The College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at Cornell University embraces diversity and seeks candidates who will contribute to a climate that supports students, faculty, and staff of all identities and backgrounds. We strongly encourage individuals from underrepresented and/or marginalized identities to apply.
The Cornell University Museum of Vertebrates (CUMV) is part of Cornell’s Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology (EEB), where this position falls within the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. The CUMV is a dynamic institution co-located with the Cornell Lab of Ornithology in the Johnson Center for Biodiversity. The CUMV manages four renowned vertebrate collections (Ichthyology, Herpetology, Ornithology, and Mammalogy) that are used for research, teaching, and outreach by museum staff, Cornell students and faculty, and external collaborators. With 1.5M total specimens, the CUMV collections are a unique and irreplaceable record of vertebrate biodiversity over space and time. The CUMV’s collections of 1.3M fishes make the Ichthyology holdings a particular nexus of long-term scholarly value and continued active research and collections growth. The CUMV is also central to Cornell’s “whole specimen” endeavor that links traditional specimens with cutting-edge digital specimen information (e.g., CT-scans of morphology and physiology; DNA data on genomics; locational data on distributions; sound and video recordings of behavior; etc.).
The CUMV seeks a full-time Collections Manager to assist with the day-to-day activities of accessioning, cataloging, loaning, labeling, shelving and caring for physical specimens. This role is integral to the management, organization, growth, and scientific use of Cornell’s collections by providing essential collections management support to the entire CUMV, with a particular emphasis on curating and growing the fish collections, data infrastructure (currently managed with the relational database platform Specify), and management of permits and specimen loans. Other duties include recruiting and supervising student workers, and providing tours and orientation sessions for Cornell classes and similar stakeholder constituencies.
The Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology is committed to fostering a healthy workplace that values diverse perspectives and backgrounds as well as supporting growth and advancement opportunities; our community welcome staff who are still learning in their careers and who are motivated to take on new challenges.
Visa Sponsorship is not available for this position.
Relocation assistance will not be provided for this position.
Required Qualifications:
Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field and a minimum of 2 years experience. Comprehensive working knowledge of global fish taxonomic diversity. Familiarity with overall vertebrate biodiversity. Experience working with Specify or similar relational databases in the context of natural history collection management. Organized, self-starting, eager to learn and adapt collections management skills, and very strong attention to detail. Willingness to learn and follow safety protocols and procedures to ensure compliance in the museum. Familiarity with various modern computer software programs, including word processing, spreadsheets, and databases.
Preferred Qualifications:
MS in ichthyology or a related field, or equivalent work experience. Experience with respectfully engaging undergraduates and supervising and supporting student workers. Experience and knowledge of preparing and managing a diversity of vertebrate specimen types. Experience with the identification, taxonomy, and diversity of North American freshwater fishes. Comfortable in field research settings. Experience in applying for state and federal permits for museum-relevant activities.
University Job Title: Collections Asst IV
Job Family: Library/Museum
Level: D
Pay Rate Type: Hourly
Pay Range: $21.90 – $24.60
Complete details and to apply:
https://cornell.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com/CornellCareerPage/job/Ithaca-Main-Campus/CUMV-Collections-Manager—Ecology-and-Evolutionary-Biology_WDR-00034410-1