Hyperspectral Scanning Assistant

Missouri Botanical Garden • St. Louis, MO

3d • Onsite

About The Position

Join the Missouri Botanical Garden’s initiative to Revolutionize Species Identification. This transformative initiative will digitize the Garden’s extensive herbarium collection, while using these data to create artificial intelligence models to automatically identify plant species. This initiative will make critical data and tools available to scientists, conservationists, and policymakers around the globe, thereby helping address the biodiversity crisis. This is a multi-year position dependent on restricted funding and project duration that will take and database hyperspectral scans of specimens in the Herbarium at the Missouri Botanical Garden. The successful candidate will join a dedicated team of scientists and support staff in the Herbarium to produce high-quality specimen data to serve urgent global needs in research, conservation, land management, and policymaking. Staff hired in this position will participate in a curatorial mentorship program, attending workshops held by other Garden staff on botanical taxonomy, nomenclature, specimen curation, and collection management to develop their Herbarium skills and knowledge. This role requires excellent attention to detail, time management, interpersonal skills, a thoughtful and collaborative approach to problem solving, and a deep passion for plants.

Requirements

• One to three years of related experience in general data entry, preferably in the context of herbaria or other research collections.
• Excellent typing skills and data entry skills.
• Ability to read cursive writing.
• Must be punctual, dependable, a self-starter, and possess the ability to effectively multi-task and work under minimal supervision.
• Ability to read and comprehend instructions and information to effectively execute and achieve results.
• Ability to read and communicate effectively in English (oral/written) required.

Nice To Haves

• Basic knowledge of scientific data collection, metadata capture, and archival file storage, desired.
• Basic knowledge of botanical terminology is strongly desired.
• Knowledge of additional languages, especially Spanish, French, and Mandarin Chinese, desired.

Responsibilities

• Pulls, takes hyperspectral scans, ensures data quality, and refiles specimens in coordination with other Herbarium and research staff to ensure timely completion of grant deliverables with minimum interruption to other Herbarium activities.
• Saves hyperspectral scans to a Missouri Botanical Garden server.
• Engages in careful and efficient quality control checks to ensure the highest standards in hyperspectral data quality.
• Works with Hyperspectral Scanning Supervisor and Curator of Biodiversity Data to develop and test workflows to optimize scanning efficiency and improve data quality.
• Attends curatorial mentorship workshops, lectures, and other events to grow capacity in taxonomy and Herbarium curation.
• Files specimens, updates scientific names, reads taxonomic literature, and identifies plant collections in one or more target families (developed over time as part of the curatorial mentorship program).
• Ensures that all applicable safety standards are followed to reduce hazards.
• Reports all accidents, injuries and near-miss accidents immediately.
• Follows and adheres to established policies and procedures, including but not limited to Employee Handbook, Garden Safety Guidelines and Department Policies.
• 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.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Benefits

• Curatorial mentorship program
• Attending workshops held by other Garden staff on botanical taxonomy, nomenclature, specimen curation, and collection management

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level