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Assistant Professor (Co-evolution of Planet, Oceans, Climate and Life), Tenure Track, Department of Geology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium

Posting Date: 5 October 2024
Closing Date: 3 November 2024


ABOUT GHENT UNIVERSITY

Ghent University is one of the most important education and research institutions in the Low Countries. On a daily basis, 15,000 staff members and 50,000 students implement its motto "Dare to Think". Ghent University's mission statement is characterised by high quality education, internationally renowned research and a pluralistic social responsibility.

ASSIGNMENT

This vacancy concerns a position as member of the tenured academic staff with a focus on research. Candidates should demonstrate scientific excellence based on criteria of scientific quality, as reflected, among other things, in publications in journals and books with international visibility and in the proposed scientific research in the research plan.

Taking up this position, which is funded by the Special Research Fund, leads to an appointment in a tenure track system for a duration of 5 years and implies the privilege of devoting oneself almost exclusively to research activities during this period, with a teaching load limited to no more than 8 ECTS credits per semester on average over a period of 3 years.

For the further development of the academic career, please see ‘Appointment information’ below.

Academic education

You lecture various course units, among which general earth science courses in the bachelor program in geology, and more specialized courses in geology, paleontology and/or paleoclimatology in the master program.

Academic research

You conduct research in the discipline of co-evolution of planet, oceans, climate and life.

Academic services

You take part in the internal and external service provision of the department of geology.

PROFILE

The department of geology wishes to strengthen its climate-research portfolio by opening a position in the “Co-evolution of planet, oceans, climate and life”. The focus of this position is on the analysis, using multidisciplinary proxy data, of the sedimentary and, specifically, fossil archives of changes in paleoclimate and the paleo-environment, and how these changes fundamentally affected or interacted with the evolution of Life on Earth. This multidisciplinary field sits on the crossroads of studies into the causes, feedbacks and effects of large-scale macro-evolutionary processes in the evolution of the biosphere, the long-term physical and chemical evolution of the oceans, and the climatological evolution of Planet Earth.

This position is expected to offer a geological time perspective to research fields already present within the university and the department and to research fields being developed in parallel, including “Climate Change Geology”, which has a strong focus on Earth Stewardship and mitigation strategies for ongoing climate change.

Experience
  • You have already conducted excellent academic research in the given discipline, which is clearly reflected in outstanding publications in national and international peer-reviewed books and/or journals;
  • You are didactically skilled to teach university students to develop academic competences;

Recommended are:
  • Experience in supervising research and/or coaching Ph.D. students;
  • International mobility, among other things thanks to research stays at institutions external to the one where you acquired your highest academic degree;
  • Experience in generating and acquiring research projects and research funding;
  • Experience in conducting geological field work and/or leading field courses;
  • Positively evaluated experience in provided or organised academic lecturing;
  • Professionalisation of education;
  • You must master the language of instruction in which you will teach a course at CEFR- level C1.You can demonstrate this by means of a language certificate or a diploma obtained from an institution in which that language is the language of instruction. In addition, Article II.270, §1 of the Codex of Higher Education requires that: (i) you must master the Dutch language at least at CEFR-level A2 within two years after the start of the appointment. (ii) you must be able to master the Dutch language at least at CEFR-level of B2 within five years after the start of the appointment. More info: Language requirements at Ghent University for professorial staff — Ghent University (ugent.be)

Skills / Attitude
  • You are quality-oriented;
  • You take initiative;
  • You have strong communication skills;
  • You have strong interpersonal skills;
  • You are a team player

Admission requirements
  • You hold a thesis-based doctorate, i.e. doctorate in sciences-geology or a discipline that is considered admissible by the evaluation committee, or a diploma or certificate that is recognised as equivalent (article V.20 Codex Higher Education).

Upon evaluation of a foreign (non-EU) diploma, a certificate of equivalence may still have to be requested at
NARIC. If this is the case, we advise you to initiate this recognition procedure as soon as possible. You are required to have the recognition no later than on the date of your appointment.

  • You have at least two years of postdoctoral experience 1 February 2025. This term of two years is determined by the date written on the above-mentioned required diploma.

APPOINTMENT INFORMATION

  • We offer you a temporary appointment as an assistant professor in a tenure track system for a term of five years with a focus on research. If positively evaluated by the University Board, the term of office will be transferred into a permanent appointment as an associate professor. At that moment the time devoted to research, education and academic services may be altered.

The recruitment is from 1 February 2025.

