Position Listings
Professional Positions
Research Officer in Paleontology, Muséum d'histoire naturelle, Geneva, Switzerland
Posting Date: 25 April 2023
Closing Date: 11 May 2023
Your mission, primary duties and responsibilities:
You participate in the management (organization, digitization, loan and conservation) and development of the paleontological collections of the Earth Sciences unit. You contribute to the dissemination of knowledge to a wide audience by contributing to mediation actions and the design of exhibitions. You carry out scientific work in paleontology, independently and in accordance with the institution's scientific policy. You write and distribute scientific articles nationally and internationally and you train young scientists. You assist the curator in Paleontology in the performance of his duties and replace him during his absence.
Your background:
You hold a doctorate in the field of macro-paleontology (vertebrates or invertebrates), you have postdoctoral experience of at least one year. You have an excellent ability to publish and to obtain external funding. You are experienced in collection management and specimen-based research and you conduct research programs for the study and promotion of regional and international paleobiodiversity. You have a good understanding of the importance and role of collections and research in museums. You are autonomous in your tasks, you know teamwork and you have the ability to collaborate in a network with other similar institutions, at national and international level. You are fluent in French and English, both orally and in writing. You have an excellent capacity for analysis and synthesis, sense of initiative and proven capacities for negotiation, organization and scientific outreach. As part of its gender equality policy, the City of Geneva wishes to promote diversity in all administrative departments. You reside within the Canton of Geneva or within the authorised residential area.
Conditions et procédure d'inscription:
Soucieuse de développement durable, la Ville demande que les postulations lui soient adressées de préférence sous forme électronique. Les conditions de postulation et d'engagement sont disponibles à l'adresse suivante : www.geneve.ch/emploi. Les dossiers incomplets ou ne correspondant pas aux exigences du poste ne seront pas retenus.
Tous les postes de l'administration municipale sont ouverts tant aux femmes qu'aux hommes, selon les objectifs de la politique de promotion de l'égalité entre femmes et hommes poursuivis par la Ville de Genève. Dans sa volonté de lutter contre le chômage, la Ville encourage les candidatures provenant de l'Office cantonal de l'emploi. Les postes sont ouverts à toute personne titulaire d'un permis ou d'une autorisation de travail valable.
Les candidat-e-s sont prié-e-s de faire parvenir, de préférence par le biais d'un dossier numérique (documents scannés), ou par courrier s'il n'est pas mentionné d'adresse électronique : un curriculum vitae, accompagné d'une lettre de motivation, des copies de diplômes, des certificats de travail, ainsi que d'une photographie récente format passeport, à l'adresse électronique mentionnée dans l'offre.
Un accusé de réception est adressé à l'ensemble des candidat-e-s par voie électronique, en ce qui concerne la plateforme de recrutement Jobup.ch et toute postulation par courrier électronique, ou par courrier pour les dossiers envoyés par la poste. Les dossiers électroniques des candidat-e-s écarté-e-s ne sont pas retournés. Pour les dossiers expédiés par courrier, les dossiers ne sont pas restitués, sauf demande expresse de la ou du candidat-e.
Les candidat-e-s écarté-e-s en sont informé-e-s par un courrier spécifique dans les meilleurs délais. Les candidat-e-s ne disposant pas d'un curriculum vitae peuvent utiliser le formulaire de 'demande d'emploi'. Ce formulaire et le plan de la zone de domiciliation autorisée peuvent être retirés à la Direction des ressources humaines - Cour de St-Pierre 2 - ou téléchargés sur www.geneve.ch/emploi.
Echelle de traitement
The position is classified within Category M of the salary scale.
Adresse de retour
recrutement.mhn@ville-ge.ch ou par courrier au Muséum d'histoire naturelle, à l'attention de l'administrateur, M. P.H Heizmann, Route de Malagnou 1, Case postale 6434 - 1211 Genève 6.
