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About the Role

The California Academy of Sciences is seeking a scientist for an endowed curatorial position in the Entomology Department: the Schlinger Chair of Arachnology. This role involves leading an internationally recognized, collections-based research program focused on the evolution, systematics, and biodiversity of terrestrial arthropods, integrating traditional methods with modern genomic and informatics tools. The position contributes to Project BEACON, an initiative transforming entomology collections into scientific infrastructure for discovery and monitoring.

Responsibilities

Plans and executes original collections-based systematic research resulting in peer-reviewed scientific publications and presentations.
Plans, directs, and participates in scientific exploration, including expeditions and collaborative research.
Seeks extramural funding and grants to support research activities.
Leads the strategic growth, improvement, and mobilization of the arachnid collection.
Applies and helps set international standards for the management, preservation, documentation, and accessibility of the collection.
Provides systematic expertise and specimen identifications.
Contributes actively to Project BEACON, including digitization, sequencing, and digital integration of specimens.
Participates in collaborative efforts to maintain, improve, and increase access to Academy scientific collections.
Actively trains and mentors the next generation of scientists.
Dedicated to training scientists, building capacity in under-resourced communities and countries, and increasing participation of underrepresented groups.
Participates in activities engaging diverse audiences with scientific discovery.
Works closely with Academy teams and partners to leverage scientific discoveries into popular media.
Collaborates with the Academy's Advancement team in fundraising, cultivation, and stewardship of donors.
Provides service to IBSS and the Academy by serving on committees.
Provides service to the scientific community through editorial roles, manuscript and grant proposal reviews, and participation in professional societies.

Requirements

Ph.D. in Entomology, Arachnology, Systematics, Evolutionary Biology, or other relevant discipline.
Demonstrated experience working with natural history collections.
Clear vision for integrating collections-based systematic research with modern genomic, imaging, and informatics approaches.
Proven track record of publishing original research in peer-reviewed journals.
Demonstrable record of competitive external funding.
Demonstrated ability to articulate the relevance and importance of scientific work to scientific and lay audiences.
Ability to work in a collaborative, interdisciplinary environment.
Associate-level qualifications: 5 years' experience and demonstrated success in an Assistant-level appointment.
Ability to lead a molecular or genomics laboratory.
Experience contributing to or leading large, cross-disciplinary, team-based projects.
Experience managing research programs, projects, and budgets.
Experience training and mentoring junior scientists, particularly from underrepresented groups.

Skills

Arthropod biodiversity
Collections-based systematics
Genomics
Systematics
Biodiversity monitoring
Arachnology
Lineage-focused approach to evolution, systematics, and biodiversity
Traditional systematic and morphological work
Genomic, imaging, and informatics tools
Discovery, description, and classification of arachnids
Spiders
Scorpions
Mites
Arachnid lineages
Science communication
Public engagement
Mentorship

Location

San Francisco, California

Work Type

Full-Time
On-site

Experience Level

Associate-level qualifications: 5 years' experience and demonstrated success in an Assistant-level appointment.
Postdoctoral experience highly preferred.

Education Level

Ph.D. in Entomology, Arachnology, Systematics, Evolutionary Biology, or other relevant discipline.

Salary/Compensations

$130,000.00 - $140,000.00

Benefits

Comprehensive benefits package

About the Company

Founded in 1853, the California Academy of Sciences is a globally renowned, AZA-accredited non-profit scientific and cultural institution located in San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park.
Home to a planetarium, aquarium, rainforest, research institute, and natural history museum.
Mission: to regenerate the natural world through science, learning, and collaboration.
Possesses a living collection of nearly 60,000 animals representing over 800 species.
Research collections are the largest west of the Mississippi, spanning nearly 46 million plants, animals, fossils, and cultural artifacts.
Diverse team includes biodiversity scientists, educators, storytellers, designers, and communicators.
The Entomology Department stewards over 17 million arthropod specimens, one of the largest and most diverse arthropod collections in North America.
Department holdings include extensive material from insects and arachnids, with approximately 21,000 primary type specimens.
Features one of the world's most comprehensive collections of Malagasy arthropods.
The Department is part of the Institute for Biodiversity Science and Sustainability (IBSS), the research division of the California Academy of Sciences.
Project BEACON is a department-wide initiative transforming Entomology collections into active scientific infrastructure for discovery, monitoring, and rapid response to biodiversity and biosecurity challenges.

Equal Opportunity

The California Academy of Sciences will give full consideration for employment to all qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with the requirements of the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance (SF Police Code, Article 49).