[Nhcoll-l] Graduate studies and Curator/collections manager qualification

Thu Nov 16 10:39:08 EST 2023

Hello Ben,
As you can tell from the initial responses, there is no single path.

I would observe, however, that having a fundamental understanding of the organisms or the science that surrounds the collection that one would manage deserves more weight than other career development avenues.

Collection management and care techniques are important.

But I would rather teach management “on the job” than familiarize staff with the organisms or science that is the core of their work. Personally, I would rank a candidate with organismal knowledge higher than one with a strictly museum studies background.

This is in part due to the following:

At least in the “neonotologies” a large part of the work of the collection “manager” is identification (sometimes of incredibly diverse floras or faunas), understanding the nature of research requests and weighing those requests vs. the use of the collections one manages for the greater long-term scientific good, developing research or collection improvement proposals with the research pi, and interfacing with the public concerning their questions about organisms. The latter, at least in fishes, is a big part of the job – including at public outreach events. You simply must know the organisms.

Obtaining an MSc teaches one how to do formal research and is certainly a big plus in preparing one for a number of the aspects of the job as I have just outlined them.

In any instance, all of us learn on the job daily and perpetually. Personally, I live in a constant state of astonishment at all that I do not yet know and likely never will.

Best wishes,

Rob Robins

Robert H. Robins
Collection Manager
Division of Ichthyology
[FLMNH Fishes logo email small]
Florida Museum
1659 Museum Rd.
Gainesville, FL 32611-7800
Office: (352) 273-1957
rhrobins at flmnh.ufl.edu<mailto:rhrobins at flmnh.ufl.edu>

The UF Fish Collection is moving:
https://www.floridamuseum.ufl.edu/fish/

Search the Collection:
http://specifyportal.flmnh.ufl.edu/fishes/

Search samples suitable for dna analysis:
https://www.floridamuseum.ufl.edu/grr/holdings/

From: Nhcoll-l <nhcoll-l-bounces at mailman.yale.edu> On Behalf Of Bentley, Andrew Charles
Sent: Thursday, November 16, 2023 10:04 AM
To: Laura Rincón <collectionslitclub at gmail.com>; Benjamin Ehrman <benjaminaehrman at gmail.com>
Cc: nhcoll-l at mailman.yale.edu
Subject: Re: [Nhcoll-l] Graduate studies and Curator/collections manager qualification

[External Email]
It is important to note that in most degree programs, Museum Studies is a terminal Masters degree.  There are very few PhD opportunities in Museum Studies.  However, totally agree with Laura that a Masters in Museum Studies would certainly put you on the right track for that career path.  As well as providing you with the necessary theoretical basis of collection management, most programs will also provide you with invaluable practical experience working in museum collections through an internship or other opportunities.

If however you are interested in going into research then a curatorial position would require a PhD or even more commonly nowadays, due to the competition for positions, a post-doc.

We have a great Museum Studies degree here at the University of Kansas and I teach the natural history component of the course.  I would be happy to answer any further questions you may have about this degree or career path.

Andy
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Andy Bentley
Ichthyology Collection Manager
University of Kansas
Biodiversity Institute
Dyche Hall
1345 Jayhawk Boulevard<x-apple-data-detectors://9/>
Lawrence, KS, 66045-7561<x-apple-data-detectors://9/>
USA<x-apple-data-detectors://9/>

Tel: (785) 864-3863<tel:%28785%29%20864-3863>
Fax: (785) 864-5335<tel:%28785%29%20864-5335>
Email: abentley at ku.edu<mailto:abentley at ku.edu>
ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3093-1258
http://ichthyology.biodiversity.ku.edu<http://ichthyology.biodiversity.ku.edu/>
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From: Nhcoll-l <nhcoll-l-bounces at mailman.yale.edu<mailto:nhcoll-l-bounces at mailman.yale.edu>> On Behalf Of Laura Rincón
Sent: Thursday, November 16, 2023 8:58 AM
To: Benjamin Ehrman <benjaminaehrman at gmail.com<mailto:benjaminaehrman at gmail.com>>
Cc: nhcoll-l at mailman.yale.edu<mailto:nhcoll-l at mailman.yale.edu>
Subject: Re: [Nhcoll-l] Graduate studies and Curator/collections manager qualification

Hello Benjamin,

If you aspire to pursue a career as a manager, a background in museum studies would be ideal. This will provide you with knowledge in museums, collections management and care theories. Such training will enable you to contribute and reassess museum theories, management, administration, budgeting, personnel, collections practices and more. It will also help you envision how you can contribute to natural history collections, especially given the scarcity of museum studies professionals in natural history collections. In my opinion, I think that is very important to understand how the museum structure operates, including its history, culture (e.g; staff dynamics, workflow), and more. With this background, you will gain a better understanding of current practices and the reasons behind certain approaches. On the other hand, if you aim to work as a curator, a PhD in the relevant field is necessary, as the focus will be on research. Different museum positions require varying skills, so the specific requirements will depend on the job position.

I hope my answer clears things up a little bit. Feel free to get in contact with me if you've more questions about it.

Best,

Laura A. Rincón R. |  Museum Studies professional
Museum Specialist
Division of Invertebrate Zoology
American Museum of Natural History
Central Park West at 79th Street
New York, NY 10024

Email: lrincon-rodriguez at amnh.org<mailto:lrincon-rodriguez at amnh.org>
Twitter: @LauRincon222

https://collectionslitclub.wordpress.com/

“I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel” Maya Angelou

On Thu, Nov 16, 2023 at 7:36 AM Benjamin Ehrman <benjaminaehrman at gmail.com<mailto:benjaminaehrman at gmail.com>> wrote:
Greetings all,

I was wondering if someone who has researched paleoecology (with respect to vertebrate paleontology) in their graduate program can qualify for a position as a collections manager, museum curator, lab technician, or similar positions?

Are MSc or Phd degrees preferred?

I have a masters degree and am interested in a PhD, and was wondering what sort of PhD programs would be ideal for this career path? Are there any other recommendations you would make for someone seeking that career path?

Regards,
Ben
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Laura A. Rincón R. |  Museum Studies professional
Museum Specialist
Division of Invertebrate Zoology
American Museum of Natural History
Central Park West at 79th Street
New York, NY 10024
 https://collectionslitclub.wordpress.com/

“I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel” Maya Angelou
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