Undergraduate Collections Assistant (Summer Work Study)

Chatham University • Pittsburgh, PA

1d • Onsite

About The Position

The Natural History Undergraduate Collection Assistant will support collection managers in projects and tasks essential to the organization and study of museum collections, research, and specimens. This role involves extensive archival work, including the reorganization and digitization of section archives spanning 125 years. These archives comprise reports, field notes, archaeological site records, personnel files, correspondence, financial records, staff projects, and exhibits documentation. The work requires physical reorganization of the archives space, digitization of paper and photo documents, and assisting in the creation of an archival access database using Microsoft Office applications. Additionally, collections assistants will perform duties in scientific sections such as organizing specimens, cataloging, and lab work. Student workers will be assigned projects that align with their academic interests in fields like vertebrate paleontology, geology, mollusks, ornithology, environmental science, ecology, biology, herpetology, education, and other museum sections.

Requirements

• Students must qualify or be pre-approved for the Federal Work Study program
• Must be able to work a general schedule of at least 5-10 hours a week
• Must be currently enrolled in an undergraduate program in a related field
• During museum registration and onboarding, the final candidate must obtain Pennsylvania Act 153 clearances, including Pennsylvania Child Abuse History Clearance, Pennsylvania State Police criminal history report, and FBI fingerprinting clearance
• Some positions may require ability to go up and down a ladder and to lift boxes and other materials up to 50lbs.
• All positions may require extended periods of sitting or working at a computer
• Candidates should be self-starters, intensely detail-oriented, and adept at organizational skills.
• Must be able to take direction successfully and work independently without constant supervision
• At least some undergraduate education in a related field such as anthropology, history, museum studies, archival studies, library and information systems, biology, ecology, environmental sciences.

Nice To Haves

• Previous experience with collection work, laboratory practices, or organizing and scanning documents and photos is helpful.
• Developing finding aids for archives and Microsoft Access experience are a plus.

Responsibilities

• Reorganizing archives or museum papers
• Scanning and populating databases
• Project planning
• Interaction with staff and visiting researchers
• Collections management tasks (organizing, numbering specimens, sorting materials)

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Part-time
• Career Level: Intern
• Number of Employees: 101-250 employees