[Taxacom] job announcement - Solanum systematics

[Lynn Bohs]

PBI Solanum Research Assistant

A position as a Research Assistant at the Natural 
History Museum in London is available on an 
internationally collaborative project to produce 
a global monograph of the genus Solanum 
(Solanaceae).  The project is a Planetary 
Biodiversity Inventory project funded by the 
United States National Science Foundation (NSF). 
Solanum includes approximately 1500 species and 
is one of the largest genera of angiosperms.  The 
species level taxonomy, including images, keys 
and specimen data, is being made available over 
the Internet through our Solanaceae Source 
website 
(http://www.nhm.ac.uk/research-curation/projects/solanaceaesource/).

Your responsibilities will include writing 
descriptions of selected species groups of 
solanums; specimen and image databasing and 
manipulation; field work for the collection of 
herbarium, seed and silica gel samples; some 
generation of molecular data for phylogeny 
reconstruction (mainly sequences of chloroplast 
and nuclear genes); maintenance and analysis of 
living greenhouse collections of Solanaceae; data 
analysis, presentation, and publication; the 
candidate will be involved in supervision of 
international visitors to the project and in the 
development and maintenance of the project 
database and website together with current 
project staff.

Candidates should have a higher degree in biology 
or a related subject and experience in plant 
systematics, field work and with working in a 
team; experience with Solanaceae is preferred but 
not required, as is experience with molecular 
systematics and a variety of methods of data 
analysis.  The position is available for 18 
months beginning in August 2007 (ending January 
2009).

Salary (NHM Band 5) up to £ 24,000 (incl. NI and 
superannuation), depending upon experience and 
qualifications; 18 month short-term contract.
Please apply via the NHM website 
(http://www.nhm.ac.uk/jobs) - search for jobs in 
Botany; you will need a supporting statement, a 
cv and two letters of reference. Letters of 
reference can either be attached or sent to Dr. 
Sandra Knapp at the e-mail address below, please 
be sure your referees put your name and PBI 
Solanum job in the subject line.
For more information please contact Sandra Knapp (sk at nhm.ac.uk)
Closing date for applications 3 August 2007
-- 
Lynn Bohs
Department of Biology
257 South 1400 East
University of Utah
Salt Lake City, UT  84112
(801) 585-0380