Assistant Curator of Vertebrate Biology

Virginia Information Technologies Agency•Martinsville, VA

5d•Onsite

About The Position

An exceptional job opportunity with the Virginia Museum of Natural History (VMNH) is now available. VMNH is a state agency in Virginia’s Education Secretariat located in Martinsville, Virginia, approximately 50 miles east of the Blue Ridge Mountains. The mission of the Virginia Museum of Natural History is to interpret Virginia’s natural heritage within a global context in ways that are relevant to all the citizens of the Commonwealth. VMNH seeks an Assistant Curator in the area of Vertebrate Biology, with a specialty in mammalogy or ornithology. The successful candidate will be appointed as an Assistant Curator in the Research and Collections Division and affiliated with a lab within the museum’s Vertebrate Zoology Collections. After a five-year period, the Assistant Curator will have the opportunity to be promoted to Associate Curator, and five years after that, Full Curator. If you meet the qualifications for Assistant Curator – Vertebrate Biology, we invite you to apply to join our staff. The earliest starting date for this position is Monday, March 1, 2027. A Ph.D. in biology, zoology, anatomy, or a related field is required at the time of appointment, and experience beyond the Ph.D. is preferred. We seek a candidate with demonstrated high-impact research utilizing specimens-based approaches to address questions in biodiversity, systematics, phylogenetics, and/or evolution. Candidates should exhibit scientific productivity and grantsmanship, and clear potential for future success in these areas. The candidate’s research program should integrate with the Museum’s focus on comparative biology and biodiversity science with relevance to patterns and processes including but not limited to Virginia ecosystems and species. Although area of specialization is open, systematics and taxonomy are viewed as essential to the Museum's scientific mission and should be an important part of the research portfolio. A broad-based approach that includes systematics along with molecular, and/or ecological methods is favored. An active interest in extant museum specimens and in developing interdisciplinary research collaborations is preferred. The Curator’s research and activities are expected to complement and utilize or strategically expand the Museum’s collections and increase their visibility and use in novel ways. This position requires expertise in the global higher-level systematics of an extant mammalian or bird group, but overall familiarity with mammals and birds is expected. General competence in field collection, preparation, care, and management of scientific specimens is required, along with the ability to interface with outside scientists requesting access to the collections. Other requirements include publications in peer-reviewed scientific journals, curation of existing collections, evaluation/acquisition of additional specimens, providing technical expertise for museum programming and exhibits, and serving as liaison between the museum and the broader scientific community via collaborations, reviews, and presentations. The successful candidate is expected to obtain external funding to support their research efforts. Necessary skills and abilities include good communication (both oral and written), organization, teaching, creativity, and fiscal responsibility. Duties for this position also include interaction with other VMNH departments such as Education, Exhibits, and Advancement. The ability to regularly and effectively communicate scientific knowledge to a wide spectrum of audiences, including the general public, is essential. VMNH has an active scientific community and multiple opportunities for public-facing engagement with a large and diverse audience. We are committed to advancing and sustaining a diverse, equitable, and inclusive workplace and visitor experience and expect the opportunity to join with this mission to be apparent in the applicants’ statements.

Requirements

A doctoral degree in natural sciences at the time of hiring
Experience with specimen-based research that is relevant to the use or understanding of biodiversity and natural history
Publications demonstrating expertise in working with mammals and/or birds and utilizing biodiversity-oriented data
Experience or interest using science communication to engage with community members
Expertise in the global higher-level systematics of an extant mammalian or bird group
Overall familiarity with mammals and birds
General competence in field collection, preparation, care, and management of scientific specimens
Ability to interface with outside scientists requesting access to the collections
Publications in peer-reviewed scientific journals
Good communication (both oral and written)
Organization
Teaching
Creativity
Fiscal responsibility

Nice To Haves

Specialty in mammalogy or ornithology
Experience beyond the Ph.D.
Demonstrated high-impact research utilizing specimens-based approaches to address questions in biodiversity, systematics, phylogenetics, and/or evolution
Scientific productivity and grantsmanship, and clear potential for future success in these areas
Research program should integrate with the Museum’s focus on comparative biology and biodiversity science with relevance to patterns and processes including but not limited to Virginia ecosystems and species
Systematics and taxonomy as an important part of the research portfolio
Broad-based approach that includes systematics along with molecular, and/or ecological methods
Active interest in extant museum specimens
Developing interdisciplinary research collaborations
Research and activities are expected to complement and utilize or strategically expand the Museum’s collections and increase their visibility and use in novel ways
Postdoctoral experiences in the natural sciences at the time of application submission
The ability to support an externally funded research program that, at least in part, includes the southeastern United States
Demonstrated ability to build a regional network with local partners and institutions
Experience with one or more of the following: eDNA, metabarcoding, genomics, remote sensing, GIS, CT scanning

Responsibilities

Curation of existing collections
Evaluation/acquisition of additional specimens
Providing technical expertise for museum programming and exhibits
Serving as liaison between the museum and the broader scientific community via collaborations, reviews, and presentations
Interaction with other VMNH departments such as Education, Exhibits, and Advancement
Regularly and effectively communicate scientific knowledge to a wide spectrum of audiences, including the general public