Fixed-Term, Visiting, Postdoctoral & Technical Positions
Assistant Collection Manger, Stanford Geoscience Specimen Collection, Doerr School of Sustainability, Stanford University, Stanford, California, USA
Posting Date: 25 April 2023
Closing Date: None given
This is a 3-year fixed term position and is posted at Assistant Collection Manager 1 and 2 level.
Stanford Libraries and the Doerr School of Sustainability Geoscience Specimen Collection are seeking a full-time Assistant Collection Manager (3-year term) to perform a variety of tasks and functions in support of the long-term preservation, enhancement, and access to a significant collection of rock, mineral, fossil, and other geological specimens housed in the Doerr School of Sustainability. The Libraries values are rooted in a commitment of mutual respect, the idea that every member of the staff has something to contribute, and that learning is constant. We are seeking a team member who is ready to share their skills and perspectives.
About the Geoscience Specimen Collections:
The Geoscience Specimen Collections include a wide variety of rock, mineral, fossil, soil, water, and other geological samples, and associated field notes, maps, publications, and other metadata. The collections date back to the founding of Stanford University and have continued to grow through the research of Stanford’s faculty, students, and staff, and are global in scope. The collections are housed within the Doerr School of Sustainability and serve as important and irreplaceable research infrastructure that support the school’s education and research mission to generate knowledge, innovate, and drive impact for a sustainable future.
About Stanford Libraries:
Stanford Libraries is a network of over 15 libraries with over 400 employees. We are committed to fueling teaching, learning and research across Stanford by acquiring, stewarding, and making available a robust collection, currently in excess of 12 million items. Everyone in the organization plays a vital role in fulfilling that objective. Our dedication to discoverability and information management also has us engaged in dynamic global partnerships. We are constantly building and strengthening our organization, and we recognize striving for excellence is a marathon and not a sprint. We are constantly trying to strike the right pace and admit there are times when we find ourselves at a fast jog. While we hope to always find candidates who fit within our organization, what we truly seek is someone who will add to our culture, our profession as well as the greater academic arena. We are invested in the success of our teams and the individuals who represent Stanford Libraries.
About the Position:
The Assistant Collection Manager reports to the Geoscience Specimen Collection Curator and Manager and will work closely with faculty and collections staff to complete a detailed inventory and relocation of the collections into a new facility. The Assistant Collection Manager will be responsible for overseeing aspects of this work including but not limited to packing, rehousing, and relocating collections, digitizing specimen data and metadata, developing workflows and protocols, assisting with supervision of student workers, and providing collections access to staff, students, and researchers.
This position is based at Stanford University’s main campus. Work will be conducted on-site Monday through Friday during standard business hours unless otherwise arranged in advance. Work may also be conducted one to two days per week at an off-site storage facility. This position is a three-year term position with the possibility of extension.
CORE DUTIES:
At the Assistant Collection Manager 1 level:
- Inventory, rehouse, organize, and relocate existing collections.
- Catalog, and perform data entry into a relational database, photograph and otherwise document specimens in the collection.
- Georeference locality information.
- Oversee the processing of incoming specimens and outgoing loans.
- Respond to inquiries and provide collections access and assistance to Stanford faculty, students, and visitors.
- Assist with the development, implementation, and maintenance of collections protocols and workflows.
- Assist with the design and implementation of exhibits.
- Assist with the training and supervision of student workers.
- Lead tours and/or give demonstrations/workshops on collections resources.
- Help maintain departmental files and other collections-related documentation.
- Other duties as assigned.
In addition to the above, at the Assistant Collection Manager 2 level:
- Approve and oversee the processing of incoming specimens and outgoing loans.
- Perform quality control and cleaning of collections metadata.
- Assist with database development and oversee database maintenance.
- Develop, implement, and maintain and/or enhance collections protocols and workflows, and remain current in community standards and best practices.
- Train and supervise staff and students.
- Assist with generating reports.
