Cleveland Museum of Natural History
AN EXCITING NEW OPPORTUNITY!
The Cleveland Museum of Natural History (CMNH), founded in 1920, is located in the heart of University Circle, five miles east of downtown Cleveland, Ohio. Considered among the top 10 institutions of its kind in North America, the Museum offers an incredible visitor experience, attracting roughly 275,000 visitors a year. There are more than 140 public education programs and over 80,000 students served annually. CMNH employs about 122 people.
Building on its strong foundation of excellence in education and research, the Museum is poised to transform itself. CMNH will invite and engage a broader audience in the exploration of science and the natural world by revolutionizing the way it presents natural history. The Museum has currently launched a capital campaign to support a dramatic renovation and expansion of its facilities and exhibits. This ambitious plan will position the Museum to play a leading role in regional and national efforts to improve science education and increase scientific literacy.
As part of the CMNH’s transformation, we seek to diversify our scientific team, recruit scientists with passion and talent for science communication, and build a dynamic collections-based, interdisciplinary research program. The CMNH is implementing this novel recruitment model to support the career development of collections-based scientists by providing a career advancement pathway for future museum curators. The CMNH remains committed to enhancing the diversity of our scientific team and we encourage applications from candidates of historically excluded and underrepresented groups.
In support of this effort, we are launching a unique career development Fellowship program that is designed to transition a finishing doctoral student into a permanent curatorial appointment at the Cleveland Museum of Natural History. Specifically, the CMNH is offering a three-phase program for a successful candidate that provides: (1) a pre-doctoral fellowship to support the development of the student’s existing dissertation and doctoral defense plan based at their home institution; (2) grows into a post-doctoral fellowship to support the development of a core research program and provides training and experience in science communication; and (3) culminates in an assistant curatorial position at the Cleveland Museum of Natural History. Detailed program description is given below. A successful recruit for this program would begin at their home university and within 2-3 years obtain a permanent, endowed curatorial appointment on the CMNH scientific team as the William A. and Nancy R. Klamm Assistant Curator of Ornithology.
The CMNH is seeking a dynamic, creative, and energetic individual who is passionate about the Museum’s mission, the dissemination of scientific knowledge, and the enhancement of science literacy. We are specifically looking to recruit a collections-based researcher in the area of ornithology with a focus on, but not limited to, biodiversity, urban environments, evolution, migration, or environmental change. The fellowship will build and enhance training and experiences for a museum-based research program. The ornithology program at the CMNH has a long history of public engagement, involvement with species conservation, and a partnership with Lights Out Cleveland. We want to build on this legacy by developing a program with regional relevance to the Great Lakes while collaborating with other nationally and internationally recognized research programs. The Museum's ornithology collection is comprised of 38,000 specimens from around the world. The majority of the specimens are study skins, plus a historical collection of around 1,500 nests & eggs, and a rapidly growing collection of skeletal material. Additionally, in support of interdisciplinary research, the successful candidate would have access across the biological collections to support their research program.
Minimum requirements: Must be enrolled in Ph.D. program at accredited university or college AND have passed candidacy examinations. Must be within one or two years of dissertation defense and degree completion.
Applicants should submit:
1. Curriculum vitae
2. Statement of research intent (no more than three pages)
3. Statement of Museum integration that addresses interest and experience with public outreach, science communication, and information education (no more than three pages)
4. Names and contact information for three references
Review of applications has been extended through March 2023.
Program Description:
Phase 1 (1-2 years): William A. and Nancy R. Klamm Pre-doctoral Fellowship
· Fellow remains at their degree granting institution for final 1-2 years of degree completion, but is partially sponsored by CMNH.
· Career Development Goals:
o Continue to work with graduate committee at their degree granting institution for advisement and oversight of their dissertation project and defense.
o In each of the final two years, if more than one, of their degree, complete a short-term residency (2-month) at the CMNH for onsite training and to engage with the collection, community, and overall museum program. This is necessary to prepare the Fellow to design a research program that engages the collection in phase 2. Timing of residency will be planned with the Fellow and their graduate committee.
o Directly participate in Museum education and public programming and science communication to begin development of a community engagement skillset.
· Financial Support: Annual fellowship to support dissertation preparation and defense. 100% coverage of lodging and travel in support of residency at the CMNH.
· Requirements to Advance to Next Phase:
o Successful completion of Ph.D., which includes defense and submission of dissertation and paperwork to the university.
o Successful completion of at least one residency at the CMNH, which is measured by the minimum completion of 15 hours/week of program participation and science communication through preparation, participation, and reporting.
o Fellow generates final report and presentation on their residency experience and its integration with their research program and future goals.
Phase 2 (1 year): William A. and Nancy R. Klamm Post-doctoral Fellowship -
· Fellow based at CMNH in full-time post-doctoral position for a 1-year term.
· Career Development:
o Establish and build a research program that integrates with Museum strategy, programs, and community engagement.
o Function as a science communicator in support of the Museum’s mission and strategy to inspire, connect, and engage with a broad audience on the importance and relevance of science and nature.
o Work with cross-institutional teams to provide scientific content, ensure scientific accuracy, and plan high quality experiences that serve the largest possible number of participants from diverse backgrounds.
o Serve as content provider on project teams, guiding the collaborative development and implementation of scientific content for exhibitions, education programs, and other programmatic projects.
o Participate in quarterly meeting with advancement committee to track progress and success.
· Financial Support: Full-time salary and benefits. Moving expenses and sign on bonus provided to support relocation and establishment in Cleveland.
· Requirements to Advance to Next Phase:
o Demonstration of Museum-wide engagement to achieve institutional goals.
o Develop a research program and enhance community engagement experience.
o Successful completion of year end advancement review:
§ Advancement committee meets with fellow to review presentation and submitted documents including:
· Activity report for post-doctoral term
· Near-term and long-term research strategy and plan
· Statement on integration of scientific program with Museum programming and community engagement
§ Review to occur six weeks prior to end of post-doctoral term. Bi-weekly mentorship meetings and quarterly check-ins will monitor progress and ensure fellow is on track for advancement to assistant curator.
Phase 3: William A. and Nancy R. Klamm Assistant Curator of Ornithology
· Career Development:
o Continued development of research program and its integration with Museum programming and community engagement.
o Development of grant strategy to fund program with external funds.
o Development of student training program to incorporate interns and graduate students.
o Building a relationship with the academic community through adjunct appointments and collaborations.
o Continued bi-weekly mentorship to focus on goals, progress, and strategy.
· Financial Support: Full-time salary and benefits as member of the curatorial staff. Commitment of annual funding for research.
· Full-time position as Assistant Curator with the following responsibilities:
o Establish and build a research program that integrates with Museum strategy, programs, and community engagement.
o Function as a science communicator in support of the Museum’s mission and strategy to inspire, connect, and engage with a broad audience on the importance and relevance of science and nature.
o Work with cross-institutional teams to provide scientific content, ensure scientific accuracy, and plan high quality experiences that serve the largest possible number of participants from diverse backgrounds.
o Serve as content provider on project teams, guiding the collaborative development and implementation of scientific content for exhibitions, education programs, and other programmatic projects.
o Seek and secure funding to support research activities.
o Publish research in disciplinary journals, books, reports, and general interest pieces.
o Enhance use, digitization, and quality of CMNH collections.
o Train graduate students through service on graduate committees or graduate qualifying committees.
o Oversee research assistant staff members as well as volunteers, students, and other specialized staff involved in research activities.
o Responsible for tracking research activity, progress, and impact for institutional use.
o Work with collections management staff to approve loans, collections acquisitions, deaccessions, and major collections changes within the collections of appointment.
o Responsible for providing advisement and assistance for the systematic arrangement of specimens within the collections of assignment.
o Adheres to the CMNH Manual of Research and Collections Policies.
o Performs other duties as assigned by the Chief Science Officer or management as required.
o Performs all duties according to established museum operating, safety, and environmental and quality policies
The Cleveland Museum of Natural History
is an EQUAL OPPORTUNITY, ADA EMPLOYER, SUBSTANCE-FREE, AND FULLY VACCINATED WORKPLACE
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