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

Biodiversity Data Literacy Competencies - BLUE wants your thoughts!

 
We are asking for your help to define a core set of biodiversity data literacy competencies. The goal is to use these to guide a set of recommendations for improving undergraduate biology training and meeting increasing workforce demands in both data and biodiversity sciences.

Please consider joining this effort and completing this anonymous survey if you are in one or more of the following groups:

  • Educators who teach and/or supervise undergraduate or graduate students in the biological sciences
  • Organismal, ecological, and environmental researchers who generate and use large aggregated biodiversity datasets
  • Discipline-based education researchers
  • Data scientists and biodiversity informaticians
  • Curators or researchers working with natural history collections

The survey should take you approximately 15-25 minutes to complete.

This is an initiative of the Biodiversity Literacy in Undergraduate Education Research Coordination Network (BLUE). BLUE is an inclusive community of biodiversity, data, and education researchers working to identify a transferrable set of core biodiversity data competencies for undergraduates, develop strategies for integrating these competencies into the introductory biology curriculum, and build capacity for sustained development and implementation of biodiversity and data literacy education.

Thank you in advance for your input and efforts.

BLUE Biodiversity Data Competencies Team:

  • Anna Monfils, Central Michigan University
  • Natalie Douglas, Central Michigan University
  • Alexa Clemmons, University of Washington
  • Debra Linton, Central Michigan University
  • Elizabeth Ellwood, La Brea Tar Pits & Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County

Position Opening for Biological Collections Specialist Digitizing Aquatic Insect and Fish Collections Montana State University


Position Opening for Biological Collections Specialist Digitizing Aquatic Insect and Fish Collections _Montana State University

Biological Collections Specialist (Aquatics)

Brief Position Overview: Individual will be involved in handling, curation, cataloging, digitization and database management for a very large number of aquatic biological specimens contained in the Montana Entomology Collection and MSU vertebrate museum. Extensive paper documentation will be linked to these specimens and databased.

This grant funded position is full-time and runs for two years. For further information, see:

https://jobs.montana.edu/postings/17023

Questions may be directed to:

Michael Ivie
(406) 994-4610
mivie@montana.edu (preferred)

 

Collections Manager position in invertebrate paleontology at the University of Kansas

POSITION ANNOUNCEMENT
COLLECTION MANAGER
 
The University of Kansas Biodiversity Institute seeks a collection manager to oversee its world-class research collections in invertebrate paleontology.  The collections consist of extensive invertebrate fossil and micro-fossil specimens, along with archives and library holdings.  The collections have strengths in Cambrian, Carboniferous and Cretaceous fossils, microfossils, echinoderms, brachiopods, and arthropods, and fossils from Antarctica.  University curators and students, and national and international scholars, use the collections extensively for research and education.  The collection 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), non-tenure track position.
 
Duties include:

  • Collection 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.
  • Continue development and enhancement of collection database.
  • Supervision and training of graduate and undergraduate research assistants and students, and volunteers.
  • Professional development to maintain currency in and advance the field.
  • Other duties as appropriate.

 
Required qualifications include:

  • Master's degree or Ph.D. in museum studies, geology, systematics, or paleontology from an accredited university, or a bachelor’s degree plus 5 years experience working with museum collections in a position with similar responsibilities.
  • Working knowledge of the taxonomy and identification of invertebrate fossils.
  • Demonstrable knowledge of care and management of natural history collections.
  • Familiarity with biodiversity informatics.

 
And preference will be given to applicants with:

  • Expertise in one or more taxa that constitute divisional strengths and programmatic priorities.
  • Field experience collecting invertebrate fossil specimens.
  • Experience preparing invertebrate fossil specimens.

 
A complete application will include (1) a letter of application addressing qualifications, (2) CV, (3) statement of collection management philosophy, (4) names and email address of three individuals who can write a letter of recommendation, and (5) representative publications (the latter is optional). More information and a complete position description may be obtained by contacting:

  • Bruce S. Lieberman, Biodiversity Institute, Division of Invertebrate Paleontology, Senior Curator, blieber@ku.edu
  • Jaime Keeler, Biodiversity Institute Business Coordinator, jrkeeler@ku.edu

 
 
The workplace is located in Lindley Hall and PSB 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 3 September 2019.  EO/AA.  We celebrate diversity in all life forms and minorities, women, veterans and those with disabilities are strongly encouraged to apply. The University of Kansas values candidates who have experience working with students from diverse backgrounds and possess a strong commitment to improving access to higher education for historically under-represented minorities. ​
 
 
 
 
To apply go to: http://employment.ku.edu/staff/14823BR
 
 
 
 

Biodiversity Collections Network releases new report, Extending U.S. Biodiversity Collections to Promote Research and Education

Dear Colleague,
 
We are pleased to share with you that the Biodiversity Collections Network has just released its new report, Extending U.S. Biodiversity Collections to Promote Research and Education  We invite you to download and share the report brochure that provides detail about this vision for the future.  

Read the report brochure.

The Biodiversity Collections Network Advisory Council

 

 
 

 

JRS Biodiversity Foundation Hiring a Foundation Program Manager

The JRS Biodiversity Foundation is hiring a Foundation Program Manager to manage vital elements of the foundation’s administration and grantmaking programs.  The JRS Biodiversity Foundation’s mission is to increase access to and use of information that will lead to biodiversity conservation and sustainable development in sub-Saharan Africa. We are the only funder focused on improving access to biodiversity data and on the information technologies (IT) behind conservation decisions. With assets of $45M, we invest about $2.5M per year in eight to ten, multi-year grants.

Perfect Job for a Professional Seeking a Unique Opportunity in Biodiversity Conservation
The Foundation Program Manager is a dual role that combines technical areas of grantmaking, grants management, and evaluation with operational areas of administration, finance, and governance.  This role is a unique chance for a professional to learn about and to contribute to every aspect of a small, high-performing strategic philanthropy. The Program Manager will report to and work in close partnership with, the Executive Director in the foundation’s Seattle office.
Experience and high levels of interest in most or all of these areas of Qualifications will make for a great fit:

  1. Financial management or strategic communications.
  2. Project management in international development, research, or the private sector.
  3. Grantmaking, program evaluation, or operations in strategic philanthropy.
  4. A degree related to environmental science that preferably includes knowledge of data science and biodiversity informatics.
  5. Experience with staffing or managing projects in sub-Saharan Africa.

Minimum Qualifications

  • M.A. or Ph.D. in fields related to JRS’ operations and strategy.
  • 3-5 years of post-university work or education experience.
  • Significantly meet 3 of the 5 experience Qualifications above.
  • Successful applicants will be asked to show proof that they can legally work in the US.

For a complete posting, please see the online version  at JRS.Breezy.HR. We welcome your questions online or submitted to info@jrsbiodiversity.org.  Applications are due no later than May 15, 2019.

Pages

News