JOB AD: Collection manager, Malacology

[Gary Rosenberg]

The Academy of Natural Sciences (Philadelphia) seeks a manager for the oldest and second largest collection of mollusks in the United States. The collection includes 12 to 14 million specimens in 400,000 dry and 40,000 ethanol preserved lots, and a small but rapidly growing frozen tissue collection. The collection is 80% computerized; with current NSF funding, computerization will be completed in about one year.

DUTIES

Active, hands-on curation of the collection, under direction of Malacology curator(s), including identification of specimens, processing and cataloging incoming material; maintenance of database authority files and systematic order of the collection; routine care and conservation; tracking statistics on collection use and growth; interaction with the Academy's other collection managers and the centralized accession system.

Interaction with international scientific community, including managing loans, imaging type specimens for electronic delivery to remote users, responding to inquiries, hosting visitors, and promoting maximal use of the collection.

Supervision of several curatorial assistants and volunteers assigned to tasks associated with the responsibilities listed above.

Cooperation with the Biodiversity Information Manager to ensure integrity of the Malacology database and efficiency of data-entry procedures.

Interaction with appropriate staff to ensure maintenance of Academy facilities allocated to the department.

Interaction with the public, and participation in outreach programs, and other Academy service (such as leading collections tours, etc.).

Participation in field collecting of mollusks and associated fauna and flora.

QUALIFICATIONS

Education: Master's degree in biology or geology or equivalent experience required; Ph.D. preferred. Fluency in English (required) and one or more of the other languages prevalent in the malacological literature (e.g., Chinese, French, German, Japanese, or Russian) preferred.

Experience: Demonstrable mollusk collections-care experience (at least five years preferred); knowledge of molluscan taxonomy and world geography; ability to identify mollusks to species level; field experience collecting mollusks; familiarity with database management. Desktop and electronic publishing and digital imaging skills preferred.

TO APPLY: By October 25, 2000 send a cover letter, a curriculum vitae / resume, and contact information for at least three and no more than five references to:

        Malacology Collection Manager Search
        c/o Mark Isaksen
        Academy of Natural Sciences
        1900 Benjamin Franklin Parkway
        Philadelphia, PA 19103-1195  USA

        Fax: 215-299-1028
        Email: isaksen at acnatsci.org
        http://www.acnatsci.org

MISCELLANEOUS: The salary range is $28,000-$36,000. There is no restriction on nationality of applicants. This is not a research position, however, some curatorial work might result in publications, for example, production of type catalogues. Questions may be addressed to Mr. Isaksen or myself, however, I will be in the field from October 3-24.


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Gary Rosenberg, Ph.D.                  rosenberg at ansp.org
Academy of Natural Sciences            http://www.acnatsci.org
1900 Benjamin Franklin Parkway         Phone 215-299-1033
Philadelphia, PA 19103-1195 USA        Fax   215-299-1170