What are the responsibilities and job description for the Lab Tech I- Mollusk Collection position at Science Museum of Minnesota?
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Join our Biology Department team as the Mollusk Collection Lab Tech I and help us digitize and make accessible a collection of ~9,000 Minnesota mollusk specimens and their records. The Mollusk Collection Lab Tech I executes the organization and digitization of the Biology Collection’s mollusk specimens, especially those collected in Minnesota. They will execute all steps of inventorying, rehousing, and digitizing specimens, cleaning and sharing digitized data with aggregators, and conducting archival research to reunite specimens with their data. They will also support the process of accessioning and cataloging specimens in the collection, and will engage in outreach to share the impact of the project. They will follow directions from staff from the Biology Collection and Collections Stewardship to deliver on project goals while performing day-to-day tasks independently. Funding for this project and position was provided by the Minnesota Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund as recommended by the Legislative-Citizen Commission on Minnesota Resources (LCCMR).
Schedule: 40 hours a week to be performed generally between 9 AM - 5 PM Monday through Friday, with some evening and weekend work required.
Job Responsibilities:
- Performs detailed and general inventories of mollusk specimens.
- Performs archives research on mollusk specimens of uncertain data status.
- Assists Biology Collection staff with accessioning and cataloging tasks.
- Uninstalls, packages for long-term storage, rehouses, and installs mollusk specimens in collections under direction of Biology Collection and Collections Stewardship staff.
- Captures research-grade photographs of specimens and specimen tags.
- Adds specimen records and images and transcribes specimen data into the collection management system Re:discovery.
- Following protocols developed by other CRC staff, it shares Re:discovery records of SMM’s mollusk specimens with data aggregators like iDigBio and Minnesota Biodiversity Atlas.
- Communicates the results of the project at public events and at professional conferences.
- Carries out tasks accurately and follows strict methodologies.
- Performs other related duties as assigned.
Minimum Qualifications
Education: Bachelor’s degree in biology, library and information science, or museum studies is required. Master’s degree or some graduate coursework in these areas, especially malacology, is valued but not required.
Experience: Experience in malacology is required. Experience with specimen digitization and working in museum collections is preferred.
Work Environment: Ability to work in both lab and fieldwork settings. Occasional domestic and international travel may be required. Most if not all work will be executed at SMM’s downtown Saint Paul building.
Starting Compensation: $20.00 - $21.65/hour (depending on qualifications; grade 4)
Start Date: May or June 2026
The job duties describe the general nature and level of work assigned to this position and is not an exhaustive list. For some positions, detailed procedures may be outlined in supplemental documents.
The Science Museum of Minnesota believes in the diversity of our community – diversity generates ideas, inspires creativity and is essential to building a positive work place. As an Employer of Choice we hire and retain the best employees by valuing differences, creating a cooperative work environment, and providing promotional and career development opportunities. It is the museum’s policy and practice to hire and promote qualified job seekers from a variety of backgrounds and experiences. We offer benefit packages for full-time and part-time employees.
Salary : $20 - $22