Job Information
Montana State University Entomology Museum Technician – Wild Bees of Montana in Bozeman, Montana
Position Details
Position Information
Announcement Number STAFF - VA - 24287
For questions regarding this position, please contact:
Michael Ivie
mivie@montana.edu
406-994-4610
Classification Title Research Professional
Working Title Entomology Museum Technician – Wild Bees of Montana
Brief Position Overview
The Montana Entomology Collection ( MTEC ) is the largest natural history museum in Montana, with some 3 million curated specimens. It is housed in Marsh Lab on the west part of the Bozeman Campus. Part of the Plant Sciences and Plant Pathology ( PSPP ) Department of the College of Agriculture, faculty, staff, students and cooperators conduct curatorial, research and educational activities.
Current research emphasizes faunistic and revisional work on bees and beetles. This opening is for a person to work with the grant-funded Wild Bees of Montana Project, a multi-year effort to document the fauna of Montana in terms of both number of species and their distributions, as well as taxonomic and data tools to allow their further study.
You are welcome to apply/interview for this position but the Plant Sciences Department lacks the necessary funding to provide sponsorship at this time.
Position Number 4C3045
Department Plant Sciences
Division College of Agriculture/MAES
Appointment Type Professional
Contract Term Fiscal Year
Semester
If other, specify From date
If other, specify End date
FLSA Non-Exempt
Union Affiliation Exempt from Collective Bargaining
FTE 1.0
Benefits Eligible Eligible
Salary $36,000 annually, commensurate with experience, education, and qualifications
Contract Type LOA
If other, please specify
Recruitment Type Open
Position Details
General Statement
Founded in 1893 as a Land Grant University, Montana State University ( MSU ) is composed of eight academic colleges and a graduate school and boasts a friendly, supportive faculty and campus environment. Currently, the University enrolls over 16,500 students, including over 2,000 graduate students. MSU is in Bozeman, Montana, a community of 53,000 situated in the Gallatin Valley, and part of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem.
The MTEC is part of the Entomology Group, a multi-departmental group of faculty that teach and advise graduate students in offering the M.S. degree in Entomology, and an undergraduate Minor in Entomology. They also collaborate in offering related Ph.D. programs. Specialized entomology facilities include an insect quarantine facility in the Plant Growth Center, a bee yard, the Pollinator Health Center, the Schutter Diagnostic Lab, and the Montana Entomology Collection. Entomology teaching collections for general entomology, insect identification, aquatic entomology, veterinary entomology and insect morphology are also available.
Duties and Responsibilities
We seek a highly qualified and enthusiastic entomologist to contribute to the Wild Bees of Montana Project. The successful candidate, under the direction of the Curator and Associate Curator for Apoidea, will conduct museum curatorial activities, as well as some occasional field work. The primary task will be processing (i.e., sorting, cleaning, drying, pinning and point mounting) newly collected specimens as well as a large backlog of specimens. Other duties may include labeling, databasing, and photographing specimens, and occasionally assisting in sorting and identification as required. This person will provide research support to project staff and graduate students as directed.
Required Qualifications – Experience, Education, Knowledge & Skills
Bachelor’s degree in Entomology or related field with a significant entomology component documented by transcripts of appropriate classes, including taxonomic classes and specimen preparation and handling. Appropriate collections experience in curation and taxonomy of insects, especially bees, may be substituted for the BS.
Computer skills with PC computers, Microsoft and Adobe products. NOTE : work will be exclusively with PC computers.
Preferred Qualifications – Experience, Education, Knowledge & Skills
Experience processing bee samples.
Experience working in museum collections.
Photography skills.
The Successful Candidate Will
Excellent dexterity and eyesight allowing for detailed handling and mounting of small to very small specimens.
Detail-oriented focus on care of handling specimens, accurate data entry, collection organization and other tasks.
Excellent attention to detail and organizational skills.
Ability to sit and focus on repetitive tasks for long periods of time while removed from electronic entertainment.
Ability to focus with other activities happening in the surrounding area.
Must be able to work independently.
Ability to work around chemicals used in collection, curating and preservation of insect collections.
Good interpersonal skills.
Good to excellent verbal and written communication skills.
Dependability, punctuality, and consistency in producing high-quality work.
Desire to work with a diverse community of co-workers, students and community members.
Position Special Requirements/Additional Information
Continuation of employment is contingent upon availability of funding.
This job description should not be construed as an exhaustive statement of duties, responsibilities, or requirements, but a general description of the job. Nothing contained herein restricts Montana State University’s rights to assign or reassign duties and responsibilities to this job at any time.
Physical Demands
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily with or without reasonable accommodations. The requirements listed above are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Requires sitting and walking up and down stairs.
This position has supervisory duties? No
Posting Detail Information
Number of Vacancies 1
Desired Start Date Upon completion of a successful search
Position End Date (if temporary)
Open Date
Close Date
Applications will be:
Screening of applications will begin on April 2, 2024; however, applications will continue to be accepted until an adequate applicant pool has been established.
Special Instructions
Diversity Statement
Montana State University values diverse perspectives and is committed to continually supporting, promoting and building an inclusive and culturally diverse campus environment. MSU recognizes the importance of work-life integration and strives to be responsive to the needs of dual career couples.
In compliance with the Montana Veteran’s Employment Preference Act, MSU provides preference in employment to veterans, disabled veterans, and certain eligible relatives of veterans. To claim veteran’s preference please complete the veteran’s preference information located in the Demographics section of your profile.
MSU’s Non-Discrimination Policy and Discrimination Grievance Procedures can be located on the MSU Website: https://www.montana.edu/hr/recruitment/dualcareer.html