Curatorial Assistant

Bell Museum

This is a temp casual position

Not eligible for sick leave, vacation, health plan benefits, Regents' Scholarship, or layoff rights.

Pay Rate: $20.00/ hour

Location: Science Museum of Minnesota

Application Deadline: Open until filled. Priority will be given to applications received before December 17, 2024

The Bell Museum has partnered with the Science Museum of Minnesota to provide virtual access to Minnesota's scientific collections for students, researchers, and the general public. This project aims to continue digitizing the biology collections of the Science Museum of Minnesota and make them available through the Minnesota Biodiversity Atlas (https://bellatlas.umn.edu/).

We seek assistance in digitally imaging, databasing, and georeferencing specimens at the Science Museum of Minnesota in downtown St. Paul for up to 14 hours per week. It is a paid opportunity to gain professional experience. Training for all aspects of this position will be provided by Bell Museum and Science Museum of Minnesota staff.

We are looking for individuals to join our team who are inspired by our mission to ignite and sustain curiosity for nature and the Universe and achieve our vision of a hopeful future where all are inspired by nature and empowered by science. We believe that difference is a strength and are looking for candidates who reflect and respect diversity. We encourage you to apply for the position even if you do not believe you meet every qualification.

Major Areas of Accountability

• digital imaging of museum specimens
• transcription and geo-referencing of museum specimen labels
• data entry and/or editing
• assist with filing and/or retrieving specimens in the research collection
• miscellaneous other tasks
  
  

Qualifications

Essential Qualifications

• BA/BS or a combination of related education and work experience to equal four years; applies knowledge and skills to a recurring task or activity with emphasis typically on precision and timeliness of execution
• Not currently eligible for student employment at the University of Minnesota
• Availability for in-person work in the Science Museum of Minnesota (downtown St. Paul) for up to 14 hours a week with specific time slots to be determined in consultation with the on-site supervisor.
• Attention to detail
• Willingness to perform repetitive tasks such as data entry or specimen photography for long periods of time
• English proficiency
• Ability to work independently and on a diverse team
• Ability to travel by car or public transportation to the Science Museum of Minnesota in downtown St. Paul (free parking provided)

Desired Qualifications

• Interest in nature, natural history, or Minnesota history
• Interest in zoology, environment, biology, ecology, natural resources, or other natural sciences, or equivalent experience
• Experience in natural history collections or with relevant tasks, such as database management, inventories, or object imaging
  
  

The Bell ignites and sustains curiosity for nature and the universe. The Bell Museum envisions a hopeful future where all are inspired by nature and empowered by science.

The Bell Museum is Minnesota's official natural history museum, established by the legislature in 1872 and held in trust by the University of Minnesota. For over a century, the museum has preserved and interpreted our state's rich natural history and served learners of all ages. Additionally, our scientific collections contain over one million specimens, representing every county in Minnesota and various locales around the globe, and the Whitney and Elizabeth MacMillan Planetarium expands the mission to the universe and points beyond.

The new Bell Museum facility opened in 2018 and welcomed over 230,000 members of the community through our doors that year. Since opening the new museum, the Bell has continued to be recognized as a leader and innovative, providing world-class exhibition and visitor experiences and STEM education programs committed to our mission of igniting curiosity and wonder, exploring our connections to nature and the universe, and creating a better future for our evolving world.

Pay Rate: $20.00/hour

Retirement plan options are available for Civil Service, Faculty, Labor-Represented, Professional & Administrative, and Temp Casual classifications. Learn more about retirement plans.

Applications must be submitted online. To be considered for this position, please click the Apply button and follow the instructions. You will be given the opportunity to complete an online application for the position and attach a cover letter and resume.

Additional documents may be attached after application by accessing your "My Job Applications" page and uploading documents in the "My Cover Letters and Attachments" section.

To request an accommodation during the application process, please e-mail employ@umn.edu or call (612) 624-8647.

Questions about the position can be directed to Kate Sigurdson, ksigurds@umn.edu.

We believe it is essential to create an environment that welcomes and empowers people from historically underrepresented and marginalized communities to have equitable access to the museum's resources as well as opportunities to transform our work. We are committed to upholding the diversity, equity, and inclusion definitions and values set forth by the College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences and the University of Minnesota.

These values will be integrated in all aspects of the museum, including:

• Hiring, recruitment, retention, and advancement of staff and volunteers
• Selection and evaluation of program and exhibition content
• Providing meaningful opportunities to participate in planning and leadership

Any offer of employment is contingent upon the successful completion of a background check. Our presumption is that prospective employees are eligible to work here. Criminal convictions do not automatically disqualify finalists from employment.

The University of Minnesota, Twin Cities (UMTC)

The University of Minnesota, Twin Cities (UMTC), is among the largest public research universities in the country, offering undergraduate, graduate, and professional students a multitude of opportunities for study and research. Located at the heart of one of the nation's most vibrant, diverse metropolitan communities, students on the campuses in Minneapolis and St. Paul benefit from extensive partnerships with world-renowned health centers, international corporations, government agencies, and arts, nonprofit, and public service organizations.

At the University of Minnesota, we are proud to be recognized by the Star Tribune as a Top Workplace for 2021, as well as by Forbes as Best Employers for Women and one of America's Best Employers (2015, 2018, 2019, 2023), Best Employer for Diversity (2019, 2020), Best Employer for New Grads (2018, 2019), and Best Employer by State (2019, 2022).