Please visit Curator of Ichthyology for complete job posting and application instructions.
The Curator of Ichthyology serves as leader and supervisor of the Ichthyology Unit of the Research & Collections section of the NC Museum of Natural Sciences (NCMNS). The Curator conducts original research on fishes and serves as Principal Curator for the Ichthyology research collection, establishing guidelines for the curation of the fishes collections and acquiring relevant specimens and related materials, and associated data. The Curator publishes the results of their research in scientific, peer-reviewed journals, in reports to appropriate agencies, and popular magazines. Additionally, the Curator participates in education and outreach public programs and serves as a liaison to other public and private organizations. Duties include but are not limited to:
- Conducting and disseminating competent original and independent research in fish systematics (taxonomy and phylogenetics), genomics, ecology, and/or related fields with demonstrable value to the Museum, the state of North Carolina, and the academic community
- Ensuring the appropriateness of specimen material received, monitoring the accuracy of data, and providing accurate identification
- Judging the validity and merit of specimens loaned from the NCMNS and exchange requests while maintaining knowledge of and adhering to State, Federal, and safety laws and regulations for loaning/exchanging fish specimens
- Presenting research to peers at professional meetings and to the general public through teaching, popular writing, public lectures, and other museum-based educational activities
- Initiating and/or participating in public education and outreach programs including conducting visitor tours of the Ichthyology collections, providing services such as species identifications and workshops, presenting seminars and lectures, writing popular articles, participating in media events as needed, and providing programs for clubs and civic organizations
- Working with staff in the Education Section to develop and deliver Ichthyology related educational and/or research programs to appropriate public audiences
- Planning annual unit goals and research projects with input from subordinate curators and collection managers and the Director for Research & Collections
- Supervising the work of the Ichthyology Collection Manager
Section/Unit Information:
The primary purpose of the Research & Collections Section of the NC Museum of Natural Sciences is to illuminate the natural world through original scientific research; to grow, house, curate, and maintain research collections of natural history materials and related data for the global scientific community; to study the specimens and data that make up these collections; and to disseminate this information through published scientific articles, popular media, and other programs. Some Research & Collections positions also have joint appointments with local Universities or Colleges. Units of the Research and Collections Section include Astronomy & Astrophysics, Biodiversity, Citizen Science, Evolutionary Biology & Behavior, Genomics & Microbiology, Geology, Herpetology, History of Science, Ichthyology, Library & Archives, Malacology, Mammalogy, Non-molluscan Invertebrates, Ornithology and Paleontology. The section champion’s the Museum’s mission and advances operational plans. It provides cross-sectional collaboration to support the network across the State and contribute to total quality management.
The Ichthyology Unit conducts and supports research on or related to the fishes of the Southeastern United States and around the world. The unit maintains the ichthyology research collection, which includes over 1.4 million fluid-preserved specimens, skeletons, mounts, genetic resources, and associated metadata. This collection ranks among the largest and most diverse in the southeastern United States, documenting the biodiversity of fishes in North Carolina. Moreover, this collection contains thousands of specimens that span the entirety of the United States and all seven continents, including significant holdings from the Antarctic.