OUR OFFER

The career and evaluation policy for Professorial Staff is based on talent development and growth, prioritizing vision development and strategy - at the personal as well as the group level. At UGent we focus on career support and coaching of the Professorial Staff in the different phases of the career. More information can be found on
www.ugent.be/en/work/mobility-career/career-aspects/professorial-staff

Ghent University is committed to properly welcoming new professorial staff members and offering them appropriate guidance. The basic teacher training and courses of 'Dutch' and 'English' for foreign-speaking lecturers are only a few examples of our wide range of training and education opportunities. Ghent University is a partner in the Flemish Supercomputer Center, which gives access to HPC infrastructure. Furthermore, each Ghent University staff member can count on a number of benefits such as a bike allowance, reimbursement of public transport commuting costs, daycare, a wide range of sports facilities and EcoCheques.
A complete overview of all our employee benefits (in Dutch).

Ghent University also invests in welcoming international professorial staff. It offers various housing options, a relocation bonus, the International School for school-aged children (with a discount on the tuition fee), support when registering at the City of Ghent, support with the procedure of family reunification and other administrative matters in connection with moving to Ghent. More information can be found on
www.ugent.be/en/work/talent.

Candidates who are newly appointed at Ghent University with an appointment as autonomous academic staff of at least 50% or candidates whose appointment as autonomous academic staff at Ghent University is increased to a minimum of 50% receive a
Starting Grant of €230.000 to contribute towards the personnel, operating and/or equipment costs of establishing a research team.

GENDER AND DIVERSITY

Ghent University conducts an equal opportunities policy and encourages everyone to apply. Ghent University also strives for a gender balance in which a maximum of 60% of the academic staff with a PhD degree is of the same gender. Female applications are thus especially welcomed. As long as this goal is not achieved at the level of the group of scientific disciplines involved, the university board will in principle, for positions within this group, give priority to candidates of the underrepresented gender but only in case of equal qualifications of the applicants. This priority is neither automatic nor unconditional; the personal situation of each candidate needs to be taken into consideration in the evaluation at all times.

SELECTION PROCEDURE

After the final application date, all received applications will be sent to the faculty selection committee assembled for this vacancy. After a pre-selection on the basis of the submitted and assessed as admissible application files, the selection committee may hear the candidates about their vision and planning regarding education, research and services. It is also possible to organize a trial lesson or a presentation on a subject in the relevant field. Afterwards, the committee will rank the suitable candidates and present this ranking to the Faculty Board. The advice of the Faculty Board will then be presented to the Research Council for advice and subsequently be sent to the University Board for approval.

Candidates are asked to further discuss their 5 most impactful academic achievements. Next to academic publications, the candidate is thus also able to show merit of knowledge transfer by academic dissemination, social valorisation, public awareness, seminars or conference presentations. These competences are also taken into account when evaluating the candidates.

The evaluation of the required international mobility is broad and partly takes the gender perspective into account, thus not only considering longer stays abroad by also other forms of internationalisation.

Pregnancy leave, prolonged sick leave, parental leave, filial leave or other forms of absence are taken into account when evaluating the available time for the realisation of academic output.

HOW TO APPLY

Apply online through the e-recruitment system before the application deadline (see above). We do not accept late or incomplete applications, or applications that are not sent through the online system.

Your application must include the following documents:
  • In the field ‘Application form’: the BOF Tenure Track professorial staff application form + all annexes mentioned in the form (a.o. 5-year research plan and long term research vision), merged into one file of maximum 10 MB.
  • In the field ‘Diploma’: a transcript of your doctoral degree. If you have a foreign diploma in a language other than our national languages (Dutch, French or German) or English, please add a translation in one of the mentioned languages.
  • In the field ‘Certificate of equivalence’: only for diplomas awarded outside the European Union: certificate of equivalence (NARIC) (if already in you possession). For diplomas awarded in the UK before January 31st of 2020, a certificate of equivalence is not required.

MORE INFORMATION

For further information regarding this vacancy, please contact Professor Marc De Batist (
Marc.DeBatist@UGent.be, +32 09/264 45 87) at the Faculty of Sciences, Department of Geology.

Do you have a question regarding the online application process? Please read the
FAQ or contact us via selecties@ugent.be or +32 9 264 34 36


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Assistant Professor in Environmental Geosciences (Tenure-Track), Department of Geology and Geophysics, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, USA

Posting Date: 15 September 2024
Closing Date: 8 November 2024

Location: College Station, TX
Open Date: 9/13/2024
Position ID: 147683

Description
The Department of Geology and Geophysics in the College of Arts and Sciences at Texas A&M University is seeking applications for a full-time, 9-month tenure-track Assistant Professor in Environmental Geoscience to address grand challenges in Climate Change, Water Scarcity and Quality, GeoHealth, and/or the Energy Transition from a geological perspective.

We welcome theoretical, laboratory, field, and/or system-level approaches to address one or more grand challenges in disciplines that complement existing research strengths of the Department. This position will expand on our recent hiring and strengthen our department’s capacities to initiate investigations that provide process-level knowledge within environmental geosciences to address these challenges. The successful applicant is expected to lead a vibrant, cutting-edge research program and leverage the existing strengths of the Department of Geology & Geophysics, while expanding our reach into national and international-scale initiatives. The anticipated starting date is Fall 2025.

