[Nhcoll-l] Assistant Museum Scientist, University and Jepson Herbaria, University of California, Berkeley

[Andrew S. Doran]

The University and Jepson Herbaria, University of California, Berkeley
seeks an Assistant Museum Scientist  Job ID #14035

Application Review Date

The First Review Date for this job is: June 27, 2012

Departmental Overview

The University and Jepson Herbaria of the University of California at
Berkeley are two collections of pressed plants housed together along with
research labs, libraries, and archives. Together the Herbaria hold about
2,200,000 specimens, one of the largest collections in North America.

The collections are a tool for basic research in systematics, ecology,
phytogeography, and evolution. They are actively used in teaching, and are
a resource for anatomical and biochemical investigations, and for
identification of paleobotanical specimens. They provide population
localities for studies ranging from biological control to rare plants.

Under the supervision and general direction of the Herbarium Director  and
the Administrative Curator, the Assistant Museum Scientist takes a
significant role in the overall documentation of the collections 
preserved plant specimens with an established replacement value of well
over $30 million (although the specimens are in fact irreplaceable). The
incumbent provides digital images, databasing and curation of the seaweed,
bryophyte, lichen and fungal specimens. The incumbent also shares
responsibility for documentation of the associated literature and other
archival materials such as images and correspondence.

In addition the incumbent provides the Administrative Curator, and
development staff, with detailed collections statistics to pursue external
funding for the collections.

Responsibilities

Seaweed, Bryophyte/lichen, Macrofungi Projects
• Seaweed, lichen/bryophyte, macrofungi specimen projects
•  Enter into relational database accurate label information from specimens
   and  attach specimen filing name and accession number to image.
•  Determine current name accepted and enter into database using libraries
   and other taxonomic/nomenclatural resources and in house expertise.
•  Consults gazeteers, maps and geographic resources to apply accurate
   locality information from specimen labels into database.
•  Produce high resolution images of specimens using camera and
   oversee/train students to accomplish this task.
•  Work with specialists to refile specimens and create species or genus
   folders as necessary.
•  Launch data and images on University and Jepson Herbaria web pages.
•  Proposes and advises on modifications required to database to more
efficiently
   accommodate specimen and related data.
•  Maintains institutional contacts at collaborating institutions to
advance a wide
   variety of informatics functions.

General Curatorial Assistance
• Assist Curatorial staff in day to day database and curatorial tasks. 
Add/update new determinations, enter new accessions, file specimens, and
fulfill specimen imaging requests.

Geo-referencing Training
• Assist Manager of Collections Data in training and supervising students
for geo-referencing specimens.
• Back up existing machine and create data repository for redundant
computers.

Required Qualifications• Advanced knowledge of curatorial protocols and
techniques to facilitate effective digitization of the collections and
archives of the University and Jepson Herbaria.

• Strong knowledge of herbarium network to facilitate informatics at UC
Berkeley and beyond, benefiting from and contributing to the pool of
knowledge of plant science and digitization developments.
• A strong foundation in botany and nomenclature will ensure incumbent is
familiar with botanical protocols and classification systems, an essential
component to working with specimens and associated data in the University
and Jepson Herbaria.
• A background of working with botanical databases will ensure that data
recognizes and adheres to standards in names, geography, georeferencing,
institutions, synonymy, citations and other sources of potentially
problematic data.
• Skilled at entering biological specimen data into a variety of
relational database programs and knowledgeable about the data sources
required for the accurate entry and record keeping for specimen based
information.
• Advanced skills in identifying and resolving errors in plant specimen
data on sight and by use of taxonomic and nomenclatural resources such as
standardized indexes, on-line databases and relevant literature.
• Skilled in database administration including constructing searches and
accurate batch processing of updated information. Can use on-line
resources to answer complicated queries from a diverse range of users.
• In-depth familiarity with transcribing and storing in a standard format
world wide geographical localities. Can interpret label data in foreign
languages and parse locality, description and other data into relevent
fields.
• Excellent communication skills, verbal and written.
• Excellent organizational aptitude, memory, and ability to multi-task.
• Strong sense of initiative and commitment to the core missions of the
Herbaria.
• Ability to analyze needs accurately and express ideas clearly, in
everyday operations and in contributing to grant proposals and outreach
presentations.
• Ability to enter specimen based data without error. Demonstrated ability
to document biological specimens.

Preferred Qualifications• Two years of experience in botanical/herbarium
institution or setting.
• Graduation from college, with a degree in plant sciences (Botany) or
equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Database experience at other institutions will enable the incumbent to
quickly grasp the systems employed at the University & Jepson Herbaria.

Salary & Benefits

$3069 - $3341/month

How to Apply

Please submit your cover letter and resume as a single attachment when
applying. Enter the job ID or search for a keyword at this page:

http://jobs.berkeley.edu/job-listings.html

Equal Employment Opportunity

The University of California, Berkeley is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative
Action Employer.



-- 
Andrew S. Doran
Administrative Curator
University & Jepson Herbaria
University of California, Berkeley
1001 Valley Life Sciences Bldg. MC 2465
Berkeley
CA 94720-2465
USA

Office: 510-643-4344
Herbaria: 510-642-2465
URL: http://ucjeps.berkeley.edu
http://www.facebook.com/ucjeps