Curator / Senior Curator, Algae

Job Description

About Us
We are a world-class visitor attraction and leading science research centre. We use the Museum's unique collections and our unrivalled expertise to tackle the biggest challenges facing the world today. We care for more than 80 million objects spanning billions of years and welcome more than five million visitors annually and 16 million visits to our website.

Today the Museum is more relevant and influential than ever. By attracting people from a range of backgrounds to work for us, we can continue to look at the world with fresh eyes and find new ways of doing things.

We employ 900 staff in a variety of roles, all united by our vision of a future where people and planet thrive. We need everyone to have the passion and drive to help us with our mission to create advocates for our planet and inspire millions to care about the natural world.

Diversity and inclusion matter to us.

Our vision is of a future where both people and the planet thrive. Diversity is one of our core values and we strive to build a workplace where everyone feels a sense of belonging. All new staff who join us learn about the importance of diversity and inclusion to the Museum and how to contribute to creating an inclusive environment.

We know we have more to do, but we are committed to ensuring that everyone who works at the Museum feels they can thrive and feel valued and respected.

About the role

Embedded within the Algae, Fungi and Plants Collections Division, the Curator / Senior Curator of Algae will ensure best practice in collections care and development and provide a world-class collection of natural history specimens with specimens acquired, curated and used and made available to facilitate research, teaching, training, reference and exhibitions. The Curator / Senior Curator of Algae will join the team responsible for the curation of algae, diatoms, bryophytes, lichens and slime moulds, within which their specific focus will be on the algal collections. The post will be appointed at Curator or Senior Curator level, commensurate to the level of the chosen applicant.

For appointment as a Curator, the applicant will have expertise in the identification/taxonomy of seaweeds (a working knowledge of other algal groups such as charophytes and cyanobacteria would be desirable) and will be an emerging expert in collections-based science, demonstrating ability in scholarship (e.g., taxonomy, systematics, organismal biology).

For appointment as a Senior Curator, the applicant will be a recognised expert in the identification/taxonomy of seaweeds (a working knowledge of other algal groups such as charophytes and cyanobacteria would be desirable) with a track record of scientific scholarship (e.g., systematics, evolution, organismal biology), knowledge and experience of herbarium collections management and collections-based research including molecular data.

The Algae Herbarium

Assembled over more than 200 years and comprising an estimated 400k specimens, the algal herbarium at the Natural History Museum is an unparalleled collection of diverse organisms including seaweeds and freshwater algae such as charophytes and cyanobacteria (the diatoms are curated separately). It represents a unique resource with which to understand algal diversity, how it has changed through time and how it is now responding to rapid planetary change.

We are working with the Museum’s Digital Collections Programme to make the herbarium digitally discoverable, through digitisation. More than any other area of the botanical collections, the algal collections are notable for the increased demand for molecular data to fully decipher the often cryptic diversity of algal species and to link taxonomy concepts to algal nomenclature via one of the largest collections of algal type specimens in the world.

We are now looking to recruit a new member of the curation team to help shape the future of the Algal Herbarium. The person appointed will develop and implement a collections development plan, ensuring that we collect and acquire specimens strategically for the future and that we use our collections to best support the Museum’s mission.

The role will work closely with NHM colleagues. In addition to curatorial responsibilities, the postholder will have time to undertake their own collections-focused research. Duties will be split with approximately 70% time for collections management and development, 20% time for research and 10% time for outreach/corporate activities with the proportions varying according to the requirements of individual projects.

This is an exciting opportunity to help shape the future role of the Algal Herbarium in understanding, communicating, and conserving algal diversity on Earth.

To discuss the role in more detail, please contact Mark Carine, Principal Curator in Charge of the Algae, Fungi and Plants Division ( [email protected] ).

Main Responsibilities

Curator

Senior Curator

Collections management, development, conservation and care

Contributes to the management of the Algal collection, aligned with the NHM Strategy to 2031, science research themes and other museum projects and as agreed with the Sectional Curator in Charge (SCiC).

Manages the Algal collection, aligned with the NHM Strategy to 2031, science research themes and other museum projects and as agreed with the Sectional Curator in Charge (SCiC).

Ensures best practice in collections care and works with the SCiC to ensure due diligence and compliance with legislation and all NHM policies and procedures.

Ensures best practice in collections care and works with the SCiC to ensure due diligence and compliance with legislation and all NHM policies and procedures.

Assesses and reviews the collection at regular intervals (e.g., bi-annual audits and 'Join the Dots’).

Assesses and reviews the collection at regular intervals (e.g., bi-annual audits and 'Join the Dots’).

Provides SCiC with information needed to maintain, develop and make accessible the collection area under the curator's control.

Provides SCiC with information needed to maintain, develop and make accessible the collection area under the curator's control.

Identifies collection development opportunities and participates in fieldwork that will strategically enhance the Algal Herbarium.

Identifies collection development opportunities and participates in fieldwork that will strategically enhance the Algal Herbarium.

Ensures high standards of data management and stewardship.

Ensures high standards of data management and stewardship.

Represents the Algal Herbarium to higher NHM management, external and internal users.

