Data Manager, TORCH TCN - Oklahoma State Univ.

The Department of Plant Biology, Ecology, and Evolution at Oklahoma State University in Stillwater (http://plantbio.okstate.edu) seeks a full-time Database Analyst to begin February 2020 with annual renewals contingent on satisfactory performance through August 2023. The Data Analyst will serve as Data Manager for the NSF-funded herbarium digitization project “American Crossroads: Digitizing the Vascular Flora of the South-Central United States” (https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=1902085). This manager will maintain the project’s centralized database, oversee data synchronization with project portals and repositories, serve as the system administrator for the centralized web portal, provide overall quality control of images and crowdsourced data, ensure that workflows and data management protocols meet project standards for data preservation and data quality, work with contracted technical developers, and conduct training workshops on data management. The manager will work closely with the project’s Technical Innovator and Project Manager (at the lead institution, Botanical Research Institute of Texas) on data-related tasks and will report to Dr. Mark Fishbein at Oklahoma State University. The project is an inter-institutional collaboration (TORCH: Texas Oklahoma Regional Consortium of Herbaria) among Oklahoma State University, Botanical Research Institute of Texas, University of Texas at Austin, University of Oklahoma, and Texas A&M University.

Specific responsibilities include: 1) manage user accounts; 2) assist the Project Manager in creating workflow documentation; 3) monitor and ensure data and image quality; 4) provide workflow training (online and in person) to project participants; 5) provide technical support to project participants; 6) assist with importing existing specimen data and images into the TORCH web portal; 7) integrate data and images with external aggregators (e.g., iDigBio, GBIF, JSTOR); 8) assist the Project Manager in generating reports; 9) travel to participating herbaria for training sessions and to periodic meetings of senior project personnel.

Required competencies: written and oral communication, problem solving, organization, working on teams with different skill levels and learning curves, working with team members from diverse backgrounds and social groups.

Desired skills: data management; SQL; data cleaning (OpenRefine, etc); scripting (e.g., Python, PHP); Linux; Darwin Core and related data standards; cross-walking data between different standards; image processing software (e.g., Adobe Lightroom); familiar with tools for syncing files (e.g., rsync, Dropbox); georeferencing.

Minimum Qualifications: B.S. in Computer Science, Museum Science, or related field, plus one year of experience in data management for natural history collections.

Desired qualifications: M.S. in Computer Science, Museum Science, or related field

All applications should be submitted online at jobs.okstate.edu referencing position number AS8796.  Include 1) cover letter, 2) résumé or curriculum vitae, 3) names and contact information for three references, 4) transcripts. Candidates from groups underrepresented in science and academia are especially encouraged to apply.  Review of applications will begin January 3, 2020 and continue until position is filled, contingent upon availability of funding. Contact information: Mark Fishbein, mark.fishbein@okstate.edu, 405-744-4757.

Oklahoma State University, as an equal opportunity employer, complies with all applicable federal and state laws regarding non-discrimination and affirmative action.  Oklahoma State University is committed to a policy of equal opportunity for all individuals and does not discriminate based on race, religion, age, sex, color, national origin, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, disability, or veteran status with regard to employment, educational programs and activities, and/or admissions.  For more information, visit https:///eeo.okstate.edu.

-Mark Fishbein, Director of OKLA Herbarium

Environmental Fellows Program

Deadline to apply is February 1, 2020

The Environmental Fellows Program is a nationally competitive summer fellowship program for masters and doctoral students that seeks to place students traditionally underrepresented in the environmental field and those committed to the principles of diversity, equity, and inclusion in summer fellowships with environmental foundations and their grantees.

The Environmental Fellows Program involves:

• A 12-week fellowship at either an environmental grantmaking foundation, or at one of their grantees. Past placement sites include: Center on Race, Poverty & the Environment; Appalachian Voices; Natural Resources Defense Council, New England Grassroots Environment Fund, the Erb Family Foundation and many more!

• A stipend of $11,000 plus a travel allowance for participating fellows.

• Participation in the Environmental Grantmakers Association Fall Retreat.

• Fellows work on a variety of environmental issues including but not limited to: environmental health, energy justice, marine conservation, transit solutions, food justice, and more!

• Fellowship placement sites are available across the country in both major cities and rural locations. Some of our past placements have been located in: The Greater Boston area, Chicago, New York City, San Francisco and Richmond Va.

• Fellows receive training in: diversity, equity, and inclusion; institutional culture; and professional development.

Please also share this opportunity (and the attached flyer) with any graduate students who have an interest in exploring the world of environmental grantmaking/philanthropy and/or are passionate about diversity, equity, and inclusion in the environmental field. We will host a second informational webinar on Tuesday December 10, 2019 from 12-1pm EST if you would like to learn more. Please RSVP here. You can also visit https://efp.seas.umich.edu/ to learn more/apply or feel free to contact M'Lis Bartlett or Victoria Loong at seas-efpoffice@umich.edu or 734-936-0900. Thank you for your interest, we look forward to hearing from you! Dr. Dorceta Taylor, Program Director Dr. M'Lis Bartlett, Program Manager Victoria Loong, Program Coordinator

Morris Arboretum Flora of Pennsylvania Internship

Deadline: 14 Feb 2020

The Flora of Pennsylvania Internship is a joint program with the Morris Arboretum and The Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University. The Flora of Pennsylvania Intern receives training and work experience in many aspects of managing collections in a major herbarium, and an opportunity to contribute to a modern state flora through a research project on some aspect of the flora of Pennsylvania. This internship requires a dedication to building a professional career in botany.

