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Institution: University of Bath
United Kingdom
Retrieved : 2018-08-09 Expired
Description :

Applications are invited for a Research Assistant as part of a project studying mass extinction and recovery across the Cretaceous-Paleogene(K-Pg) boundary. The post is part of a 5-year project.

The project goal is to understand the severity, selectivity, and recovery from the K-Pg extinction and its role in generating biodiversity. As part of this project we are describing a marine fauna from the latest Cretaceous and early Paleogene of Morocco. It is far and away the richest and most diverse fauna of its kind. With over 100 species of mosasaur, plesiosaur, pterosaur, turtle, crocodile, snake, bird, and fish in the assemblage, it documents what may be the most diverse marine vertebrate fauna known from the entire Mesozoic, just below the K-Pg boundary, followed by the most diverse marine vertebrate fauna known from the early Cenozoic.

To study this fauna, we require a highly skilled palaeontological preparator and lab manager. The position requires extensive experience in fossil preparation, including the ability to do efficient and high quality preparation to meet research deadlines, to prepare delicate structures and hard matrix, conservation and storage of fossils. Required skills include extensive experience in manual and mechanical preparation, use of glues and solvents, and experience with different kinds of matrix and fossils, and the ability to set and meet ambitious preparation deadlines. The position also requires the ability to oversee and take responsibility of managing a fossil preparation lab, including organization of specimens, tools, and supplies, and ensuring a safe working environment, and managing lab expenses. The position also requires working with volunteers to increase preparation capabilities, including recruiting, training, and overseeing volunteers. Other responsibilities including assisting with organization and curation of collections and shipping of fossils.

The post is on a 2 year fixed term contract.  

The successful candidate should have:

• Extensive experience in fossil preparation, ideally 3 years in a museum environment or equivalent

• Experience with a full range of tools (manual, air, and power tools)

• Experience with a wide range of glues (incl. paraloid, cyanoacrylate, PVA) and solvents

• Experience with support structures (support jackets, prepjackets, carbowax, etc.)

• Molding and casting experience

• Prior experience, recruiting, training and managing students and volunteers

• Understanding of health and safety issues and mitigation strategies

• Ability to work in support of team objectives and to take initiative and responsibility to solve problems as they arise

And ideally but not necessarily:

• Previous experience managing collections

• Field experience

• Palaeontology research experience


Please include with your application:

• CV

• Brief cover letter, discussing experience and what you will bring to this project and why you want to work with this team

• Contact details for two references who can comment specifically on capabilities as a preparator

Closing Date: 22 Aug 2018
Type: Technical & Experimental





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