- May perform specimen preparation and identification in an area(s) of expertise.
- May manage a unit and/or special projects within the collection.
- May assist with identification of funding programs and in developing grant proposals.
* - Other duties may also be assigned.
The job duties listed are typical examples of work performed by positions in this job classification and are not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, tasks, and responsibilities. Specific duties and responsibilities may vary depending on department or program needs without changing the general nature and scope of the job or level of responsibility. Employees may also perform other duties as assigned.
MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS:
Education and Experience:
- Advanced degree in museum studies, geology, earth science or related field, or bachelor's degree in geology, earth science or related field combined with relevant experience is required.
- At the Librarian 1 level: One or more years of experience working in collections or a closely related setting is required.
- At the Librarian 2 level: Three or more years of experience working in collections, or a closely related setting is required.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
- Demonstrated working knowledge in one or more areas of the geological sciences and related field and laboratory methods.
- Demonstrated knowledge of collections management best practices.
- Basic understanding of relational databases and data cleaning methods.
- Ability to be organized with excellent attention to detail.
- Ability to work independently and collaboratively with a diverse team.
- Consistent display of strong verbal and written communication skills.
- Basic managerial or supervisory skills.
- Flexibility to be organized, productive and effective in a dynamic environment, involved with a variety of simultaneous projects and workflows.
- Ability to read cursive handwriting.
In addition to the above, at the Librarian 2 level:
- Proficiency in one or more areas of the geological sciences and related field and laboratory methods.
- Proficiency with relational databases and tools for data cleaning.
- Experience managing/supervising staff, students.
- Experience developing workflows and overseeing dynamic collections-related projects.
- Evidence of professional contribution and engagement in relevant professional or academic communities.
- Consistent display of excellent verbal and written communication skills, including strong presentation skills.
PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS*:
- Frequently sit/stand/squat, reach/work above shoulder level, climb ladders, write legibly by hand.
- Ability to handle delicate, irreplaceable materials.
- Ability to lift and/or move objects weighing 50 pounds unassisted.
* - Consistent with its obligations under the law, the University will provide reasonable accommodation to any employee with a disability who requires accommodation to perform the essential functions of his/her/their job.
WORKING CONDITIONS:
May work in confined spaces and at heights 4-10 feet; be exposed to dust, mold, radioactive minerals, and other non-biological hazards. Expected to follow all safety requirements and procedures including wearing appropriate Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) if required.
WORK STANDARDS:
- Interpersonal Skills: Demonstrates the ability to work well with Stanford colleagues and clients and with external organizations.
- Promote Culture of Safety: Demonstrates commitment to personal responsibility and value for safety; communicates safety concerns; uses and promotes safe behaviors based on training and lessons learned.
The expected pay range for this position is Assistant Collection Manager 1 [Librarian 1]: $76,000 - $92,000; Assistant Collection Manager 2 [Librarian 2]: $86,000 - $101,000 per annum. Stanford University provides pay ranges representing its good faith estimate of what the university reasonably expects to pay for a position. The pay offered to a selected candidate will be determined based on factors such as (but not limited to) the scope and responsibilities of the position, the qualifications of the selected candidate, departmental budget availability, internal equity, geographic location, and external market pay for comparable jobs.
Stanford is an equal employment opportunity and 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, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. Stanford welcomes applications from all who would bring additional dimensions to the University’s research, teaching, and clinical missions. We believe Stanford’s future success will be shaped by the diverse perspectives, unique experiences, and inclusive culture of its community.
Why Stanford is for You:
Imagine a world without search engines or social platforms. Consider lives saved through first-ever organ transplants and research to cure illnesses. Stanford University has revolutionized the way we live and enrich the world. Supporting this mission is our diverse and dedicated 17,000 staff. We seek talent driven to impact the future of our legacy. Our culture and unique perks empower you with:
Freedom to grow:
- We offer career development programs, tuition reimbursement, and course auditing. Join a TedTalk, watch a film screening, or listen to a renowned author or global leader speak.
