Deadline: Feb 09, 2016.
Summary:
Curator will identify significant research questions and perform independent research and analysis to answer questions relevant to plants of the Midwestern United States. Individual will frequently collaborate with other scientists, undertaking field and laboratory work, as appropriate and take an active role in teaching and advising students and other staff in departmental and division-wide scientific programs and projects. Individual is expected to be an active participant in conservation efforts directed toward threatened plant species in Missouri and surrounding states.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities:
- Initiates, conducts and publishes significant independent research and writes results for publication in peer reviewed journals.
- Conducts research on the Flora of North America, with a focus on plants of the Midwestern United States.
- Works to keep the information regarding the Flora of Missouri current in the Garden’s Database TROPICOS.
- Curates North American plant collections as appropriate and with a focus on the Midwest.
- Collaborates as a liaison with the Flora of North America, Flora of Arkansas, other specialists on the Flora of Missouri.
- Will work as a liaison ensuring a strong working relationship between Science and Conservation and the programs of the Shaw Nature Reserve.
- Collaborates as a liaison with BiodiverseCity, the Center for Plant Conservation, the Missouri Department of Conservation, the Garden’s Education Division, and other regional conservation iniatives.
- Writes and reviews grant proposals, journal articles, institutional reports, and publicity materials.
- Identifies potential funding sources and writes proposals to secure external funding for research projects and program expansion.
- Participates in scientific meetings and delivers lectures to professional organizations and to the general public as requested.
- Attracts new scientific collaborators and develops partnerships with organizations, establishing cooperative agreements for strengthening science and conservation programs, as appropriate.
- Writes and/or edits scientific books, papers and grant proposals.
- Leads and serves on scientific panels/committees as requested.
- Conducts field work.
- Prepares reports and summaries evaluating effectiveness of the programs and projects.
- Provides leadership and direction to staff including hiring, training, development and supervision of staff and volunteers.
- Ensures that all applicable safety standards are followed; informs employees/students/volunteers of safety guidelines, methods to reduce hazards. Reports all accidents, injuries and near-miss accidents immediately.
- Behaves and communicates in a manner that promotes and fosters a culture of teamwork and cooperation, within our division and throughout the Garden, with co-workers, supervisors/managers, volunteers, visitors and employees.
Qualifications/Experience:
- Seven (7+) years’ experience of in one or more of the following fields: ecology, evolution, systematics, and bioinformatics.
- Extensive experience with North American Botany with either a willingness to learn or previous experience with plants in the Midwestern region.
- Extensive prior experience writing scientific papers and reports.
- Strong familiarity with the publishing process, botanical literature and library facilities.
- Demonstrated and successful experience in grant research and writing required.
- Demonstrated knowledge of the botanical community and current research trends.
- Willingness and flexibility to conduct field work.
- Strong Information Technology Skills, including maintaining and growing the Flora of Missouri Website and ensuring that its content remains current.
- Minimum of three (3) years’ experience in personnel management including conflict resolution and other related management experience.
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills; professional, speaks clearly and persuasively in positive or negative situations; listens and gets clarification; responds well to questions; is tactful and treats others with respect.
- Able to travel up to 25% of the time (domestic and international).
- Scheduling flexibility is required to work evenings, weekends, or holidays as needed.
- The requirements and duties listed are representative and not exhaustive of the knowledge, skill, and/or abilities required.
Education:
- Ph.D. required.
- An equivalent combination of education, skills and experience may be considered.
Language Skills: Ability to communicate effectively in English (oral/written); bilingual skills highly desirable.
Mathematical Skills:
- Advanced college math aptitude – requires the ability to perform algebra/calculus equations, addition, subtraction, multiplication and division; calculate percentages and decimals, etc.
- Ability to work with statistics.
- Ability to analyze budgets.
Reasoning Ability:
- Requires ability to conduct independent research and to actively participate in team work; apply facts and principles for developing approaches and techniques to problem resolution; represent the interests and projects a positive image of the Missouri Botanical Garden.
Certificates, Licenses, Registrations:
- Must possess valid driver’s license prior to employment.
- Must be able to obtain and maintain a passport for international travel.
- Must be able to obtain visas, vaccinations and immunizations for all countries where travel is required.
- Must be able to obtain all necessary permits for botanical fieldwork and represent the Garden in a legal and ethical manner in all interactions with natural resources.
Physical Demands:
- Ability to lift up to 50 lbs.
- Ability to utilize computer keyboard (typing) and sit for extended periods of the work day.
- Operates copier, printer, fax, and computer.
- Ability to walk about facility frequently throughout work day, and sit for extended periods of the work day (may sit up to 50% of work day).
- Ability to travel independently for long periods on airplanes, trains and other conveyances both domestic and international.
- Ability to walk, stand, kneel, or climb as required and move about for extended periods of time.
- Physical fitness necessary for field studies involving multi-week hikes/rides/camping in difficult terrain.
- May be required to perform tasks at varying heights and at high altitudes.
- Ability to understand field safety requirements and wear personal protective equipment, as needed.
- Ability to work in extreme weather conditions.
- May require working long hours to meet deadlines.