Represents the Algal Herbarium to higher NHM management, external and internal users.

Provides guidance and support for volunteers and curatorial support team as required.

Provides guidance and support for volunteers and curatorial support team as required.

Contributes to major programmes developing and/or delivering public engagement as required.

Contributes to major programmes developing and/or delivering public engagement as required.

Follows Health and Safety procedures and conducts risk assessments when required.

Follows Health and Safety procedures and conducts risk assessments when required.

Collections scholarship and leadership

Known by and knows the relevant collections-based stakeholder community at large

Develops expert knowledge of collections-based research with a focus on taxa relevant to the study of the algae

Leads collections-based research with a focus on taxa relevant to the study of the algae

Contributes to scholarly outputs with collaborators, both internal and external, in appropriate outlets (journals, monographs, technical reports, scientific articles, etc).

Leads on scholarly outputs from own area of expertise and contributes to scholarly outputs with collaborators, both internal and external, in appropriate outlets (journals, monographs, technical reports, scientific articles, etc).

Works with internal and external researchers engaged with collections-based research, and actively facilitates and encourages such research where possible.

Works with internal and external researchers engaged with collections-based research, and actively facilitates and encourages such research where possible.

Remains up to date with appropriate techniques (collections management, analytical, conservation) and procedures where appropriate.

Remains up to date with appropriate techniques (collections management, analytical, conservation) and procedures where appropriate

Reviews/edits for journals and/or for national/international funding bodies within specialist area.

Income generation

Supports funding opportunities and applications for projects within their specialist area.

Seeks and applies for externally-funded grants where appropriate and in agreement with the SCiC.

Supports consultancy and research where appropriate and in agreement with the SCiC.

Supports consultancy and research where appropriate and in agreement with the SCiC.

Assists internal stakeholders (within and beyond Science Group) in delivering internally and externally funded projects.

Assists internal stakeholders (within and beyond Science Group) in delivering internally and externally funded projects.

About you

Curator

Senior Curator

A higher qualification (MSc or similar postgraduate qualification), or equivalent experience, with an emphasis on taxonomy or systematics and the use of natural history collections in science.

Relevant higher qualification (MSc or relevant postgraduate experience is essential, a PhD is desirable), or equivalent experience, with an emphasis taxonomy or systematics and the use of natural history collections in science.

Depth of knowledge of at least one of the major algal groups, such as seaweeds, and their systematics/taxonomy with the ability to apply and discriminate taxonomic/diagnostic characters for identification and organisation

Depth of knowledge of at least one of the major algal groups, such as seaweeds, and their systematics/taxonomy with the ability to apply and discriminate taxonomic/diagnostic characters for identification and organisation

Knowledge and experience of botanical collections management, care and development.

In depth knowledge and experience of collections management, care and development for botanical collections

Experience of successful delivery of collections/curatorial projects

Experience, or awareness of, developing techniques for generating DNA sequence data from herbarium specimens.

Computer literate, and experience with databases.

Demonstrable working knowledge and ideally a practical experience of associated information management systems for collections.

Proven ability or willingness to supervise students/visiting scientists and/or delivering teaching/training.

Track record in supervising students/visiting scientists and/or delivering teaching/training.

Experience of botanical collections-based research at an international level.

Experience of publishing your work.

Track record in publishing scientific articles as lead author.

Knowledge or awareness of major current questions in organismal biology especially relating to algal diversity.

Knowledge or awareness of major current questions in organismal biology especially relating to algal diversity.

Good communication skills: presenting, writing, and a willingness to engage in public outreach.

Excellent communication skills: presenting, writing and engagement in public outreach

Demonstrable ability to develop and maintain effective relationships with a variety of stakeholders (internal and external researchers and organisations, public engagement, visitors, students, volunteers)

Demonstrable ability to develop and maintain effective relationships with a variety of stakeholders (internal and external researchers and organisations, public engagement, visitors, students, volunteers)

We are proud to work at the Museum and have identified the qualities we all need to embody to reach our shared ambition. This sits alongside the Museum’s values and forms the framework for the way we work.

Find out more here

What we offer

• 27.5 days holiday plus 8 bank holidays (full time equivalent)
• Generous defined contribution Natural History Museum Pension Scheme (employer contribution 4 - 10%)
• Season ticket, bicycle and rental loan
• Life insurance
• Free admission to our exhibitions and many other paid exhibitions at museums, galleries and institutions across London and the UK.
• Staff discount at our Museum shops and cafes
• We offer a wide variety of training initiatives and opportunities to build skills. Investing in staff development is important to us, and we are ambitious about helping staff to grow and fulfil their potential.
• Affordable membership to the Civil Service Sports Council which offers a range of benefits including an extensive list of special offers and reduced entry fees at a selection of cinema chains, theme parks, theatres, retailers and supermarkets. It also provides entry to up to 300 English Heritage sites and other national treasures. For more details, visit https://www.cssc.co.uk
• Membership to our Sports and Social Association (for a small fee), which includes access to our in-house gym and clubs such as football, softball, table tennis and tennis and classes in Middle Eastern dance, yoga and Tai Chi