Position Overview
The collections manager in the Division of Herpetology of The University of Kansas Biodiversity Institute administers one of the world’s most important research collections and associated data of amphibians and reptiles. The collection consists of fluid-preserved specimens, frozen tissues, wet and dry skeletons, histological preparations, acoustical recordings, digital and film-image archives, and extensive library holdings. The collections have an historical strength in Neotropical amphibians and reptiles and a recent focus in Southeast Asian herpetology. University faculty, scientists, curators, staff, students, and national and international scholars use the collections extensively for research, formal and informal education, and service. The collection manager is responsible for all collection operations and reports to the curator-in-charge.
Job Description
40% – Collections and data management and conservation
- Ensure long-term integrity and preservation of the physical collections, associated data, and collection-storage environment.
- Monitor and conduct comprehensive checks on the status and organization of the fluid, tissue, and dry collections
- Develop and maintain collection database; digitize specimen data, records and information for global dissemination and discoverability; with curators, conduct database updates.
- Maintain and improve collection-care protocols
- Process specimen loans, exchanges, and gifts; maintain appropriate print and digital records of these activities.
- Conduct annual reviews of outstanding specimen loans, specimen return reminders, and recalls of overdue loans.
- Maintain and organize records of collection activity, use, and status for annual reports, grant proposals, and other documentation.
- Collaborate with other BI collection managers to achieve high-quality care and management of collections and associated data, and economies of scale in all collection-related activities.
- Assist and supervise visitors and other users of the collections.
25% – Collection strategic development, improvement and acquisition
- Organize and prepare documentation necessary for specimen accession, including national and international permits and associated documentation.
- Oversee the preparation and staging of newly accessioned specimens, and the digital capture of associated data for their integration into the collection and collection database, respectively.
- Collaborate with curators to plan and implement divisional goals, priorities, and programs.
- Foster research use of the collections by qualified researchers.
- Participate in acquisition of specimens by facilitating gifts and exchanges, and by occasional fieldwork and expeditions as approved by the curators.
15% – Collection service
- Respond to inquiries from scientists (specimen requests, data inquiries, specimen photo requests), governmental and consulting agencies, the media, and other entities.
- Participate in the Natural History Museum’s public programming by providing information and specimens, and assisting in exhibit design; assist in museum public functions.
- Conduct tours for visiting scholars, students, and the public.
10% – Supervision, training and mentoring
- Work with curators to train and supervise graduate student curatorial assistant(s), and other students actively involved in these collections in best practices of collection accessioning, conservation, and specimen/data cataloging.
- Hire, train and supervise undergraduate assistants.
- Train and supervise volunteers working in the collection.
5% – Professional development
- Work closely with BI collection management staff to ensure consistency of practice.
- Undertake research in area of expertise pending completion of collection management duties.
- Participate in professional herpetological societies.
- Participate in collection management training and development through professional societies.
5% – Other duties as appropriate
Required Qualifications
1. Master’s degree or Ph.D. in evolutionary biology, zoology, or related field from an accredited university, or a bachelor’s degree plus 5 years experience working with museum collections in a position with similar responsibilities.
2. Demonstrated knowledge of systematics, taxonomy and classification of amphibians and reptiles, as evidenced by application materials and work history.
3. Demonstrated knowledge of and experience with care and management of natural history collections, with a special emphasis on fluid-preserved collections, dry skeletal and cleared-and-stained preparations, and use and management of genetic resources, as evidenced by application materials and work history.
4. Demonstrated knowledge of and experience with biodiversity informatics and collection data, including relational databases (e.g., Specify), web-based applications, and distributed networks as evidenced by application materials and work history.
Preferred Qualifications
1. Expertise in one or more taxa that constitute collection strengths and programmatic priorities
2. Field experience collecting herpetological specimens
3. Experience handling cryogenically stored tissue samples.
Contact Information to Applicants
Rafe Brown, rafe@ku.edu
Additional Candidate Instruction
A complete application will include 1) a letter of application addressing qualifications, 2) a CV, 3) a statement of collection management philosophy that describes experience with various types of collections (wet, frozen, cleared & stained), 4) names and contact information for three references, and 5) representative publications (optional).
Application review will begin 9/30/2019. Application deadline is 10/15/2019. To ensure priority consideration, apply before the review date.