University of Michigan https://umich.edu/
How to Apply
Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis from 1 October to 31 2023 until the position is filled. Please submit a current CV, including contact information for three professional references. In your cover letter, please address how you meet each of the required and, where applicable, the preferred qualifications. Please contact Dr. Kelly Speer (kspeer@umich.edu) for any application inquiries. https://careers.umich.edu/job_detail/239724/research-museum-collection-specialist
Summary
The Michigan Pathogen Biorepository (M-PABI) is seeking a Collection Specialist to facilitate the growth and management of this new collection. The M-PABI is a collection within the Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology (EEB) that aims to support pandemic prevention by documenting and preserving the biodiversity of parasitic, pathogenic, and microbial taxa using both live and traditional museum preparations. The M-PABI includes frozen tissues and other sample types and is housed at the University of Michigan’s Research Museum Center. As M-PABI is a developing collection, we are especially interested in candidates who will collaboratively contribute to M-PABI’s growth and development.
The Collection Specialist will support day-to-day operations of the M-PABI including processing incoming and outgoing loans; collection, preparation, and integration of new specimens; developing protocols for M-PABI specimen collection, maintenance, and use; maintaining and improving specimen records; conserving and organizing specimens; contributing to physical improvements and digitization projects; maintaining necessary biosafety standards; facilitating the use of the collection by researchers; assisting in the acquisition of necessary permits; and engaging broad audiences through outreach.
The University of Michigan values and endeavors to support diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility within our organization and communities. Candidates who identify as Black, Indigenous, a Person of Color, neurodiverse, a woman, a person with a disability, a veteran, and/or part of the LGBTQAI+ community are welcome and encouraged to apply. We are especially interested in candidates whose background and experience have prepared them to engage and include culturally diverse audiences in museums and in science.
This position will be available starting December 1, 2023.
Mission Statement
The mission of the University of Michigan is to serve the people of Michigan and the world through preeminence in creating, communicating, preserving and applying knowledge, art, and academic values, and in developing leaders and citizens who will challenge the present and enrich the future.
Responsibilities*
- Growth, maintenance, and day-to-day care of the collection. Activities include accessioning, collecting, and preparing new specimens; preparing or processing specimen loans; upkeep and organization of the collection. This also includes maintenance of the collection areas and equipment to make them suitable and safe for research, outreach, and use by visitors, either on site or remotely through online communication.
- Provide documentation for the collection, including cataloging, entering/updating database records, inventorying, and enhancing documentation through digitization. Improve specimen metadata, such as through photography, georeferencing, and linking with host specimen records. Respond to requests for information about the collection. Share and routinely maintain collection records through external repositories.
- Train and support users of the collection. This includes training staff volunteers, students, graduate curatorial assistants, visiting researchers in all aspects of specimen research and conservation practices, database use, geo-referencing and digital imaging of specimens and routine collections maintenance tasks. This also includes support of and coordination with faculty curators, student researchers and visiting collaborating researchers to plan and develop research projects utilizing the research collections and/or enhance collection resources.
- Stay current with the research field and permitting requirements related to the collection, including trends and techniques in collections management, collection-based research, conservation, digitization, biodiversity informatics, government regulations, and documentation. Assist in permit acquisition for specimens that will be deposited in M-PABI.
- Work with the Director and Collection Manager to develop and implement policies, standards, and procedures. For example, developing standard operating procedures for acquisition, accessioning, databasing, and archiving of specimens and associated host data. Reviewing, updating, and enhancing the M-PABI collection management plan in collaboration with other UMMZ and MICH staff.
Required Qualifications*
- A bachelor’s degree in museum studies, biology, microbiology, virology, parasitology or related fields
- At least 1 year of experience working with research museum collections
- Experience handling wildlife and conducting field work
- Experience with collections database software (not necessarily Specify) and common principles of biodiversity informatics.
Desired Qualifications*
- Experience working in a BSL-2 (or higher) lab
- Working knowledge of the organization and management of biorepositories, and common specimen preparations used in museums.
- Working knowledge of international, federal, and state regulations and permits governing the collection and use of specimens by museums.
- Experience with typical methods used for field collection and processing of parasites and/or pathogens.
- Experience in virology, cell culture, or microbiology.
- Working knowledge of external data repositories and aggregators, such as GBIF, iDigBio, GenBank, and MorphoSource.
- Demonstrated commitment to diversity, equity, access and inclusion work.
Additional Information
As one of the world’s great liberal arts colleges, LSA pushes the boundaries of what is understood about the human experience and the natural world, and we foster the next generation of rigorous and empathetic thinkers, creators, and contributors to the state of Michigan, the nation, and the world.
To learn more about diversity, equity, and inclusion in LSA, please visit lsa.umich.edu/lsa/dei.
To learn more about LSA’s Mission, Vision and Values, please visit lsa.umich.edu/strategicvision.
This is a limited-term half-time (50%) position that is currently funded for 12 months. Starting annual salary for this position is $45,140 – $50,000 for full-time employees ($22,570 – $25,000 for 50% employees) and includes access to excellent benefits (https://hr.umich.edu/benefits-wellness). The staff of M-PABI also includes a faculty Director and a Collection Manager; the Collection Specialist will report to the Director. The primary location for this job is at the state-of-the-art Research Museums Center (RMC) in Ann Arbor, Michigan (https://lsa.umich.edu/rmc). The RMC is the home of the UMMZ (https://lsa.umich.edu/rmc/zoology.html) and MICH collections (https://lsa.umich.edu/rmc/herbarium.html), as well as the collections housed in the Museums of Anthropological Archaeology and Paleontology. Some offsite and international travel may be required.
Background Screening
The University of Michigan conducts background checks on all job candidates upon acceptance of a contingent offer and may use a third party administrator to conduct background checks. Background checks are performed in compliance with the Fair Credit Reporting Act.
Application Deadline
Job openings are posted for a minimum of seven calendar days. The review and selection process may begin as early as the eighth day after posting. This opening may be removed from posting boards and filled anytime after the minimum posting period has ended.
U-M EEO/AA Statement
The University of Michigan is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer.