Research Scientist - Chicago, United States - The Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum

Description

Chicago Academy of Sciences / Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum

The research scientist will contribute to our research program focused on applied conservation, reintroduction, habitat management, and monitoring needs of regionally imperiled wildlife, or local ecosystems, working in coordination with land management agencies.

The research scientist will prepare and publish original research in peer-reviewed journals, participate in professional society meetings, regional research and conservation meetings, panels, and forums.

If the researcher's work entails a headstarting or captive rearing component, they may coordinate with our Living Collections team to develop care protocols and research questions related to these conservation approaches, such as inquiries into wildlife health and behavior.

The research scientist may collaborate on existing community science program offerings, or develop new areas of engagement in participatory science around the conservation of regional biodiversity.

The research scientist will collaborate with the Advancement Department to identify funding opportunities, and prepare grant proposals to support conservation research.

They will determine and manage their research project budgets, and be responsible for purchasing project supplies.

The research scientist will be responsible for recruitment, training, supervision, and scheduling of any seasonal field research personnel associated with their grant and contract work.

The researcher may collaborate with the Collections Department to provide specimen identification support for research requests in their taxonomic area and utilize the scientific collections and archives to inform research.

The researcher is encouraged to contribute to the Academy's collections through submission of salvaged specimens or of other specimens collected under permitted research.

The research scientist will work cross-departmentally to provide content expertise for the development of museum exhibits, educational programs and workshops, and informal museum programming or events.

The research scientist will also provide training and professional development opportunities to members of the Biology Department and Education Department, in their area of expertise (e.g. teaching sampling techniques, field site visits, presentation of study results).

The research scientist will serve as a museum representative of their research, and general ecological information, to print, broadcast, and online media, and provide presentations on a range of relevant topics to diverse audiences.

The research scientist may pursue partnerships or affiliations with regional universities for teaching relevant courses, or for advising/co-advising undergraduates, graduate students, and postdoctoral associates.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and conduct original research on select aspects of conservation of regional wildlife in Northeastern Illinois/the Midwest/the Great Lakes region
• Independently determine and manage longterm conservation research projects, establish project timelines, and provide regular deliverables (e.g. contract or grant reports, publications), building partnerships with external collaborators when possible
• Work closely with the VP of Conservation Research and other Biology Department members (e.g. Associate Curator of Entomology, Manager of Living Collections, Manager of Horticulture), to design, implement and deliver collaborative research projects
• Work with the VP of Conservation Research to update the Department's Conservation Research Plan to reflect the researcher's projects and identify new areas of inquiry
• Work with the Advancement Department to pursue funding sources to support research. Determine and manage budgets for the researcher's projects, coordinating with the Finance Department on invoices, expense reports, and budget projections for research projects
• Purchase materials and supplies necessary for research projects
• Prepare grant reports in coordination with the Advancement and Finance Departments
• Prepare all necessary permit reports for the researcher's projects (e.g. Illinois Threatened and Endangered Species Permits, Illinois Scientific Research Permits, Illinois Nature Preserves Special Use Permits)
• Recruit, train, and supervise seasonal support staff (e.g field technicians) or grantsupported staff for research projects as external funding permits
• Coordinate the development of protocols for conservation projects with the Manager of Living Collections or the Manager of Horticulture as needed
• Be an active presence in the conservation and ecological restoration communities.
• Present research findings through publication and presentation, including peerreviewed journals, books, and proceedings of professional meetings
• Serve as a content expert for the development of museum exhibits, educational programming, and informal museum programming

Requirements:

Qualified applicants must have a Ph.
D.