- A caring culture. We provide superb retirement plans, generous time-off, and family care resources.
- A healthier you. Choose from hundreds of health or fitness classes at our world-class exercise facilities. We provide excellent health care benefits.
- Discovery and fun. Stroll through historic sculptures, trails, and museums.
- Enviable resources. Enjoy free commuter programs, ridesharing incentives, discounts and more.
Educational Opportunities
PhD Opportunity (Stable Organic Carbon Isotope Signatures of Microfossils), Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
Posting Date: 10 May 2023
Closing Date: 29 May 2023
We are hiring a PhD student (4 years fully-funded) to work on a project at Ghent University in Belgium (UGent), investigating stable organic carbon isotope signatures of microfossils. The position is funded by the Research Foundation, Flanders (FWO) under the collaborative research grant “Recalibrating the base of the Palaeozoic food chain: towards a quantified link between progenitor plankton, the ancient carbon cycle and one of the largest mass extinctions in the history of life on Earth”.
Contract Type: Fixed Term 1 + 3 years, full-time Position start date: negotiable, but preferably mid-late Autumn 2023 Duration: 4 years Stipend: as per UGent scales
JOB DESCRIPTION
Position Summary:
Applications are invited for a four-year PhD researcher position investigating the base of the Palaeozoic food chain using C isotopes of single planktic palynomorph specimens. The position is funded by the Research Foundation, Flanders (FWO, www.fwo.be) and forms part of a new project by an international consortium, involving researchers at Ghent University, Utrecht University (UU) and the United States Geological Survey (USGS). The PhD student will be based at UGent (Belgium), undertaking frequent research visits to Utrecht (Netherlands) and Denver, (Colorado, USA). They will be part of a tandem of two PhD students working on this FWO project (one to be hired in 2023 and one to be hired in 2024), and will join a larger team of fellow PhD students working on related topics at UGent (Palaeozoic and Mesozoic teratological microfossils and their geochemistry). Supervisors are Thijs Vandenbroucke (UGent), Appy Sluijs (UU) and Poul Emsbo (USGS).
The project:
Marine phytoplankton grow via photosynthesis by fixing carbon from CO 2 in the atmosphere. Carbon (C) in these tiny organisms serves as the base of the food chain. The balance between the C returned to the atmosphere upon death and decay of these algae (and their consumers) and that sequestered and buried in sediments controls much of the Earth’s C-cycle. Disruptions of this complex C balance may have triggered changes in the planet’s climate, glaciation, and sea level that can be linked with mass extinctions. Carbon isotope compositions have been an essential tool in evaluating the balance of C stored in atmosphere/ocean and sequestered in sediments. Yet, the inability to measure C isotopes of individual species of the tiny, marine, organic-walled plankton has obscured a full understanding of this complex cycle. For much of the Palaeozoic, organic-walled microfossils (palynomorphs) are our only record of these vital processes at the base of the food web. Previous analytical limitations necessitated analyses of “bulk samples” that are complex organic mixtures. We are developing new analytical tools, capable of routinely and accurately measuring the C isotopes of single planktic palynomorph specimens, which will provide a more complete view of the C-cycle in deep time.
The successful candidate will help develop these methods for C-isotope analyses of organic walled microfossils (palynomorphs), and will eventually apply this new tool to carefully selected biogeochemical events in the Ordovician or Silurian, to unravel the processes that led to these dramatic, but poorly understood, perturbations of the C-cycle in deep time. The student will be trained in key analytical techniques including optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and isotopic analyses. In addition to analytical research skills, the successful candidate will have opportunities to undertake training in transferable skills, to gain experience in mentorship, and to participate in fieldwork. The PhD Researcher will work closely with the PIs and other members of the wider team.
