Curator of Entomology

Job Reference: 008854

Job Purpose
To care for, interpret, encourage and facilitate use of the entomological collections belonging to The Hunterian. The post holder will also be required to assist with other invertebrate zoology collections as part of their duties. The post holder will be active in the development of research and other scholarly initiatives on these collections and engage in teaching and learning activity.

Main Duties and Responsibilities
1 To ensure that the collections are efficiently managed and documented for their long-term well being.

2 To undertake, facilitate and collaborate in research into The Hunterian entomological collections; to publish research findings in leading journals and through other appropriate media. (20% of time jointly devoted to research/teaching activity).

3 To assist, as required curating the other invertebrate collections and to support the Curator of Zoology in the wider operation of the Zoological collections.

4 To acquire and update subject related knowledge and provide, as appropriate, expert advice to UoG and related organisations on matters pertaining to the collections, and to participate in national and international activities related to the collections.

5 To identify potential sources of funding and secure such funds either as an individual or a team member. To manage these resources effectively and be accountable for their use in relation to the collection.

6 To contribute to University teaching as appropriate, both in established courses with the assistance of a mentor if required, and by collaborating with colleagues to develop new modules, demonstrations and other delivery formats with appropriate assessment mechanisms to meet defined learning objectives. (20% of time jointly devoted to research/teaching activity).

7 To facilitate physical and intellectual access to the collections for HE and other groups and to encourage use of the collections by the widest possible learning audiences, including dissemination though exhibition, digital media and other means.

8 To assist in the development of the collections in accordance with The Hunterian’s strategic development plans.

9 To contribute to the enhancement of the University’s international profile in line with the University’s Strategic Plan, Glasgow 2020 – A Global Vision
http://www.gla.ac.uk/media/media_180610_en.pdf
Knowledge, Qualifications, Skills and Experience
Knowledge/Qualifications
Essential
A1 Degree and post-graduate qualification in an appropriate subject area i.e. Zoology, Entomology or similar with relevant experience as noted below
A2 An appropriate level of knowledge in the discipline of entomology

Desirable
B1 Postgraduate qualification in Museum studies or working towards membership of a relevant professional body or equivalent post-university museum experience
B2 An appropriate knowledge of research methods
B3 A clean full driving licence

Skills
Essential
C1 Excellent organisational skills including time and project management skills, including meeting deadlines and targets
C2 Good level of IT competence in particular familiarity with databases
C3 Excellent research skills
C4 Ability to work independently or as part of a team
C5 Excellent oral and written communication skills, including ability to communicate information of a specialist or highly technical nature clearly
C6 Excellent interpersonal and presentation skills
C7 Ability to engage the interest and enthusiasm of students to inspire learning and to apply appropriate approaches to teaching
C8 Ability to handle collections safely, assessing risk and making decisions accordingly

Experience
Essential
E1 Minimum of 3-5 years' experience of working with entomological collections in a museum, with qualifications above, or evidence of progression and development gained through 7-10 years relevant work experience without qualifications above
E2 Experience in collecting and preserving insects as part of scientific investigation
E3 Experience of museum records management/data entry/digitisation
E4 Research experience and output, particularly collections-based research
E5 Higher Education teaching experience

Desirable
F1 Experience of raising external funding
F2 Experience of working in other types of Zoological collections
Job Features
Dimensions
Responsible for The Hunterian’s collection of ca 600,000 insects from the 18th century onwards, and associated records/archives/library. Working with the Curator of Zoology, part responsibility as required for other invertebrate collections.
The role will actively contribute to The Hunterian’s strategic development, undertaking appropriate teaching, especially at post-grad level, including project supervision as required, as well as research for acquisition, curation, display and publication.

Opportunities exist to engage with cognate research institutes (primarily the Institute of Biodiversity, Animal Health and Comparative Medicine, http://www.gla.ac.uk/researchinstitutes/bahcm/) to generate research projects and funding.

Planning and Organising
Plan and manage curatorial activities, use and development of the collection and teaching and research activities
Initiate, prepare and submit funding applications both as an individual and as part of a team.
Propose plan and manage exhibition projects.

Decision making
Decide on acquisition and usage of the entomology collections.
Identify and engage expert opinion as required.
Decide on collections research plan with reference to PDR and institutional strategies.
Take responsibility for organisation and use of resources as appropriate.

Internal/external relationships
Internal
Work closely with the Curator of Zoology.
Liaise with line manager [Senior Curator Hunterian Museum], the Hunterian management and other Hunterian colleagues as appropriate.
Collaborate with colleagues and students in appropriate University subjects, schools and colleges and work with other University Services departments as required.
External
Liaise with national and international expertise in this subject to facilitate best practice and research.
Collaborate and contribute to local, national and international bodies appropriate to the subject.
Work with funding sources as appropriate.
Work with the public.

Problem Solving
Understanding historical data to resolve issues in establishing reliable provenances and background information on specimens.
Contribute to resolving issues in the collections management, conservation, storage and documentation of the collection.
Resolving issues arising in pursuit of research objectives.
Resolving issues regarding funding applications.
Answer public and other queries e.g.on identification of specimens.
Assist subject areas and students to resolve teaching and learning related issues.

Other
It is desirable that the postholder has a full clean driving licence and would be required to sit and pass the University Garage Driving Test that permits usage of University vehicles. Entomological Collections (ca 600,000 specimens)
Zoology Collections (ca 100,000 specimens)

William Hunter’s (1718-1783) own collection of insects numbers about 7,600 specimens containing c.500 primary types. It is extremely important historically as an intact C18th collection that was used by contemporary scientists such as Johann Christian Fabricius (1745-1808), primary entomological pupil of Carl von Linnaeus (1707-1778) and the Paris naturalist Guillaume Antoine Olivier (1756-1814). Major donations from two local collectors Thomas George Bishop (1846-1922) and James Joseph Francis Xavier King (1855-1933) and other acquisitions over the years make the university’s collection a substantial resource. The physical well-being of the collections is being developed substantially using the latest storage and retrieval units for collection management.

The whole collection is strong in the Coleoptera, Diptera, Hymenoptera and Hemiptera and there is good representation in other orders. The specimens are world-wide in origin. Recent field work has added high quality material from some ecological and taxonomic research projects.

Amongst other terrestrial invertebrates spiders are well-represented and the molluscs are worldwide and with considerable historical interest through their connection with William Hunter.Standard Terms & Conditions
Terms & Conditions

Salary will be on the Management, Professional and Administrative Grade, level 7, £33,242 - £37,394 per annum, pro rata (21 hours per week).

New entrants to the University will be required to serve a probationary period of 6 months.

The successful applicant will be eligible to join the Universities’ Superannuation Scheme. Further information regarding the scheme is available from the Superannuation Officer, who is also prepared to advise on questions relating to the transfer of Superannuation benefits.

Ref: 008854, closing date 7 September 2014.