Asst Prof/Asst Curator in Bee Biodiversity & Evolution

Conduct impactful scholarly research in the biodiversity, systematics, phylogenetics, and evolution of bees. Faculty members are expected to develop and maintain a productive research program of national and international stature that substantially advances scholarship and knowledge discovery throughout their career, while continuing to advance in depth and importance. Faculty members are also expected to publish in peer-reviewed scientific journals and books, to gain extramural support for their research activities, and to present findings at professional scientific conferences.

Teaching and Student Mentoring (20%):
Teach the equivalent of one 3-credit course/academic year in EEB (courses may be cross-listed or cross-referenced with other departments) and strive for excellence in the classroom. As part of this work, they will develop curricular programs such as courses in entomology, biodiversity science, organismal biology, etc. in EEB, and prepare for and attend all class meetings. (In case of absence, faculty members must make arrangements for a substitute to teach class; classes should not be canceled.) They will also: provide instruction throughout the semester, usually three hours/week; develop assignments, administer tests, evaluate student work, provide feedback to students, and assign grades; hold regular office hours for students involved in classes taught (while being available for reasonable appointments if a student cannot meet during scheduled office hours); mentor and advise undergraduate and graduate students in independent research; adhere to program, College, and University policies.

Service (10%):
Tenure-track faculty members are expected to participate in appropriate professional activities, such as attending EEB meetings, carrying out EEB committee assignments, attending national and international meetings or conferences, serving the College and KU as appropriate, and serving the profession as a reviewer for grant proposals and manuscripts, in an editorial capacity, or as an officer of a professional society.

A curator is charged with responsibilities of collection stewardship and administration, research and student mentoring and training, and service that contributes to the mission of the BI. Specific responsibilities are: (1) administration of staff and resources in the Division of Entomology; (2) stewardship of the division's collections and associated data; (3) maintenance of productive research programs; (4) training and mentoring of graduate and undergraduate students; (5) service to the BI, the University and the profession; and (6) participation in the museum's public program and outreach activities.

Evaluation of curators for merit, promotion, and tenure is based on a weighting of 40% collection stewardship and administration, 40% research and student mentoring, and 20% service to the BI, profession and public programs. The percentages below are adjusted to reflect the scientist's 50% appointment in the BI. Because the BI is a KU Designated Research Center, acquisition of extramural funding for research is weighted more heavily in annual merit reviews than it might be in other units.

Administration and Collection Stewardship (20%) (i.e., Professional Performance)

Administrative duties of the Curator include supervision of personnel (currently two collection managers in the Division of Entomology) and the physical and fiscal resources of the Curator's division (including substantial space on KU's West Campus and extensive endowment funds). The curator will be responsible for coordinating the activities of the Division of Entomology such that they are consistent and collaborative with the activities and goals of the BI. The curator will have the primary responsibility for the acquisition, accession, growth, care, management, and use of the division's collection and associated data for research, education, and public service. The curator will also be charged with directing the strategic growth of the collection, which should be focused on research and tailored to resources and working with the collection managers of the division to identify the physical, curatorial, and data-management needs of the division's collections. Moreover, they will seek appropriate solutions for necessary improvements, including submission of proposals for extramural support of collection care and improvement of the physical specimens and associated data. The curator will supervise the two collection managers in the maintenance of appropriate practices for: (1) accession, curation, and conservation of specimens; (2) management of loans of specimens, requests for data, and use of specimens by students and visiting scholars; and (3) management of collection data.

Research and Student Mentoring (20%)

The curator is expected to develop and maintain an internationally recognized, productive, impactful, externally funded, specimen-based research program that contributes to the understanding of bee diversity and evolution. The research program at the BI will also be in keeping with the goals and accountabilities of EEB. Such research will include publication (print or electronic) of original research results in peer-reviewed scholarly publications, regular dissemination of research results at professional meetings and via other outlets as appropriate, and acquisition of extramural support for research activities. The curator is further expected to advise, train and mentor undergraduate and graduate students including those whose studies are related to the systematic collections or other resources in the Division of Entomology and the BI. Graduate and undergraduate training and mentoring at the BI will also be in keeping with the goals and accountabilities of EEB.

Professional Service, Public Programs and Outreach Activities (10%)

The curator is expected to provide service to the University community, the BI, and the national and international scientific and biocollections communities including through membership on committees, the review of papers and grant proposals, and participation in editorial activities. The curator is also expected to contribute to the public education and exhibits programs of the Natural History Museum. Public outreach additionally includes authoring publications for popular audiences, providing lectures and tours to public and school groups, activities with interest groups, participation in media interviews and news releases, and responses to public inquiries about natural history.