The University of Kansas Biodiversity Institute seeks a collection manager to oversee its world-class research collections in vertebrate paleontology. The collections consist of extensive fossil vertebrate specimens, along with archives and library holdings. The collections have particular strengths in Paleozoic and Mesozoic fishes and Paleozoic tetrapods; fishes, plesiosaurs, mosasaurs, ichthyosaurs, pterosaurs and toothed birds from the Niobrara Chalk; Jurassic and Cretaceous dinosaurs from the Western Interior; Cenozoic mammals from the central and western parts of the USA; and a remarkable late Pleistocene fauna from Natural Trap Cave, Wyoming. KU faculty, staff and students, as well as 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:
- Master’s degree or Ph.D. in museum studies, geology, evolutionary biology, or paleontology from an accredited university plus experience working with museum collections in a position with similar responsibilities.
- Working knowledge of the taxonomy and identification of fossil vertebrates as evidence by previous experience and/or education.
- Demonstrable knowledge of care and management of natural history collections, with a special emphasis on preventative conservation, collection-storage environments, and techniques pertaining uniquely to fossil vertebrate collections as evidenced by previous experience.
- Familiarity with biodiversity informatics, including relational databases (e.g., Specify), web-based applications, and distributed networks as evidenced by previous experience and/or education.
And preference will be given to applicants with:
- Previous collection-management experience.
- Expertise in one or more taxa that constitute divisional strengths and programmatic priorities.
- Field experience collecting fossil vertebrate specimens.
- Experience preparing fossil vertebrate 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:
- K. Christopher Beard, Biodiversity Institute, Division of Vertebrate Paleontology, Senior Curator, chris.beard@ku.edu
- Jaime Keeler, Biodiversity Institute Business Coordinator, jrkeeler@ku.edu
The workplace is located in Dyche 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 7 September 2018. EO/AA. We celebrate diversity in all life forms.
To apply go to: https://employment.ku.edu/staff/12247BR