The successful candidate will be expected to establish and maintain an independent and externally funded research program and contribute to quality teaching and mentoring at the undergraduate and graduate levels. The candidate is also expected to participate in service activities in the Department, College and University, national and international professional communities, and participate in outreach activities. Texas A&M University is a Hispanic-serving, land-, sea-, and space-grant university, located at the center of the Bryan/College Station metro area with a dynamic and international community of over 270,000 people. Information about the Department of Geology & Geophysics can be found at:
http://artsci.tamu.edu/geology-geophysics.


Qualifications
Candidates must have earned a Ph.D. in Geology, Geophysics, or equivalent in a related research discipline prior to the starting date.


Application Instructions
For full consideration, applications should be received by November 8, 2024. We will continue to review applications until the position is filled. Interested applicants must apply through the Texas A&M University faculty job board hosted by Interfolio at
apply.interfolio.com/154232 and upload the following:

  • Cover letter
  • Curriculum Vitae
  • Personal statement to include philosophy and plans for research, teaching, and service
  • Contact information for at least 3 references to solicit letters of recommendations

Questions can be sent to the attention of Dr. Xiaowei Chen (
ttegsearch@tamu.edu), Department of Geology and Geophysics, Texas A&M University, Search Committee Chair


Application Process
This institution is using Interfolio's Faculty Search to conduct this search. Applicants to this position receive a free Dossier account and can send all application materials, including confidential letters of recommendation, free of charge.

Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action/Veterans/Disability Employer.

The University is aware that attracting and retaining exceptional faculty often depends on meeting the needs of two careers and therefore has a
Dual Career Program.

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Collection Manager (Invertebrate Paleontology), Department of Museum Research and Collections, University of Alabama Museums, University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, Alabama, USA

Posting Date: 2 November 2024
Closing Date: 13 November 2024

The Department of Museum Research and Collections within the University of Alabama Museums is hiring a collections manager of invertebrate paleontology. The paleontology collection is located on the University of Alabama campus in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, USA. The new hire will reorganize the invertebrate paleontology collection, consisting of ~400,000 specimens, most of which originate from historic and classic sites in the Paleogene and Cretaceous deposits of Alabama. The collections manager will oversee several undergraduate students per semester helping with this effort. Main job duties include reorganizing, sorting, cleaning/preparing, identifying, rehousing, relabeling, and databasing in Arctos of specimens. Strong organization skills, attention to detail, knowledge of taxonomic rank and nomenclature of fossil invertebrates, ability to supervise students, and the ability to communicate effectively verbally and in writing are skills to succeed in this position. Interest to help with outreach, a museum exhibit, and grant writing is a plus.

This is a 2-year position with a fixed salary of $48,600 for the first year. The position includes full benefits and comes with support to present the project at one conference. Start date can be flexible but earlier is better.

Minimum qualifications include a bachelor's degree and two years of experience in museum collections management/curation or a master's degree and some experience in museum collections management/curation.

Preferred qualifications include a master’s degree in paleontology (geology/biology track) or museum studies and one year of collections care experience involving invertebrate fossils, student supervision experience, knowledge of fossil preparation, and a museum studies certificate.

Please reach out to Curator of Paleontology
Dr. Adiel Klompmaker if you have any questions.

Applications documents include (1) a cover letter explaining your interest, experience, and fit for the position, (2) a CV including collection management/curation experience, and (3) at least 1 but preferably 2-3 references who may be asked to provide a letter of recommendation at a later stage.

Apply
here before Nov 13, 2024, 22:55 Central Standard Time (USA):

Prior to hiring, the final candidate must successfully pass a pre-employment background investigation and information obtained from social media and other internet sources.

The University of Alabama is an Equal Employment/Equal Educational Opportunity Institution. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment or volunteer status without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, age, genetic or family medical history information, disability, protected veteran status, or any other legally protected basis, and will not be discriminated against because of their protected status.

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Collections Manager, South Carolina State Museum, Columbia, South Carolina, USA

Posting Date: 28 October 2024
Closing Date: 15 November 2024

Salary - $50,000.00 - $60,000.00 Annually
Location - Richland County, SC
Job Type - FTE - Full-Time
Job Number - 170218
Agency - State Museum Commission Division

Opening Date - 10/17/2024
Closing Date - 11/15/2024 11:59 PM Eastern
Agency Specific Application Procedures - Online Applications Only
Class Code - CE20
Slot Number - 0001
Position Number - 61096911
Normal Work Schedule - Monday - Friday (8:30 - 5:00)
Pay Band - Band 5
EEO Statement - Equal Opportunity Employer
Veteran Preference Statement - South Carolina is making our Veterans a priority for employment in state agencies and institutions.