The rate for this position is $13.10 per hour.
Applications are strongly encouraged from individuals in minority groups.
The position has a specified start date of June 15, 2020 and an end date of June 4, 2021.
The application deadline is February 14, 2020.
Before applying, please read the additional information and application instructions at: www.business-services.upenn.edu/arboretum/ed_internships.shtml

Responsibilities:
-Participate in the ongoing botanical research activities in the Morris Arboretum Botany department.
-Help manage (file, repair, image, annotate, etc.) botanical specimens in the nationally important herbarium collection at the Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University.
-Participate in weekly educational session for interns and complete an independent study project under the direction of the supervisor.
-Other duties and responsibilities as assigned.

Qualifications:
A Bachelor's Degree is required and 0 to 1 year of experience or equivalent combination of education and experience, is required. Undergraduate degree in botany or biology with course work in botany preferred. Ability and willingness to work independently with minimal supervision. Demonstrated self-motivation and reliability is required. Keen powers of observation and an active curiosity is required. A full background check will be undertaken with the successful candidate.

Important Note: In addition to the online application, applicants will be required to provide the following supporting documents:
Cover letter/Letter of intent
Three letters of recommendation
College transcripts

The supporting documents may be uploaded with the online application (uploads are limited to 3 documents) or they may be sent or emailed directly to:

Jan McFarlan, Education Coordinator
Morris Arboretum
100 East Northwestern Avenue
Philadelphia, PA 19118
Email: jlm@upenn.edu

Further information regarding the Internships and the application process is available at: www.business-services.upenn.edu/arboretum/ed_internships.shtml

Botany Collection Manager - Milwaukee Public Museum

The Milwaukee Public Museum is seeking a Collection Manager at the Assistant level (the first of 3 possible ranks) who will be responsible for direct care and management of the approximately 200,000 specimens (~10% cryptogams) in the Herbarium (75% of the time). The remainder of the time will be concentrated on assisting with and maintaining the integrity of the Museum’s Library and Informatics resources. The candidate must have experience in non-vascular plants or fungi (Mycology or Lichenology preferred) with strong management skills, and preferably with demonstrated taxonomic expertise.

The Museum particularly encourages applicants with a proven dedication to collections management. Axiell EMu is the Museum's shared collection database platform and candidates should have experience either with this software or a similar relational database system.

While there will be the opportunity to conduct or participate in research, this will be constrained by the management priorities of the collection. MPM Collection Managers perform within five areas of responsibility: 1) care of collections; 2) data and records management; 3) processing and preparation; 4) interpretation and access; and 5) professional service.  In addition, collection managers often supervise volunteers, interns, students and others in the completion of collections-related tasks.

1. Care of Collections: Collection managers have a primary responsibility for the direct care and organization of collections, and their management based on both the best practices of individual disciplines and fundamental principles of conservation, security, appropriate housing and environmental control. With the guidance of curators and conservation staff, collection managers should seek to improve the organization, condition and accessibility of collections under their care, and work with curatorial and conservation staff in seeking resources for collections preservation, care and improvement.

2. Data and Records Management: Collection managers are responsible for the inventory and continuing documentation of collections, and along with curatorial staff for establishing and maintaining intellectual control over the collections in their care. Because the significance of collections lies not merely in the objects themselves but the information associated with them, data and records management—comprising both paper and electronic records—are core areas of responsibility. With the guidance of curatorial staff, collection managers are encouraged to be active in developing and implementing standards to promote intellectual control and improve existing levels of collections documentation.

3. Processing and Preparation: Collection managers conduct or coordinate the appropriate processing of new collections or existing collections as required, including physical preparation, labeling, cataloging and accessioning following established curatorial and registration procedures, and for the immediate supervision of support staff assisting in these activities. Collection managers are also responsible for developing and implementing, in consultation with supervising curators and conservation staff, appropriate guidelines for the handling and processing of collections based on accepted practices within a discipline.

4. Interpretation and Access: Collection managers will provide content and advice on MPM exhibit projects, assist in the development of exhibits and interpretive programs based on their area(s) of research, and in consultation with curatorial staff provide appropriate access to MPM collections for interpretive purposes. Collection managers also coordinate access to MPM collections by external scholars and disseminate information and respond to inquiries regarding the collections and collections-related topics to staff, researchers and the general public.

5. Professional Service: Collection managers are encouraged to provide scholarly guidance to students, participate in graduate student committees, serve in elected or appointed offices of regional, national and international museum organizations, and serve as reviewers of manuscripts, grant proposals, etc., within their field(s) of expertise.

Qualifications

• Must hold a graduate degree (M.S. or equivalent) in Ecology/Evolutionary Biology, Mycology, Lichenology, Botany, Plant Pathology, or related. (Candidates with a Ph.D. will also be considered but this opening is a non-research position).

• Must have demonstrable experience with spreadsheets, databases, and information technology.

More information can be found here: https://www.paycomonline.net/v4/ats/web.php/jobs/ViewJobDetails?job=16730&clientkey=56DDAA3DEF95A9281CC830B46617B638