Assistant Curator – Invertebrate Zoology (Role Title: Scientist II)
Position #00088
Location: Martinsville VA
Minimum Starting Pay: $42,000
Salary Range: Pay Band 5
An exceptional job opportunity with the Virginia Museum of Natural History is now available. The
mission of the Virginia Museum of Natural History is to interpret Virginia’s natural heritage within a
global context in ways that are relevant to all the citizens of the Commonwealth.
If you meet the qualifications for Assistant Curator – Invertebrate Zoology, we invite you to apply to join
our staff. The starting date for this position is May 2014. A Ph.D. is required at the time of appointment
with experience beyond the Ph.D. preferred.
This position requires expertise in the global higher-level systematics of an arthropod group, but
familiarity with invertebrates in general is also expected. Although specific areas of research are open,
systematics and taxonomy are viewed as essential to the museum's scientific mission and should be an
important part of a research portfolio. However, a broad-based approach that includes systematics
along with molecular, and/or ecological methods is favored.
Job requirements include scientific research focusing on the study of terrestrial/freshwater arthropods,
including publication in scientific journals, curation of existing collections, evaluation/acquisition of
additional specimens, providing technical expertise for museum programming and exhibits, and serving
as liaison between the museum and the broader scientific community via collaborations, reviews, and
presentations. The Assistant Curator will be expected to seek extramural funding for her/his research
program. The ability to effectively communicate scientific knowledge to a wide spectrum of audiences is
an important qualification.
Research facilities include access to microscopes, ultracold freezers and molecular lab equipment. We
have close working relationships with nearby universities, especially Virginia Tech, located less than two
hours away in Blacksburg and with state and private conservation organizations, especially the Virginia
Natural Heritage Program.
For more information about VMNH, visit our website at www.vmnh.net.
Only online applications are accepted. In addition to the online application, applicants must submit a
cover letter, curriculum vitae, a statement of research and curatorial interests and goals, a list of
publications relevant to the application, and names and contact information of at least three references.
These documents may be attached to the online application.
The Commonwealth of Virginia online employment application is available at
http://jobs.agencies.virginia.gov.
If you need computer or Internet access or assistance in completing the online application, please
contact the Human Resources Office at 276-634-4158. Applications must be submitted by 5 p.m. March
4, 2014.
The Virginia Museum of Natural History complies with E-Verify which is an internet based system
operated by the Department of Homeland Security in partnership with the Social Security
Administration that allows participating employers to electronically verify the employment eligibility of
their newly hired employees.
We are an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants are afforded equal opportunities
without regard to sex, race, color, religion, national origin, age or disability. The successful applicant
must furnish proof of identity and employment eligibility and is subject to a background check.
-Paul E. Marek
Assistant Professor
Department of Entomology
Virginia Tech
Price Hall, Rm 216A (MC0319)
170 Drillfield Drive
Blacksburg, Virginia 24061
pmarek@vt.edu