About the Role
The California Academy of Sciences is seeking a scientist for an endowed curatorial position in the Entomology Department to lead an internationally recognized, collections-based research program. This role will integrate traditional systematic and morphological work with modern genomic, imaging, and informatics tools, contributing to the Academy's initiative in entomology, Project BEACON.
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 dipteran 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 that engage diverse audiences in 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 advisory roles.
Requirements
- Ph.D. in Entomology, Systematics, Evolutionary Biology, or other relevant discipline.
- Postdoctoral experience highly preferred.
- 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
- Biodiversity monitoring
- Lineage-focused approach to evolution, systematics, and biodiversity
- Diptera expertise (preferred)
- Insect group systematic research
- Science communication
- Public engagement
- Mentorship
- Fundraising
- Grant writing
- Digitization
- Imaging
- Informatics
Location
- San Francisco, California
Work Type
- On-Site
- Full-Time
Experience Level
- Associate-level qualifications: 5 years' experience and demonstrated success in an Assistant-level appointment.
Education Level
- Ph.D.
Salary/Compensations
- $130,000.00
Benefits
- Comprehensive benefits
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.
- Values curiosity, collaboration, and innovation.
- The Entomology Department stewards more than 17 million arthropod specimens, including extensive material from insects and arachnids, with approximately 21,000 primary type specimens.
- The Department holds 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.
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).
