Natural Science Research Curator III: Evolutionary Biology Research Laboratory

The NC Museum of Natural Sciences and the Department of Biological Sciences in the College of Sciences at North Carolina State University jointly announce a search to recruit an evolutionary biologist with experience in and a commitment to engaging the public in the study of evolution. The position is jointly split between the NC Museum of Natural Sciences (57%) and the Department of Biological Sciences at NC State (43%). This position includes research, outreach, teaching and service responsibilities at both institutions. Given existing strengths in NC’s Triangle area (including museum/university partnerships in public science, the launch of a new center in evolutionary medicine: TriCEM, https://tricemdotorg.wordpress.com/about/, and the land-grant mission of NC State University), candidates with experience in or interest in applied evolution are particularly encouraged.

The successful candidate will have an outstanding record of scholarly publications, research support and engagement. This position has several areas of responsibility, including:

1. Development of an original scientific research program in some aspect of evolutionary biology; research programs may have local, regional, and/or international focus and will include pursuit of external research funding, data generation and analyses, and publication/dissemination of results. Some aspects of this research should be suitable for display in the NC Museum of Natural Sciences’ Evolutionary Biology Research Laboratory (a glass-walled laboratory ‘on-exhibit’ in the Nature Research Center wing of the Museum);
2. Operational management and administration of the Evolutionary Biology Research Laboratory, including supervision of laboratory with oversight of equipment, budgets, personnel, research programs, and volunteer programs;
3. Teaching, at NCSU’s Department of Biological Sciences, one upper level or graduate class per year related to evolution;
4. Training/mentoring graduate students and/or postdocs, with a particular focus on training that bridges museum/university goals. The hire can, but is not required to, also mentor undergraduate students in research and outreach;
5. Engaging the public in understanding the study of evolution and participation in science communication initiatives, including active participation in Museum education and outreach programs, participation in Museum special events, interaction with Museum visitors, serving as a role model for students and citizen scientists, and creating programmatic themes that raise the science literacy of visitors.