Herbarium Research Associate

About UsAt The Huntington, we believe that having a team of diverse backgrounds and voices working together will enable us to support and promote the appreciation of the humanities, the arts, and botanical science. The Huntington is proud to be an equal opportunity employer and is committed to providing employment opportunities regardless of race, religious creed, color, national origin, disability, sex, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation or any other characteristic protected by local, state or federal law.The HuntingtonFounded in 1919, The Huntington is a collections-based research and educational institution open to the public, housing world-class library, art, and botanical collections. Its mission is to support research and promote education in the arts, humanities, and botanical science and to display and interpret its extraordinary resources for diverse audiences.The CultureHere we are committed to the highest of standards in all that we do – from preserving and protecting the collections, to exhibitions, educational and scholarly programming, visitor and reader services, and beyond. Achieving excellence across these pursuits requires a diversity of perspectives, expertise, experience, and methodologies.At The Huntington, our organizational Culture is shaped by the following core values: Intellectual curiosity, Collaboration, Stewardship, Belonging, and Integrity.Intellectual Curiosity: Knowledge, lifelong learning, and a spirit of inquiry are at the core of our mission and organizational culture.Collaboration: Teamwork and a collaborative attitude are important at all levels of The Huntington. We foster relationships internally among our departments and externally with organizations throughout the community.Stewardship: We are committed to the care and development of our collections, our financial and physical resources, our staff, and our community.Belonging: We strive to attract and maintain a workforce of individuals with diverse talents, backgrounds, and perspectives. Our organizational culture promotes a sense of welcome, inclusion, and connection.Integrity: We value respect and honesty, working to fulfill our mission with honor and ethical principles.Job DescriptionAbout the RoleReporting to the Associate Director of Botanical Collections, Conservation and Research, the Herbarium Research Associate will focus on activating an ethnobotanical collection focused on Chinese Medicinal Plants, through making vouchers, compiling information, digitizing specimens and label data, and assisting with making the entire herbarium collection more accessible to wider audiences. This position collaborates with other staff and volunteers within the Botanical Division.This is a limited-term, part-time position, budgeted for six months.Essential DutiesPrepare specimen vouchers from living plant materialCurate existing specimens and improve the quality of data captured in database for select taxonomic and geographic plant groupsCreate synoptic collection of Chinese Medicinal Plants within larger herbarium with traditional plant uses documented in databaseWork with botanical staff to develop a database that houses the ethnobotanical information associated with each plant specimenWork with botanical staff and volunteers to develop digital resources that document the Chinese Medicinal Plant collectionSupport and initiate further research that maximizes the potential of the herbariumParticipate in long term planning of the herbarium, positioning its usefulness within the institutionOther Related Work:Assists with interpretation labelling in Chinese Medicinal Plant displayAssists with data entry or adding metadata to the images of herbarium specimensSupport the gathering and archiving of useful information on natural history, cultivated history, conservation status, and economic value of specimens in the herbariumOther duties as assignedCandidate Requirements and ExperienceKnowledge, skills, and abilities:Minimum of a Master’s degree in Horticulture, Botany, Plant Science, or related fieldDemonstrated research experience in botanyKnowledge and experience in plant identificationDemonstrated knowledge of curatorial best practices in herbariaAbility to work in a greenhouse, field, and office settingsAbility to communicate with different audiences, including writing and technical skills, to develop interpretive material, manuals, and working documentsDemonstrated willingness to collaborate and work as part of a teamAbility to analyze problems and make recommendationsExperienceMinimum of ten years of botanical research experienceDemonstrated ability to work effectively and cooperatively in a team environmentExcellent organizational and communication skillsWorking ConditionsWill primarily work indoorsMust be able to stand for long periods , stoop, bend, lift up to 30 lbsCompensation & BenefitsWe provide competitive compensation, generous benefits and perks for all eligible employees including:Pay Range: $36.00- $38.00/hr. Commensurate with experience.Medical, Dental, Vision403(b) retirement plan and matching retirement plan with an outstanding employer matchConsiderable paid time off, including annual leave, sick leave, and holidaysDiscounts for staff in The Huntington Store and restaurantsFree admission to various museums and cultural institutionsFree passes each month to welcome family and friends to visit the groundsThe Application ProcessPlease submit a cover letter and CV/resume as a single PDF attachment.You will have the opportunity to submit additional documents on the “My Experience” section of the application. #J-18808-Ljbffr The Jewish Education Project