Position Status: Full time
Pay Range: $17.53/hour
Close Date: 8/7/19
This is a 6 month FT term position, eligible for benefits. Target dates September 9, 2019 – March 9, 2020.
Job Description:
The Denver Museum of Nature & Science (DMNS) seeks a Term Collections Assistant in the Integrative Collections Branch to support the Earth Sciences Vertebrate Paleontology Collections. The Earth Sciences Collections currently hold approximately 1.2 million specimens in the areas of Vertebrate Paleontology, Invertebrate Paleontology, Paleobotany, Palynology, Ichnology, Research Casts, Gems, Minerals, Rocks, Micromounts, and Meteorites. This Collections Assistant position fulfills the terms of a National Science Foundation award (EAR-1664432) to support curation efforts on our collections from the Cretaceous of Madagascar. DMNS strives to grow scientific output, to manage and expand collections, and to help inspire diverse communities’ understanding of, and involvement in, science and the natural world.
This position supports the collection activities of the Department of Earth Sciences, an outwardly focused and collegial team that engages in international fieldwork but has a strong emphasis on the geology and paleontology of the American West. The current staff has expertise in paleobotany and invertebrate and vertebrate paleontology, and each curator has at least one scholarly project in Colorado. The Department’s collections are sizeable and growing; their composition and history are described at http://www.dmns.org/science/collections/. In addition to the full-time collections manager and assistant collections manager, the Department has five curators, two fossil preparators, and nearly 400 volunteers who engage in science, collections, and outreach.
The position reports to the Earth Sciences Collections Manager and the Earth Sciences Assistant Collections Manager.
The Denver Museum of Nature & Science is the Rocky Mountain region’s leading resource for informal science education. Located in the heart of Denver City Park, and neighbor to the Denver Zoo, the Museum offers a variety of exhibitions, programs, and activities help Museum visitors experience the natural wonders of Colorado, Earth, and the universe. More than 300,000 students and teachers are served by the Museum each year. The Museum houses nearly 4.1 million artifacts and specimens in its collections from around the world.
This is an exciting opportunity to play an integral part in the continued success of the Museum, with 500+ full-time and part-time employees and more than 1,800 volunteers. We are building on our already solid foundation with a strong vision and solid strategy to recreate and redefine how we engage our community that loves, understands, and protects our natural world.
Essential duties:
- Catalog Madagascar fossil and cast specimens.
- Re-house specimens as necessary.
- Utilize focus-stack photography equipment and software; EOS Canon 5d Mark III, StackShot automated Macro Rail, Zerene Stacker.
- Edit, crop, and label images in Adobe Photoshop.
- Upload CT and laser scanning data.
- Record data in Excel, following precise format, syntax, and accuracy.
- Manage and prepare data and images for database ingest with precision and accuracy.
- Ensure all curation tasks follow established policies and procedures.
- Ensure precise and accurate data documentation.
- Prevent damage to objects and specimens during collection activities.
- Ensure human health and safety during collection activities.
Minimum qualifications/Requirements:
- Bachelor’s Degree in the Earth Sciences, Biological Sciences or related fields required; Master’s degree preferred.
- 1 year of experience handling museum collections required.
- 1 year of experience with relational databases required.
- Intermediate experience with data management in Microsoft Excel required.
- Intermediate experience with Photoshop required.
Ideal candidate will have:
- Previous experience in photography of still items and lighting is desirable, at minimum an eye for aspects of image quality and detail is needed
- Solid oral and written communication skills
- Experience in KeEmu and Arctos database software.
- An appreciation of repetitive and patterned tasks/procedures.
- Experience with vertebrate taxonomy and morphology.
Core Values:
- We love science.
- We are curious, creative and playful.
- We cultivate relationships with each other, diverse communities, the environment, and for our
future. - We think critically and act with empathy.
Perks of working at DMNS Include:
- Medical, Dental, Vision and Life Insurance benefits
- Paid vacation and sick time
- Free DMNS Family Plus membership plus free admission to all Association of Science Technology Centers (ASTC) across the country
- Free access to Museum exhibits, IMAX, and Gates Planetarium
- Free local admission to The Denver Zoo, The Denver Art Museum, The Denver Botanic Gardens, and Fort Collins Museum of Discovery
- Free RTD ECO pass
- Alternative transportation (ECOmmute) rewards program
- On-site activities (run club, yoga, Spanish language)
- American Alliance of Museums Membership (AAM)
- And many more!
Application Instructions:
Please submit your cover letter and resume by 8/7/2019. Resumes will not be accepted after this time. Applications may only be accepted electronically via the Museum’s website www.dmns.org. Due to the high volume of people who apply, we are not able to respond to specific inquiries regarding your
application status.
The Denver Museum of Nature & Science is an equal opportunity employer. The Museum is dedicated to the goal of building a culturally diverse staff committed to serving the needs of all our visitors and we encourage applications from individuals of all backgrounds.