Job Responsibilities
Collections Manager description image
Are you looking to be part of an innovative team of professionals dedicated to telling South Carolina's diverse stories? As the storytellers of South Carolina, the South Carolina State Museum (SCSM) strives to share the rich natural, technological and cultural diversity of the state through its permanent collections, programs, exhibitions and digital content. The SCSM is the largest museum in South Carolina, stewarding over 1.1 million objects and specimens and welcoming 5 million+ visitors over its 34-year history. The museum has recently embarked on a renovation of 150,000 square feet of its exhibition, programmatic and collection storage spaces occupying four floors of a historic 1890s textile mill on the National Register of Historic Places. Come be a part of our team reimagining what the South Carolina State Museum can be for our next generation of visitors, students, and scholars, and enjoy living in South Carolina’s capital city, recently ranked the 7th most affordable city in America by the Wallstreet Journal/Realtor.com.

The South Carolina State Museum seeks a detail-oriented individual to help manage the physical care of the collections which tell the stories of South Carolina. Reporting to the Director of Collections Management, the Collections Manager will take the lead in cataloguing the collections, overseeing cleaning of the museum, coordinating with facilities management for environmental monitoring, and improving the storage conditions of the collection. This position also plays a close role in the ongoing complete inventory of the museum’s collection in conjunction with the Director of Collections Management, and consults on upcoming storage renovations.

Responsibilities and Duties:
  • Oversees cataloguing of collections in the database, Emu. Applies numbers to objects, packs objects for storage, and records location in the database.
  • Facilitates access to storage for staff and guests. Coordinates object movement for exhibitions, loans, programs, and contractors.
  • Monitors and ensures compliance with environmental standards for temperature and humidity in the museum
  • Oversees the Integrated Pest Management monitoring and reporting
  • Creates and maintains schedule for cleaning exhibition and storage spaces, with occasional use of lifts, scaffolding and/or 14-foot ladders for higher shelving and displays
  • Ensures compliance with the Collections Management Policy and other policies in areas of storage and collections care
  • Assists with object-handling training and oversight, including exhibit installations in house and offsite
  • Assists with object transportation to offsite venues for loans, programs, objects pickups, conservation
  • Maintains and updates as needed policies and procedures related to collections care and cataloguing standards
  • Leads grant and seasonal part-time employees in inventorying the collections as defined by the Director of Collections Management and grant awards
  • Advises on long-term storage upgrades and designs as part of the Reimagine The Experience project
  • Works cross-disciplinarily in a team atmosphere to achieve the museum’s strategic goals.
  • All other duties as assigned.

Minimum and Additional Requirements
Minimum Qualifications:
  • A bachelor's degree from an accredited institution with a focus on history, museum studies or related field.
  • Minimum five (5) years experience in collections management, registration, or other museum collection methodologies
  • Proven knowledge and experience in managing collections storage facilities, object handling, access control, environmental standards for collections, and storage solutions/design
  • Knowledge of best practices in collections handling, care, and preventative conservation
  • Demonstrated ability to work effectively in a collaborative team environment
  • Good organizational skills and attention to detail, especially in written communication
  • Ability to assess, prioritize, and project manage to meet deadlines with minimal supervision
  • Experience working with a collections management system; Axiell’s Emu a plus

Work Environment and Essential Functions
  • Ability to travel statewide and stay overnight.
  • Have a valid driver's license and be willing to drive vans and box trucks.
  • Ability to lift 40 lbs and climb on ladders, lifts, and scaffolding with cleaning equipment
  • Ability to handle collections safely and securely, including manual dexterity and ability to operate pallet jacks and other low-impact equipment for moving objects
  • Comfortable working in tight, dusty, and dirty spaces, and with potentially hazardous materials such as taxidermy, weapons, and historic chemicals using provided PPE and training
  • Comfortable communicating with lenders, donors, and the public about the functions of collections management

Preferred Qualifications
  • Experience with object inventories and digitization, including object relocation and image capture
  • Participation in a large-scale object move or storage renovation/design
  • Previous supervisory management experience (part-time, full-time, seasonal, or volunteers) a plus
  • Ability to create custom storage boxes and other softpack supports for objects

Benefits for State Employees
The state of South Carolina offers eligible employees generous benefits, including health and dental insurance; retirement and savings plan options; and paid vacation and sick leave. Plus, work-life balance programs such as telecommuting and flexible work schedules are available to employees of some state agencies.

Insurance Benefits
Eligible employees may enroll in health insurance, which includes prescription coverage and wellness benefits. Other available insurance benefits include dental, vision, term life insurance, long term disability and flexible spending accounts for health and child care expenses.

