Assistant Curator, Botany - McAllister Chair

About the Botany Team:

The new curator will join a friendly and enthusiastic group of botanists working to steward a collection of nearly 2.3 million specimens and investigate plant biodiversity around the world - and we all love plants! The Botany Department is part of the Institute for Biodiversity Science and Sustainability (IBSS), home to 12 additional departments/cores, their associated collections, scientific and professional staff and students. Jointly, we comprise the research division at the California Academy of Sciences. Together we work to discover, explore, and celebrate biodiversity and its evolution on our changing planet. This collective knowledge provides the foundation for preserving and regenerating life on Earth.

Key Responsibilities

• Plans and executes original research resulting in peer-reviewed scientific publications and presentations.

• Plans, directs, and participates in scientific exploration including expeditions, experimental work and collaborative research as appropriate, to advance knowledge, facilitate specimen collection, conserve biodiversity and address other global issues such as climate change.

• Advances the strategic growth, improvement, and mobilization of the herbarium and its collection, working closely with the Collection Manager and other Botany Curators.

• Seeks extramural funding and grants to support research activities.

• Participates in collaborative efforts to maintain, improve, and increase access to Academy scientific collections, including digitization and imaging initiatives.

• Actively trains and mentors the next generation of scientists using innovative and inspirational science communication and experiences, including supervision of postdoctoral fellows, graduate students and undergraduates. 

• Dedicated to training scientists, building capacity in under-resourced communities and countries, and to increasing participation of groups historically underrepresented in botany.

• Participates in a spectrum of activities that engage diverse audiences in the excitement, process and importance of scientific discovery – e.g., participation in the development of exhibitions; presentations to non-science audiences; community science programs; mentoring of youth; participation in Academy education and outreach programs; maintenance of a creative portfolio of social media activities designed to convey scientific discoveries.

• Works closely with Academy marketing staff to leverage scientific discoveries into popular media and to elevate the visibility and impact of the Academy's research activities.

• Collaborates with the Academy’s Development team and the Dean of Science and Research Collections in fundraising, cultivation, and stewardship of donors.

Qualifications:

A successful candidate will have the following:

• Ph.D. in Botany, Biology, Evolutionary Biology or other relevant discipline required; postdoctoral experience highly preferred

• Experience working in herbaria and with natural history collections

• Experience managing research programs, projects, and budgets

• Enthusiastic approach to research, education, and outreach, conservation and sustainability

• Proven track record of publishing original research and obtaining external funding

• Demonstrated ability to articulate the relevance and importance of one’s scientific work to various audiences.

• Ability to work in a collaborative environment

Physical Environment:
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential job duty satisfactorily. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform essential job functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to stand, sit, walk, reach with hands and arms, talk and hear. Must be able to lift 40 lbs.  Must be able to perform repetitive motions 40% of the time. 

Compensation and Benefits:
The salary range for this position starts at $125,000. Actual compensation will be commensurate with experience, skills/knowledge set, and internal equity. We believe in fair and equitable compensation practices and are committed to providing competitive salaries within the industry and market standards. The Academy offers a total compensation package that emphasizes both base salary and comprehensive benefits based on the hours per week worked. Further details regarding compensation and benefits will be discussed during the interview process.

Schedule: Full Time, 40 hours per week

APPLICATION DEADLINE: 

This position will close on December 1, 2024 at 9:00 pm. Review of applications will begin on December 2, 2024.  

APPLICATION PROCESS:
Under "Additional Documents", please upload your:

1. Current CV and cover letter
2. Statement of research interests (max 2 pages) making sure to address current accomplishments, short term (2 year) and medium term (5 year) research goals. In addition, please connect your collections-based research to the mission of IBSS: “We discover, explore, and celebrate biodiversity and its evolution, providing the foundation for preserving and regenerating life on our changing planet”.
3. Statement addressing herbaria of the future and their role in biodiversity science (max 2 pages). Make sure to discuss your views on the maintenance, strategic growth, and relevance of collections into the future. 
4. Example of scientific publications most relevant to this position (up to 3 published papers).
5. Example of scientific communications to broad, non-technical audiences (up to 3 examples - e.g. blog posts and/or social media posts, short videos, interviews, publications in popular media, etc. Please submit as short narratives with any links available.)

and complete our brief online application.

If you have any questions, please reach out to Sarah Jacobs - Assistant Curator, Howell Chair of Botany - at sjacobs@calacademy.org

The California Academy of Sciences will give full consideration for employment to all qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with the requirements of the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance(SF Police Code, Article 49).

We are committed to ensuring that all employees and applicants shall receive equal consideration and treatment. All terms and conditions of employment, including but not limited to, recruitment, hiring, placements, transfers, promotions, compensation, benefits, terminations, training, and social and recreational programs, will be on the basis of qualifications of the individual for the positions being filled. The Academy does not discriminate against qualified applicants or employees with respect to any terms or conditions of employment on account of any characteristic protected by state or federal law or local ordinance. Read our full Equal Opportunity Statement here.