Paleonet: Paleontology Collections Assistant Job Opening - San Diego Natural History Museum

[Kesler Randall]

Paleontology Collection Assistant

The San Diego Natural History Museum is operated by the San Diego Society of Natural History, a private non-profit scientific organization incorporated in 1874.  The Museum's mission is to interpret the natural world through research, education and exhibits; to promote understanding of the evolution and diversity of Southern California and the peninsula of Baja California; and to inspire in all a respect for nature and the environment.  Within the Museum, the Department of Paleontology specializes in managing over 1.5 million specimens as well as engaging in and facilitating collections-based research of fossil vertebrates, invertebrates, and plants collected primarily from Late Mesozoic- through Cenozoic-aged sites in southern California and northern Baja California, Mexico.

Position Summary:

The Paleontology Collections Assistant will improve the digital data associated with SDNHM fossil specimens and fossil collection localities as part of a grant funded, Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) Collections Stewardship project.

Primary Functions and Major Responsibilities:

The Paleontology Collections Assistant will use a geographic information system (GIS) to locate and georeference fossil collection localities and compile locality reports for uncatalogued specimens from southern California, USA and Baja California, Mexico.  Responsibilities will also include database entry of locality and specimen data for uncatalogued specimens.  Managing these digital data for fossils will extend to capturing digital images of specimens and associating the photographs to the specimen database.

Duties Include:

*             Learning and using the department's GIS, which employs ESRI's ArcGIS
*             Reviewing existing information for uncatalogued SDNHM fossils from Baja California in notes and paper maps, and creating and georeferencing new localities.
*             Preparing locality reports based on existing locality and stratigraphic data from field books and hand-written locality forms.
*             Entering new locality data into the paleontology collection database.
*             Assisting in the curation and cataloging of fossil specimens from southern California and Baja California.
*             Helping to develop protocols for capturing digital images of selected fossils.
*             Digitally photographing fossils, editing images in Adobe Photoshop, and associating images with specimen records in the paleontology collection database.
*             Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications:

*             Bachelor of Science in geology or related field
*             Academic emphasis in paleontology, sedimentary geology, or geographic information systems
*             Background using USGS 7.5 minute topographic maps
*             Strong verbal and communication skills, including scientific writing
*             Proven organizational skills and attention to detail
*             Experience using Microsoft Excel and Word, and Adobe Photoshop
*             Familiarity with digital cameras and photography
*             Ability to lift up to 50 pounds

Compensation:

This is a full time, temporary, 1 year position, beginning January of 2016 with a rate of pay of $19.00 per hour and a generous benefits package.

To apply please submit resume, cover letter outlining your experience, and three professional references to hr at sdnhm.org. Please include the following in the subject line of your email "PCA Application- YOUR LAST NAME.FIRST INITIAL" (example: PCA Application-Smith. P.) No phone calls or drop ins please.



Kesler A. Randall
Collections Manager, Fossil Vertebrates
Department of Paleontology
San Diego Natural History Museum
"Your Nature Connection"

Phone: 619.255.0310
Fax: 619.255.0187
Website: http://www.sdnhm.org
Website: http://www.paleoservices.org
Email: krandall at sdnhm.org<mailto:krandall at sdnhm.org>
Mailing Address: P.O. Box 121390, San Diego, CA 92112-1390, USA
Street Address: 1788 El Prado, San Diego, CA 92101
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