Retirement Benefits
State employees are also offered retirement plan options, including defined benefit and defined contribution plans. Additionally, eligible employees may elect to participate in the South Carolina Deferred Compensation Program, which is a voluntary, supplemental retirement savings plan offering 401(k) and 457 plan options.

Workplace Benefits
State employees may also be eligible for other benefits, including tuition assistance; holiday, annual and sick leave; and discounts on purchases, travel and more.

Note: The benefits above are available to most state employees, with the exception of those in temporary positions. Employees in temporary grant and time-limited positions may be eligible for all, some or none of these benefits as benefits are associated with each position type. For these positions, contact the hiring agency to determine what benefits may be available.

Agency - State of South Carolina
Agency - State Museum Commission
Address - 301 Gervais Street, Columbia, South Carolina, 29202
Phone - 803-898-4939

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Assistant Professor (Geobiology, Tenure Track), Department of Earth, Planetary, and Space Sciences, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California USA

Posting Date: 19 October 2024
Closing Date: 1 December 2024

The UCLA Department of Earth, Planetary, and Space Sciences (EPSS) invites applications for a tenure-track faculty position in Geobiology at the Assistant Professor rank. Competitive candidates will have expertise in the detection and characterization of life and/or signatures of life in Earth's past and present environments, and/or in extraterrestrial settings. Areas of research may include, but are not limited to, organic geochemistry, isotope geochemistry, molecular biology, microbiology, paleontology, paleobiology, and/or astrobiology. Candidates with expertise that complements and expands the existing strengths of UCLA’s geobiology, geology, geochemistry and planetary science research programs, and who see potential for synergies across the breadth of research pursued by EPSS faculty, are particularly encouraged to apply. We seek individuals with experience in research, teaching, and community/collegial service who are prepared to contribute to our commitment to excellence in scholarship and to our goals of equity, diversity, and inclusion. The successful candidate will be expected to establish a vigorous, externally funded research program at UCLA. Candidates should hold a Ph.D. in biology, chemistry, geochemistry, geology, environmental science, or a closely related field by the date of hire.

EPSS faculty conduct research in geophysics, geology, geobiology, geochemistry, planetary science, paleobiology, and space physics. The department has a strong tradition of integrative research that transcends traditional discipline boundaries. The ability of applicants to contribute to this multidisciplinary ethos will be a consideration in evaluation, in addition to their commitment to enhancing the diversity of EPSS faculty and students.

To apply, candidates must submit
  1. cover letter,
  2. CV,
  3. statement of research,
  4. statement of teaching,
  5. statement of contributions to equity, diversity, and inclusion,
  6. up to three writing samples,
  7. the names of three to five individuals who are familiar with your work and can serve as references, and
  8. the reference check authorization release form.

Applications will be accepted via the UC Recruit website at
https://recruit.apo.ucla.edu/JPF09827 beginning October 17, 2024 and reviews of submitted applications will commence on December 1, 2024.

The posted UC salary scales set the minimum pay determined by rank and/or step at appointment. See Table(s) 1 The salary range for this position is $78,200 - $101,400 annually. “Off-scale salaries” and other components of pay, i.e., a salary that is higher than the published system-wide salary at the designated rank and step, are offered when necessary to meet competitive conditions. See campus compensation page for additional information.

The target start date is July 1, 2025. UCLA has programs to assist in partner employment, childcare, schooling and other family concerns. For additional information, visit the UCLA Academic Personnel Office website or the UC Office of the President’s website.

The University of California is committed to creating and maintaining a community dedicated to the advancement, application, and transmission of knowledge and creative endeavors through academic excellence, where all individuals who participate in University programs and activities can work and learn together in a safe and secure environment, free of violence, harassment, bullying and other demeaning behavior, discrimination, exploitation, or intimidation. With this commitment as well as a commitment to addressing all forms of academic misconduct, UCLA conducts targeted employment reference checks for finalists to whom departments or other hiring units would like to extend formal offers of appointment into Academic Senate faculty positions. The targeted employment reference checks involve contacting the finalists’ current and prior places of employment to ask whether there have been substantiated findings of misconduct that would violate the University’s Faculty Code of Conduct. To implement this process, UCLA requires all applicants for Academic Senate faculty positions to complete, sign, and upload the form entitled “Authorization to Release Information” into RECRUIT as part of their application. If the applicant does not include the signed authorization to release information with the applications materials, the application will be considered incomplete. As with any incomplete application, the application will not receive further consideration. Although all applicants for faculty recruitments must complete the entire application, only finalists (i.e., those to whom the department or other hiring unit would like to extend a formal offer) considered for Academic Senate faculty positions will be subject to targeted employment reference checks.

