Naturhistorisches Museum Wien

Curator at the Department of Botany (m/f/x)

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The following role as Curator of Phanerogams is available as of 1. March 2025 
Staff at the Natural History Museum preserves, researches, and presents its extensive collections in a building designed as a comprehensive work of art. The Museum showcases the diversity of nature, evolution of planet Earth and life, and related cultural development of mankind and offers an inspiring meeting place for diverse interactions.
The earliest collections are over 250 years old. Today, approximately 30 million objects are curated to scientific standards.
Housing about 5.5 million objects, the botanical collection of the NHM is one of the largest herbaria globally. One goal is to leverage the collections for research and to make them increasingly available and usable digitally. In addition, we are currently working on showcasing the botanical collection as part of the NHM’s publicly accessible, permanent exhibition area. Your tasks will therefore include: 

Your Responsibilities

  • Curation of the phanerogam collection
  • Curation of ancillary spirit, carpological, xylological, and large object collections 
  • Handling of external requests
  • Databasing herbarium specimens
  • Development, funding solicitation, and implementation of research projects
  • Generating scientific and popular science publications
  • Supervision of preparators, project staff, interns, and volunteers
  • Supporting visiting researchers
  • Participation in outreach activities for the public and students including giving tours and citizen science projects
  • Collaboration with other NHM departments (e.g. Exhibition Management, Science Communication)

Our Expectations

  • Completed botany degree, PhD strongly desired
  • Broad floristic knowledge (e.g., Central Europe, Mediterranean, Near East, Neotropics, Palaeotropics) 
  • Scientific expertise in plant taxonomy and systematics with a broad knowledge across a larger taxonomic group
  • Record of relevant publications in peer-reviewed journals
  • Demonstrated experience with herbarium work (curation and collections management)
  • Experience with databases and digitization of herbarium specimens
  • Experience with supervising volunteers desired
  • Ability to work in a team

Our Offer

  • An exciting and diverse range of tasks carrying responsibility
  • Work experience in one of the largest museums in Austria
  • Flat hierarchies, open communication, and a good work atmosphere
  • Flexible working hours
  • An office in the center of Vienna with good access to public transport
  • Salary dependent on professional qualifications and experience
  • Benefits provided by the NHM as an employer are available at  https://jobs.nhm.at/das-nhm-als-arbeitgeber.html.
The salary we offer is, depending on your qualifications and experience, EUR 3,080.- (gross), 14 times per year, so EUR 43,120.- pa for 37.5 hours per week.
 
If we have captured your interest, we look forward to receiving your concise application by 31 January 2025.
Please note that applications (including a cover letter referencing the points in requirements above, CV, and graduation certificate) will only be accepted online via https://jobs.nhm.at/

 Your contact person for further information: Sabine Burger-Koch