CLOSED - Tropical Botanist assistant ERC GLOBAL

(EU nationals only at this point, thank you)

Update (29/08/2020): All nationalities are welcome to apply now. However, there are limited funds for relocation and visa fees etc.

We are looking for a Master level botanist to support botanical work as part of the European GLOBAL project led by Thomas Couvreur (IRD).

The successful candidate will be based in Paris (France) at the National Museum of Natural History (MNHN), National Herbarium (P). He/she will be assigned to the technical staff of the Museum's Herbarium, which has around fifteen people (in addition to the fifteen teacher-researchers who provide scientific management). He/she will be placed under the authority of the head of the Conservation Service.
The candidate will be recruited for a maximum of 3 years at the level of "Ingénieur d'études" IE (french system).

To apply send:

A recent CV, the contact details of at least two referees or letters of recommendation and a motivation letter should be sent to the two emails below:
​
​recrutement.dr-occitanie@ird.fr
and
Thomas.couvreur@ird.fr

For more information contact Thomas Couvreur: Thomas.couvreur@ird.fr ​

Deadline to apply September 15, 2020
Starting date: November 1, 2020

Activities include:
- Identification of herbarium specimens (Annonaceae family);
- Leaf sampling on herbarium specimens for DNA extraction, mainly in Paris, but also in other international herbaria;
- Botanical collection field missions in different tropical countries (America, Asia);
- Collection management (herbaria, silica-gel samples, photos, etc.) during the project;
- Management of the sample database within the project;
- Herbarium scanning using NIRs device (near infra red scanning);
- Observation of specimens, acquisition and entry of morphological data on an online platform;
- Support for the participatory science project 'Les Herbonautes';

We are looking for a highly motivated person with:
- good knowledge of tropical botany, able to use identification keys and botanical taxonomic bibliography;
- Ability to carry out botanical field trips (organize trips, collect samples, and curate them when back);
- Ability to work in harsh environments (tropical rain forests);
- Ability to learn new technologies;
- Good knowledge of IT tools (word, excel, email, etc.);
- Communication and relationship management with internal and external project partners;
​- Understanding of french is important (or the ability to learn the language quickly);
- Good understanding of Spanish is a plus.

Training:
- Master degree;
- Desired area of training: Practical training in botany and / or herbarium techniques;
- Experience of at least 6 months or even a year in the field is desired, but not compulsory.

Aptitudes
- Ability to work in a team;
- Ability to become familiar with new tools / methods;
- Very good sense of organization (many specimens to manage), rigor;
- Ability to work in the field and in herbaria;
- Intellectual curiosity.