As a condition of employment, you will be required to comply with the University of California SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) Vaccination Program Policy. All Covered Individuals under the policy must provide proof of Full Vaccination or, if applicable, submit a request for Exception (based on Medical Exemption, Disability, and/or Religious Objection) or Deferral (based on pregnancy) no later than the applicable deadline. Please refer to Appendix F, Section II.C. of the policy for the deadlines applicable to new University of California employees. (Capitalized terms in this paragraph are defined in the policy.) Federal, state, or local public health directives may impose additional requirements.

The University of California is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age or protected veteran status. For the complete University of California nondiscrimination and affirmative action policy, see: UC Nondiscrimination & Affirmative Action Policy.

For the University of California’s Affirmative Action Policy, please visit
https://www.ucop.edu/academic-personnel-programs/_files/apm/apm-035.pdf.

For the University of California’s Anti-Discrimination Policy, please visit
https://policy.ucop.edu/doc/1001004/Anti-Discrimination.

Fixed-Term, Visiting, Postdoctoral & Technical Positions


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Postdoctoral Research Fellow (Panama Paleontology Project), Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, Naos Marine Laboratory, Panamá

Posting Date: 8 October 2024
Closing Date: 14 November 2024

Overview

  • Two year appointment (second year open to renewal after satisfactory progress)
  • Federal position appointed at the GS 9 level
  • Start date: Mid-late 2025
  • Principal location: Naos Marine Laboratory, Panamá.

Description

We seek a postdoctoral fellow who will join the NSF-funded Panama Paleontology Project (PPP) to conduct ecological, paleobiological or geological research in tropical America. The position is open to a broad-range of research topics, including (but not limited to): paleobiology; macroevolution dynamics; community ecology and paleoecology; functional ecology, energetics and trophic ecology; conservation paleobiology; (paleo)oceanography and climate change; isotope geochemistry. We are particularly interested in candidates who will use the marine fossil record of the Isthmus of Panama and/or current marine differences across the isthmus to develop their research program.

The Panama Paleontology Project can offer a wide range of published and unpublished paleontological and biological datasets, thousands of modern and Neogene biological and sedimentological samples, and access to modern and Neogene marine habitats on both sides of the Isthmus across a variety of time scales. For more information see www.pnas.org/doi/abs/10.1073/pnas.2307520120 and www.science.org/doi/10.1126/sciadv.1600883. The fellow will join a collaborative team comprising Jill Leonard-Pingel (Ohio State University), Seth Finnegan (UC, Berkeley), Adiël Klompmaker (University of Alabama) and Aaron O’Dea (Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, STRI), as well as a cohort of three PhD students and an intern. The fellow will have full access to facilities and resources at the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, including SCUBA and small boats in both oceans (https://stri.si.edu/). Research funds for fieldwork, international travel, publication and internship support may be available.

Expectations
  • Conduct research in the fellow’s field of expertise.
  • Present and communicate results to the international scientific community.
  • Publish in peer-reviewed journals.
  • Direct an undergraduate field course in marine ecology/paleoecology: manage operations, instruct, design curriculum, and mentor students.
  • Collaborate closely with other members of the team.
  • Contribute to outreach and communications of the project.

Mentor interns
  • Desired qualifications and skills
  • PhD degree in hand when starting the position.
  • Ability to direct independent research and publish.
  • Ability to work with a multicultural team.
  • Dedication to communication and outreach.
  • Basic Spanish, or the willingness to learn.

To apply
Send the following materials as a single pdf to:
odeaa@si.edu
  • Cover letter explaining interest in the position (1 page max)
  • Your current Curriculum Vitae (CV)
  • Research interests and your goals of the fellowship (2 pages max)
  • Names and contact information for two potential referees

Applications will be reviewed starting November 14th, 2024 and continue until the position is filled.


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Collections Digitization Assistant, South Carolina State Museum, Columbia, South Carolina, USA

Posting Date: 16 October 2024
Closing Date: 15 November 2024

Salary - $38,000.00 - $42,000.00 Annually
Location - Richland County, SC
Job Type - Temporary Grant - Full-Time
Job Number - 170035
Agency - State Museum Commission
Division - Programs
Opening Date - 10/14/2024
Closing Date - 11/15/2024 11:59 PM Eastern
Agency Specific Application Procedures - Online Applications Only
Class Code - UZ01
Slot Number - 0001
Position Number - 170035
Normal Work Schedule - Other
Pay Band - Unclassified
Hiring Range - Min. - $38,000.00
Hiring Range - Max. - $42,000.00
Opening Date - 10/14/2024
EEO Statement - Equal Opportunity Employer

Veteran Preference Statement
South Carolina is making our Veterans a priority for employment in state agencies and institutions.

