Description

About the Role 

Reporting to the Associate Director of Botanical Collections, Conservation and Research, the Herbarium Research Associate will focus on activating an ethnobotanical collection focused on Chinese Medicinal Plants, through making vouchers, compiling information, digitizing specimens and label data, and assisting with making the entire herbarium collection more accessible to wider audiences. This position collaborates with other staff and volunteers within the Botanical Division. 

This is a limited-term, part-time position, budgeted for six months. 

Essential Duties 

 Prepare specimen vouchers from living plant material 
Curate existing specimens and improve the quality of data captured in database for select taxonomic and geographic plant groups 
Create synoptic collection of Chinese Medicinal Plants within larger herbarium with traditional plant uses documented in database 
Work with botanical staff to develop a database that houses the ethnobotanical information associated with each plant specimen 
Work with botanical staff and volunteers to develop digital resources that document the Chinese Medicinal Plant collection 
Support and initiate further research that maximizes the potential of the herbarium 
Participate in long term planning of the herbarium, positioning its usefulness within the institution  
 

Other Related Work: 

Assists with interpretation labelling in Chinese Medicinal Plant display 
Assists with data entry or adding metadata to the images of herbarium specimens 
Support the gathering and archiving of useful information on natural history, cultivated history, conservation status, and economic value of specimens in the herbarium 
Other duties as assigned 
 

The Application Process 
Visit us at https://huntington.org/careers to apply directly. 
Please submit a cover letter and CV/resume as a single PDF attachment. 
You will have the opportunity to submit additional documents on the “My Experience” section of the application. 

Requirements

Candidate Requirements and Experience 

Knowledge, skills, and abilities: 

Minimum of a Master’s degree in Horticulture, Botany, Plant Science, or related field 
Demonstrated research experience in botany 
Knowledge and experience in plant identification 
Demonstrated knowledge of curatorial best practices in herbaria 
Ability to work in a greenhouse, field, and office settings 
Ability to communicate with different audiences, including writing and technical skills, to develop interpretive material, manuals, and working documents 
Demonstrated willingness to collaborate and work as part of a team 
Ability to analyze problems and make recommendations 
Experience 

Minimum of ten years of botanical research experience 
Demonstrated ability to work effectively and cooperatively in a team environment 
Excellent organizational and communication skills 

Working Conditions

Will primarily work indoors 
Must be able to stand for long periods, stoop, bend, lift up to 30 lbs