[NHCOLL-L:113] Jobs - Botanical specimen digitizing/databasing

[Rob Huxley]

THE NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM, LONDON

Digitization of Historical Plant Collections:

Digitizing Technican (1 year) and Data entry technician (6 months)
(17k-19k Pounds/ year pro rata for both posts dependent on experience).

The Natural History Museum, Botany Department is looking for  two energetic
and enthusiastic people to work on a  major project partly funded by the
Heritage Lottery Fund through the Millennium Festival Fund . We aim to
create a web accessible database of images and other information on the
historically and scientifically important 17th Century  Jamaican plant
collections of Sir Hans Sloane and Paul Hermann. The first phase of this
project can be viewed at http://www.nhm.ac.uk/botany/clayton/index.html.

Digitizing Technician: This post will be for one year starting in May/June
1999. Responsibilities will include capturing and manipulating images of
plant specimens using a digital camera and development of the web front end
for the database. Applicants should preferably have a degree in a natural
history related subject and /or  photographic/multi-media experience. They
should have experience in digital imaging and the use of software packages
such as  Adobe Photoshop  and/or experience with multi-media, HTML and the
Web editors. Training will be provided on use of the PhotoPhase camera
system and additional training may be provided where appropriate, dependent
on funding and/or available time of other technical staff.

Data Entry Technician: The databasing technician post will be for 6 months
starting  in May/June 1999 and will be mainly responsible for gathering
data relating to the plant specimens from library and other sources and
adding to the database. Applicants should preferably have a degree in a
biological subject and/or an IT qualification.  Experience and ability in
accurate data entry is essential as is the use of commonly used database
packages such as MS Access. Experience in collections management and HTML
would also be an advantage.

To apply send a CV and covering letter to Dr Rob Huxley, Dept of Botany,
The Natural History Museum, Cromwell Road, London  SW7 5BD, UK  or by Email
(in body text or MSWord 97/RTF attachment) to rh at nhm.ac.uk. Closing date
for applications is Wednesday 5th May 1999 . Contact Dr Rob Huxley on
(0)171 938 8823 for an informal discussion.

Dr Rob Huxley
Head of Curation Division
Department of Botany, 
The Natural History Museum, Cromwell Road, London SW7 5BD, UK
Phone (44) 171-938-8823
Fax   (44) 171-938-9260
E-mail: r.huxley at nhm.ac.uk
Museum Home Page URL: http://www.nhm.ac.uk/