Description
Benefits

Job Responsibilities
Collections Digitization Assistant description imageAre you looking for a new and exciting opportunity to be part of an innovative team of professionals dedicated to telling South Carolina's diverse stories? Then the South Carolina State Museum is the place for you. Located in the central part of South Carolina, Columbia is renowned for its vibrant downtown scene, affordable cost of living, and easy access to beautiful mountains and beaches.

As the storytellers of South Carolina, the South Carolina State Museum (SCSM) strives to share the rich cultural and natural diversity of the state through its permanent collections, exhibitions, and programs. The SCSM is the largest museum in South Carolina, stewarding over 1.1 million specimens, objects, and works of art, and has welcomed 5 million+ visitors over its 35-year history. The museum is embarking on a multi-million-dollar renovation of 150,000 square feet of its exhibition, programmatic, and collection storage spaces occupying four floors of a historic 1890s textile mill on the National Register of Historic Places. We are committed to sharing the numerous and intriguing stories of the state’s past, present and future with our audiences. Join our team as we "reimagine" what the South Carolina State Museum can be for our next generation of visitors, students, and scholars.

Job Overview
The South Carolina State Museum seeks a creative individual to work as part of a team on a two-year IMLS grant-funded project to digitize (3D scanning and photography) approximately 5,000 Pleistocene (Ice Age) fossils and type specimens in the SC State Museum's natural history collection. Additional responsibilities include:

  • Utilize a 3D scanner and photographic equipment to capture and render images of fossil specimens.
  • Assist with obtaining & entering measurements of specimens, & associating this data with existing catalogue records
  • Update image and catalogue records in the Museum's collections management system (EMu)
  • Handle and move specimens for imaging
  • Participate in weekly project meetings
  • Other duties as assigned


Minimum and Additional Requirements
Minimum Requirements

  • Bachelor's degree from an accredited institution with a focus on vertebrate zoology, skeletal anatomy, paleontology, or museum studies.
  • 2-3 years of experience working with standard collections management practices including object handling
  • Excellent verbal & written communication skills
  • Proficient with word processing, spreadsheets (i.e., Excel)
  • Intermediate proficiency in collections management software
  • Must be able to lift & carry 30-40 pounds
  • Ability to work safely & comfortably in dusty and/or dirty work environment
  • Demonstrated ability to work effectively in a team environment

Preferred Qualifications
  • Knowledge of vertebrate anatomy a plus
  • Proficiency in EMu collections management software

Agency
State of South Carolina

Agency
State Museum Commission

Address
301 Gervais Street
Columbia, South Carolina, 29202

Phone
803-898-4939

To Apply

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Collections Management Assistant, South Carolina State Museum, Columbia, South Carolina, USA

Posting Date: 16 October 2024
Closing Date: 15 November 2024

Salary - $38,000.00 - $42,000.00 Annually
Location - Richland County, SC
Job Type - Temporary Grant - Full-Time
Job Number - 170030
Agency - State Museum Commission
Division - Programs
Opening Date - 10/14/2024
Closing Date - 11/15/2024 11:59 PM Eastern

Agency Specific Application Procedures:
Online applications only.

Class Code - UZ01
Slot Number - 0001
Position Number - 170030
Normal Work Schedule = Monday - Friday (8:30 - 5:00)
Pay Band - Unclassified
Hiring Range - Min. - $38,000.00
Hiring Range - Max. - $42,000.00
Opening Date - 10/14/2024
EEO Statement - Equal Opportunity Employer

Veteran Preference Statement
South Carolina is making our Veterans a priority for employment in state agencies and institutions.

Description
Benefits

Job Responsibilities
Are you looking for a new and exciting opportunity to be part of an innovative team of professionals dedicated to telling South Carolina's diverse stories? Then the South Carolina State Museum is the place for you. Located in the central part of South Carolina, Columbia is renowned for its vibrant downtown scene, affordable cost of living, and easy access to beautiful mountains and beaches.

As the storytellers of South Carolina, the South Carolina State Museum (SCSM) strives to share the rich cultural and natural diversity of the state through its permanent collections, exhibitions, and programs. The SCSM is the largest museum in South Carolina, stewarding over 1.1 million specimens, objects, and works of art, and has welcomed 5 million+ visitors over its 35-year history. The museum is embarking on a multi-million-dollar renovation of 150,000 square feet of its exhibition, programmatic, and collection storage spaces occupying four floors of a historic 1890s textile mill on the National Register of Historic Places. We are committed to sharing the numerous and intriguing stories of the state’s past, present and future with our audiences. Join our team as we "reimagine" what the South Carolina State Museum can be for our next generation of visitors, students, and scholars.

