Collections Assistant, UBC Herbarium
- Program stream:
- Young Canada Works in Heritage Organizations
- Job title:
- Collections Assistant, UBC Herbarium
- Organization name:
- Beaty Biodiversity Museum
- Job location:
- vancouver, British Columbia
- Length of assignment:
- 2018-05-14 to 2018-08-03 (12 weeks)
- Hourly wage:
- $16.61
Institution: Beaty Biodiversity Museum
Location: University of British Columbia, Vancouver BC campus
Email: linda.jennings@ubc.ca
Fax: (604) 827-5350
Wage: $16.41/hour
Start date: Early May
End date: Mid August
Job description:
The UBC Herbarium at the Beaty Biodiversity Museum is looking for a Collections Assistant. The position will be responsible for assisting in the long term preservation of some of the earliest Canadian plant specimens.
To manage this task, the Collections Assistant will first need to organize the specimens, evaluate their condition, after much training and with constant supervision available, and do any necessary fixing or re-mounting and will help oversee any volunteers who can help with this process. Once specimens are pulled and fixed, and if there has been a change in taxonomy, the collections assistants will work with the Curators and reliable internet resources to clarify or enhance the collection information. They will then update the specimens and folder (both in the cabinets and the database) to ensure all specimens are filed together under the current name. They will begin the tasks of removing any over filled, non-archival folders, and making new archival folders for these historical specimens. They will use their training in the collection to evaluate any inconsistencies in specimen data, research solutions, cross-reference the database, and communicate with the appropriate person(s) to resolve any issues, ensuring the collection information is accurate and linked to the correct plant specimen. They will also need to note, help identify, and manage any insect damage found.
All vouchers for this project will be frozen (to reduce probability of pest infestation), and filed into the collection cabinetry accordingly. They will use reliable internet resources to clarify or enhance the collection information, by updating various genera and records to their most recent taxonomic names. In addition, the collections assistant will aid in compression of the collection via removal & conversion of old folders, allowing gain of much needed space.
This project will allow a student to learn all the tasks needed to take a voucher donation and make it a long term record of British Columbia’s natural heritage.
Necessary Qualifications:
• Excellent reading and writing skills
• Strong attention to detail
• Basic computer skills in Word, Excel, Photoshop, Email, Internet
• Ability to perform basic mathematical calculations
• Ability to type accurately for extended periods of time
• Ability to clearly understand and follow instructions both oral and written in English
• Ability to handle archival material with care
• Physical ability to lift boxes weighing up to 40 pounds, over your head and up to 7-9’ on a ladder.
• Excellent team, interpersonal and communication skills
The successful candidates will be pursuing a degree in a relevant discipline, such as museology, botany, ecology, conservation, evolution, or environmental studies, and have a strong interest in natural history. The candidates should possess excellent attention to detail, and must be able to treat irreplaceable biological specimens with the appropriate level of respect. Any previous experience working with biological collections and the ability to identify plants would be an asset. The candidate should possess excellent computer skills (PC and/or Mac), including familiarity with data-basing, Word, and Excel.
Characteristics of City/Region:
Working at UBC also means enjoying a superb campus in one of the planet’s truly spectacular regions. Vancouver B.C.’s cosmopolitan urban centre provides a temperate climate for outdoor activities, clean parks, a vibrant arts and cultural scene and a welcoming, diverse population. Where else can you spend a spring Sunday snowboarding in the morning, hitting the beach in the afternoon, and stepping out for an affordable but delicious dinner and great entertainment in the evening?
See: http://www.tourismvancouver.com/visitors/things_to_do/
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