Curator

Job Title

Curator

Agency

Texas A&M Agrilife Research

Department

Ecology & Conservation Biology

Proposed Minimum Salary

Commensurate

Job Location

College Station, Texas

Job Type

Staff

Job Description

We seek an individual with the curatorial experience to jointly manage the Collection of Fishes and Collection of Amphibians and Reptiles, housed within the Texas A&M University Biodiversity Research and Teaching Collections (BRTC) in College Station, TX.

The Biodiversity Research and Teaching Collections were established in the 1930s and currently maintain over 1.4 million specimens, and ancillary materials, divided across six divisions: Fishes, Amphibians and Reptiles, Birds, Mammals, Marine Invertebrates, and Parasites. The Collection of Fishes consists of >890,000 catalogued specimens, representing freshwater and marine fishes from over 70 countries and all major ocean basins. The Collection of Amphibians and Reptiles consists of >112,000 catalogued specimens. It is a preeminent source of herpetological material from Texas and Latin America, with noteworthy geographic representation from Mexico, Peru, Venezuela, and Argentina. Both collections are experiencing a period of rapid growth and are heavily utilized by the global scientific community.

More information about the BRTC can be found here: https://brtc.tamu.edu/

Responsibilities

This is a full-time position where it is expected that equal amounts of time, on average, will be spent working in the Collection of Fishes and Collection of Amphibians and Reptiles, with work in other BRTC collections (particularly Marine Invertebrates) as needed. Responsibilities include working closely with the faculty curators for fishes and amphibians and reptiles to administer daily management, development, and growth of the two collections.

Responsibilities include working closely with the faculty curators for fishes and amphibians and reptiles to administer daily management, development, and growth of the two collections.

• Daily management of cataloged specimens, including fluid, cleared-and-stained, dry skeleton, tissue samples, and ancillary materials such as field notes, and digital materials such as photographs, and CT datasets
• Collections growth, through acquisition and preparation of new specimens, specimen accessioning, and databasing
• Ensuring that collections databases are regularly updated and accessible on national and international data portals (e.g. VertNet, FishNet2)
• Responding to and fulfilling requests for access to specimen information or specimen loan requests
• Training and supervision of part-time staff, undergraduate student workers, and volunteers
• Working with faculty to identify and seek opportunities for collections enhancement through external funding, including preparation of grant proposals
• Developing and refining standard operating procedures for collections management
• Contributing to activities that promote or showcase the collections, including public outreach and exhibits, and the preparation of an annual report of collection activities
• Other duties as required
  
  

Required Education And Experience

• Bachelor's degree in biology, zoology, or related field or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Four years of related experience.
  
  

Preferred Education And Experience

Master's degree

At least 2 years of museum experience relevant to ichthyology and/or herpetology.

Required Knowledge, Skills And Abilities

• Good interpersonal and organizational skills.
• Leadership skills.
• Ability to work as part of multidisciplinary teams.
• Ability to multitask and work cooperatively with others.
  
  

Preferred Knowledge, Skills And Abilities

• Taxonomic expertise relating to fishes and/or herptiles.
• Specimen database management software.
• CT datasets and visualization software.
  
  

Application Process - Applications should include a letter of interest emphasizing a track record in natural history specimen collection database use and management and a background in ichthyology and/or herpetology. Include a complete Curriculum Vitae and contact information of two individuals who could provide professional references.

Informal inquiries about this position should be directed to

Kevin W. Conway, Faculty Curator of Fishes: kevin.conway@tamu.edu

Lee Fitzgerald, Faculty Curator of Amphibians and Reptiles: Lfitzgerald@tamu.edu

Continued employment in this position is contingent upon availability of funds.

All positions are security-sensitive. Applicants are subject to a criminal history investigation, and employment is contingent upon the institution's verification of credentials and/or other information required by the institution's procedures, including the completion of the criminal history check.

Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action/Veterans/Disability Employer.