copy of your college transcripts to Dr. Rebecca Johansen at johansenr@apsu.edu by the 25th February 2015.

Review of applications will begin on 25th February 2015 and continue until the position is filled.

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