Department of Biological Science | Institute for Digital Information & Scientific Communication
Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL, USA
We invite applications for a part-time position managing the citizen science activities of iDigBio’s domain focused on Digitization, Workforce Development, and Citizen Science. iDigBio (www.idigbio.org) is in its 12th year as the National Science Foundation’s National Resource for Advancing Digitization of Biodiversity Collections. Biodiversity collections curate insects on pins, fish in jars, fossils in drawers, plants on sheets, and many other types of specimens. There are estimated to be over a billion biodiversity specimens in US collections, and “digitization” of them involves the digital representation of the specimens in databases, digital media, datasets, maps, etc. These digital data are critical to understanding the historical distribution and diversity of Earth’s biota, conserving and utilizing the current biota, and planning for a prosperous and sustainable future.
A major deliverable to be supported by this position is the twice-annual, four-day Worldwide Engagement for Biodiversity Collections (WeDigBio) event. WeDigBio (www.wedigbio.org) is a global data creation campaign now in its 8th year. Local event hosts, the WeDigBio board, WeDigBio working groups, and other volunteers create and manage resources that layer meaning on the core data creation activities through research talks, behind-the-scenes tours, lesson plans, games, and more. In recent years, the WeDigBio board has organized an online symposium during events (e.g., the 2023 symposium entitled “WeDigBio’s Why Dig Bio—Major Motivations Across Scale for Digitizing Biodiversity”), and collections have organized online tours (e.g., the 2023 “Whirlwind Tour of California Herbaria”). This position will manage existing resources and, importantly, co-develop new resources, such as an event that brings the excitement of a science festival to a virtual space and career advice opportunities with major figures in the field.
The position will also contribute to reporting activities to the National Science Foundation and to delivery of the course “Public Participation in Digitization of Biodiversity Collections” offered through the Digitization Academy (www.digitizationacademy.org). Other activities could involve the co-development of workshop/conference events, protocols/standards/best practices, reports/papers, and newsletter/website content that advance public participation in the digitization of biodiversity.
Job Requirements: We are looking for an applicant who has demonstrated success with, and passion for, citizen science (circumscribed widely to include “participatory science”, “community science”, and similar) and who has demonstrated strengths in the following proficiencies in research, outreach, and/or educational settings: (1) teamwork, (2) self-motivation, (3) written communication, (4) oral communication, (5) creativity and innovation, (6) critical thinking, (7) problem-solving, (8) organization, (9) attention to detail, and (10) management. Design skills are desirable but not required.
Details: The position is part-time (up to 50%) with an hourly rate of $25–$35 commensurate with experience. We seek to hire someone in the position who can start on or before September 1, 2023, but please talk to us if interested but would not be available until later. We will begin considering applicants on June 20 and will continue until the position has been filled. The position can be performed remotely or on campus. A background check will be required, and applicants must be eligible for employment in the United States. Florida State University is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer.
Application Process: Qualified applicants should send a cover letter briefly describing career goals and demonstrations of the proficiencies mentioned above, a resume, and the contact information for three references as a single pdf document to Austin Mast at amast@fsu.edu with the email subject as Citizen Science Position. Direct any questions to Austin via email.
Note: iDigBio has traditionally recognized its activities in this area as “Citizen Science”, but it is possible that the preferred term will change in the near future. This term is intended to be an umbrella term encompassing what has also been described with the terms “Community Science”, “Co-Created Science”, “Participatory Science”, and more. What are being referenced are activities that broaden and, especially, deepen science engagement across historical boundaries to deliver high-value knowledge (in this case around biodiversity) to have positive impacts on the world.