Job Overview
The South Carolina State Museum seeks a creative individual to work as part of a team on a two-year IMLS grant-funded project to digitize (3D scanning and photography) approximately 5,000 Pleistocene (Ice Age) fossils and type specimens in the SC State Museum's natural history collection. Additional responsibilities include:

  • Review paper accession record files to ensure metadata is correct in collections management database, adding entries as necessary; review archival and digital files to ensure database entries meet standards
  • Assist with obtaining & entering measurements of specimens, & associating this data with existing catalogue records
  • Upload Darwin Core specimen data into biodiversity portals (i.e., iDigBio, GBIF)
  • Manage and track project numbers for specimens digitized and web-ready items
  • Participate in weekly project meetings
  • Assist Curator of Natural History in repairing and consolidating fossils as needed for digitization

Minimum and Additional Requirements
Minimum Requirements

  • Bachelor's degree from an accredited institution with a focus on museum studies, public history, vertebrate zoology, skeletal anatomy, or paleontology
  • 2-3 years of experience working with standard collections management practices including object handling
  • Proficient in museum best practices (i.e., collections database management)
  • Excellent verbal & written communication skills
  • Proficient with word processing, spreadsheets (i.e., Excel)
  • Intermediate proficiency in collections management software (EMu preferred)
  • Must be able to lift & carry 30-40 pounds
  • Ability to work safely & comfortably in dusty and/or dirty work environment
  • Demonstrated ability to work effectively in a team environment

Preferred Qualifications

  • Intermediate knowledge & use of biodiversity portals is a plus

Agency
State of South Carolina

Agency
State Museum Commission

Address

301 Gervais Street
Columbia, South Carolina, 29202

Phone
803-898-4939

To Apply

Educational Opportunities


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PhD & MSc Opportunities (Energetic Controls on Marine Community Structure in Space and Time), Various institutions, USA

Posting Date: 22 October 2024
Closing Date: Various (see individual announcements below)

We are happy to announce the newly NSF-funded project "Energetic Controls on Marine Community Structure in Space and Time", and announce the following opportunities for graduate students and a postdoctoral researcher (see also other, related, announcements posted on this page)..

This collaborative project aims to evaluate productivity, energetic and trophic gradients in marine communities across the Isthmus of Panama, both in modern and fossil ecosystems. It builds on 40 years of collections and research of the Panama Paleontology Project (PPP:
https://scholar.google.com/citations?hl=en&user=V-tT6fsAAAAJ)

PhD position at the University of California, Berkeley, Department of Integrative Biology and UC Museum of Paleontology
Start date: Autumn 2025
Research focus: Modern and fossil marine ecosystems of Central America
Application deadline: December 2, 2024
Contact: Dr. Seth Finnegan (
sethf@berkeley.edu)

MS position at The Ohio State University, School of Earth Sciences
Start date: Autumn 2025
Research focus: Changes in body size of Caribbean bivalves during the Neogene
Application deadline: December 1, 2024
Contact: Dr. Jill Leonard-Pingel (
leonard-Pingel.1@osu.edu)

We encourage interested candidates to reach out to the contacts with any questions.

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PhD Opportunity (Biology/Paleontology), Department of Museum Research and Collections & Alabama Museum of Natural History, University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, Alabama, USA

Posting Date: 12 October 2024
Closing Date: 10 December 2024

The recently NSF-funded project “Energetic Controls on Marine Benthic Community Structure in Space and Time” aims to:

  1. evaluate how productivity affects the energetic and trophic structure of marine benthic communities on either side of the modern Isthmus of Panama, where there is now a strong contrast between the high productivity, upwelling-dominated regime of the eastern Pacific and the low-productivity, low-seasonality regime of the Caribbean;
  2. use this knowledge to evaluate the fossil record of Caribbean benthic ecosystems before, during, and after the uplift of the isthmus during which planktonic productivity decreased in the Caribbean and
  3. relate ecosystem changes driven by productivity shifts to the well documented Caribbean extinction event ~2 Ma.

This is a project in collaboration with colleagues and their students/postdoc at the Ohio State University (Dr. Jill Leonard-Pingel), the University of California Berkeley (Dr. Seth Finnegan), and the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute (Dr. Aaron O’Dea).

One key component of this project is to assess biotic interactions such as predator-prey interactions using fossil and modern molluscan assemblages from both sides of the Isthmus of Panama. I am recruiting a PhD student for the Fall 2025 semester with a background in biology, paleontology, and/or geology who has an interest in biotic interactions and quantitative methods. While the study will use pre-existing collections, there is a trip to Panama included. For those interested, please get in touch with
Dr. Adiel Klompmaker, preferably sending along a CV.

The student will be supported for 5 semesters as a graduate research assistant and as graduate teaching assistant for the remainder of the PhD program. Conference support is provided. The student will be part of the Department of Biological Sciences or the Department of Geological Sciences at the University of Alabama depending on the background of the student. Apply to one of these departments through
https://graduate.ua.edu/applicants/

Applications are due on 10 December 2024.

Sponsors