The student will join the team at a very exciting time, as part of a major expansion of our studies of new causative models for the Ordovician-Silurian biogeochemical events. The PIs and their teams represent a wide range of expertise for the student to drawn on. The successful candidate will benefit from the PI’s commitment to their career development and the joint PI’s extensive global network of collaborators. For instance, the project will run in parallel with a recently funded HFSP Research project that includes researchers at the universities of Ghent, Nottingham, California- Berkeley, and Utrecht, and offers additional expertise in geology, palaeontology, biology and chemistry.
The host lab at UGent focuses on reconstructing environmental conditions and the evolution of life from ancient Palaeozoic times to the current Anthropocene. The group currently includes 10 PhD students and 1 postdoc working on various aspects of micropalaeontology, which will constitute a rich working environment for the successful candidate.
https://www.ugent.be/we/geologie/en/research/organization/palaeontology-and-palaeo-environments
https://www.instagram.com/palaeo_ugent/
JOB PROFILE
Key Duties and Responsibilities:
The position focusses on research but will also be considered as a period of training as the researcher will have dual goals in terms of the research project and their own career development. The researcher will be mentored by the consortium of PIs. It is expected that a researcher would spend not more than 4 years at the PhD level.
The primary focus of the PhD Researcher will be to conduct the specified programme of research; however, a particular emphasis during this stage should also include:
- to engage in appropriate training and professional development opportunities as required by the PI or University in order to develop research skills and competencies;
- to engage in the dissemination of the results of the research in which they are engaged, as directed by, with the support of and under the supervision of the PIs;
- to become familiar with the publication process;
- to acquire generic and transferable skills (including project management and postgraduate mentoring/supervision);
- to engage in the wider research and scholarly activities of the research group.
Essential Criteria:
The successful candidate will provide a cover letter demonstrating evidence that they meet the following essential criteria:
- Excellent scholarly results obtained during an MSc in Geology, Earth Sciences, Biology, Palaeontology, (Geo)Chemistry, or an equivalent degree in related fields pertinent to the research project. MSc degree required at the start of the appointment, but we accept applications by students currently in their final year.
- Good analytical and laboratory skills
- Ability to work as part of a(n international) team combined with an ability to manage tasks independently
- Excellent problem solving skills
- Excellent communication skills, particularly in English
- Strongly motivated and ambitious attitude
HOW TO APPLY
Informal enquiries can be made in confidence to Prof. Thijs Vandenbroucke, Department of Geology, UGent. Email: thijs.vandenbroucke@ugent.be.
Candidates should apply, in confidence, by submitting one single, combined application document to Thijs.vandenbroucke@ugent.be before noon 12.00 (Belgian Local Time) on Monday, 29th May 2023.
This application should contain the following items, merged into a single .pdf document:
- A cover letter
- Your CV
- The contact details of two referees (actual letters of support are accepted but not required at this stage)
- A copy of your diplomas and the full transcripts of the scores/results you have obtained during your degree(s); we strongly advise that you indicate your position in the cohort of students graduated the degree in your graduation year, if possible (note that this is an indicative criterion only)
- Students currently in their final year of their MSc are invited also to include a progress statement by their current academic supervisor
In addition, it has to contain a summary of your past achievements using an MS Excel template that can be downloaded here: https://users.ugent.be/~tvdenbro/Eval_Grid_PhD.xlsx
We reserve the right to reject applications that are incomplete or do not follow these guidelines, and to accept applications beyond the deadline if no successful candidates have been selected yet. Shortlists will be drawn up swiftly and interviews will normally be scheduled in June 2023. Initial interviews will be held via videoconferencing. All applicants who have submitted an eligible application (regardless of whether they make the shortlist) will be contacted about the result of their application.
GHENT UNIVERSITY IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES EMPLOYER
(https://www.ugent.be/prospect/en)
None of which we are aware.
Sponsorship of The Palaeontological Association is gratefully acknowledged with special thanks to Alan R. T. Spencer and Russel Garwood.
