Collections Technician - Mammals

Our Mission: Since the 1893 World Columbian Exposition, our organization has aimed to connect people to the natural environment and human history.

Join our team and enjoy a benefits package that truly supports your well-being and lifestyle:

• Comprehensive Health Coverage: Including medical, dental, vision plans, and even pet insurance.

• Financial Security: Life and disability benefits plus a 403(b) savings plan to help you plan for the future.

• Work-Life Balance: Generous paid time off, paid sick leave, and paid holidays to ensure you have time to recharge and spend with loved ones.

• Exclusive Perks: Enjoy great employee discounts and complimentary general admission to participating cultural institutions.

We're dedicated to enhancing your life both at work and beyond!

The successful candidate will assist 3-days per week with various collections and research activities related to multiple Field Museum pathogen-focused projects in the Mammal Collection. Major activities include working with DNA sequence data (e.g., amplicon and shotgun metagenomic data) to summarize genetic data for ongoing research projects. Additional responsibilities include laboratory work related to host identification and pathogen screening as well as processing primary data and associated specimens generated from these projects into our collection management system.

This Collections Technician (Mammals) will report to Collections Manager Adam Ferguson and is responsible for duties that are part of specific pathogen-themed projects (e.g. grant-funded term position). Duties for this individual position are as described below. This position is not intended to be given additional collection responsibilities and duties that detract from the core responsibilities of the grant-funded projects.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Assist with bioinformatics and analyses of sequence data for pathogen-focused projects

• Assist with the interpretation and presentation of sequencing results

• Perform standard laboratory procedures including running gels, PCRs, and plate preparation

• Assist with the incorporation of new specimens into the collection (preparation, accession, and cataloging)

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s Degree in biology or related field with at least 1 year of experience working with DNA/RNA lab and analytical methods
• Experience with bioinformatics tools and analyzing DNA sequence data, including basic knowledge of UNIX, Python, and R languages
• Experience with Sanger sequencing, Illumina sequencing, PCR, qPCR, and RT-PCR preferred
• Familiarity with tissue preservation techniques for various pathogen screening and molecular analyses
• Ability to work well with others
• Ability to work independently in lab or museum settings
• Attention to detail
• Flexibility regarding activities related to different project goals and objectives

Pay: $19.00

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The Field Museum is an equal-opportunity employer. We are committed to providing a workplace free from discrimination, embracing diversity, and fostering mutual respect. We value the unique perspectives each team member brings, which empowers our ability to innovate and overcome challenges.

At the Field Museum, we are dedicated to making our career website and recruitment process accessible to everyone. If you encounter any difficulty when using or accessing our online application, or if you need a reasonable accommodation for completing your application, participating in interviews, or any other part of the selection process, please reach out to us at recruitment@fieldmuseum.org.

Salary : $19