Research Lab Tech Intermediate - Herbarium

How to Apply

A cover letter is required for consideration for this position and should be attached as the first page of your resume. The cover letter should address your specific interest in the position and outline skills and experience that directly relate to this position.

Mission Statement

The mission of the University of Michigan is to serve the people of Michigan and the world through preeminence in creating, communicating, preserving and applying knowledge, art, and academic values, and in developing leaders and citizens who will challenge the present and enrich the future.

Job Summary

The University of Michigan Herbarium is looking to hire a Research Lab Tech Intermediate to assist with specimen curation, digital data management, imaging workflows, and collection documentation. Reporting to the collection managers, this role will also support staff and curators by helping coordinate, train, and supervise temporary personnel, students, and visitors involved in collection-based work.

The University of Michigan Herbarium is home to some of the finest botanical collections in the world. The 1.7 million specimens of vascular plants, algae, bryophytes, fungi, and lichens combined with the expertise of the faculty-curators, students, and staff provide a world-class facility for teaching and research in systematic biology and biodiversity studies. The organismal and genetic resource collections such as those in the Herbarium provide the best tangible record we have of life on Earth and constitute a crucial resource for use in research and education benefiting science, society, and the university.

Working collaboratively with the highly regarded Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology, our goal is to make UM a leading center for training and research in studies of the history, the change mechanisms, and the conservation of Earth's diverse life forms.

Responsibilities
* 25% - {Physical specimen work} Updating specimen labels and storage media, sorting, pulling, filing specimens, and packing and unpacking shipments.

25% - {Digital specimen database work} Entering, uploading, and editing specimen data in the Herbarium database, including georeferencing and determination updates.

25% - {Digital image processing} Digital imaging of specimens, including processing, archiving, and uploading images to database.

20% - {Coordination of new hires and visitors} Support staff and curators in the coordination of daily work, training new hires, visitors, and students, and monitoring daily operations.

5% - Creating and maintaining documentation for the above tasks.

Required Qualifications
* * Bachelors Degree

* Minimum one year of herbarium curatorial experience and knowledge of herbarium procedures

* Minimum one year experience using Specify database

* Experience using photographic equipment

* High level of organization, attention to detail, and excellent interpersonal skills.

* Ability to work independently

* Ability to assist the Research Collection Managers in training and supervising a team of volunteers or student/temporary employees.

Desired Qualifications
* * Degree specifically relevant to biology/ecology/conservation/museums/libraries

Modes of Work

Positions that are eligible for hybrid or mobile/remote work mode are at the discretion of the hiring department. Work agreements are reviewed annually at a minimum and are subject to change at any time, and for any reason, throughout the course of employment. Learn more about the work modes