The Biology Department is seeking a Mollusk Collection Lab Tech I to help digitize and make accessible a collection of approximately 9,000 Minnesota mollusk specimens and their records. The Mollusk Collection Lab Tech I executes the organization and digitization of the Biology Collection’s mollusk specimens, especially those collected in Minnesota. They will execute all steps of inventorying, rehousing, and digitizing specimens, cleaning and sharing digitized data with aggregators, and conducting archival research to reunite specimens with their data. They will also support the process of accessioning and cataloging specimens in the collection, and will engage in outreach to share the impact of the project. They will follow directions from staff from the Biology Collection and Collections Stewardship to deliver on project goals while performing day-to-day tasks independently. Funding for this project and position was provided by the Minnesota Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund as recommended by the Legislative-Citizen Commission on Minnesota Resources (LCCMR).
Job ad and application details are available here.
Job Duties & Responsibilities
Performs detailed and general inventories of mollusk specimens.
Performs archives research on mollusk specimens of uncertain data status.
Assists Biology Collection staff with accessioning and cataloging tasks.
Uninstalls, packages for long-term storage, rehouses, and installs mollusk specimens in collections under direction of Biology Collection and Collections Stewardship staff.
Captures research-grade photographs of specimens and specimen tags.
Adds specimen records and images and transcribes specimen data into the collection management system Re:discovery.
Following protocols developed by other CRC staff, it shares Re:discovery records of SMM’s mollusk specimens with data aggregators like iDigBio and Minnesota Biodiversity Atlas.
Communicates the results of the project at public events and at professional conferences.
Carry out tasks accurately and follow strict methodologies.
Performs other related duties as assigned.
Required Competencies
Communication: Expresses oneself clearly in conversations and interactions with others and ensures that information is shared with others who should be informed.
Collaboration: Develops, maintains, and strengthens partnerships with others inside or outside the organization who can provide information, assistance, and support.
Customer Service: Demonstrates an understanding of the SMM mission by ensuring that their own interactions with internal and external customers consistently support the mission.
Fostering an Inclusive Community: Contributes to a museum environment, and people, that reflect and respond to the diverse needs and cultures of our community (internal and external).
Results Orientation: Focuses on providing a best in class visitor experience through work outcomes by meeting personal and organizational work objectives.
Minimum Qualifications
Education: Bachelor’s degree in biology, library and information science, or museum studies is required. Master’s degree or some graduate coursework in these areas, especially malacology, is valued but not required.
Experience: Experience with specimen digitization and/or malacology is required. Experience working in museum collections is preferred.
Work Environment: Natural history collections settings.
Schedule: 32 hours/week to be performed generally between 9am – 5pm Monday through Friday, with some evening and weekend work required.
Starting Compensation: $20.00 – $21.65/hour (depending on qualifications; grade 4)