Project Assistant, Vanuatu Project at the New York Botanical Garden
The Project Assistant, Vanuatu Project is a grant funded position projected to end on May 2, 2023 and will assist the Principal Investigators and other associated staff and project partners working with the Plants and People of Vanuatu project by contributing to the efforts of a multidisciplinary team that involves basic botanical, ethnobotanical, and conservation skills. The successful candidate must demonstrate initiative and flexibility, possess excellent organizational and communication skills, and have the ability to work well both independently and with others.
Additionally, this position supports, through actions and conduct, NYBG’s Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Accessibility initiatives and helps to build and maintain an inclusive organization culture throughout the institution.
The New York Botanical Garden is committed to an inclusive, diverse, equitable, and accessible work environment, and further recognizes that diversity in our workforce fosters excellence in our mission of advocating for the plants of the world. Leveraging the strong foundation of existing policies and practices, NYBG will advance inclusion, diversity, equity, and accessibility through a number of institutional initiatives. Our aspiration is to continue to cultivate a workforce and institution that is as diverse as the communities we serve and the audiences we engage.
Specific Duties and Responsibilities:
The Project Assistant will be responsible for supporting the project team in areas that include:
- Assist the Principal Investigators and other staff with planning and implementing project-related goals
- Work with, organize and process botanical specimens and their associated botanical and cultural label data
- Accession silica-dried leaf-tissue samples into the NYBG DNA Bank
- Assist with continued improvement to the floristic checklist of Vanuatu
- Help to curate and update the digital resources of the Flora of Vanuatu website
- Catalog, enhance, and upload field-based photographs associated with botanical specimens and related plant-based cultural activities
- Receive training and assist with the completion of IUCN Red List Assessments for a select list of potentially threatened plant species endemic to Vanuatu
- Potentially participate in fieldwork and the training of Indigenous students in Vanuatu, working with the Principal Investigators during collecting expeditions and subsequent herbarium processing
Requirements:
- Bachelor’s or graduate degree in botany, biology, or related field
- Experience with standard approaches to botanical research or a willingness to be trained in these approaches
- Experience with databases, spreadsheets, and data handling would be highly desirable
- Excellent organizational skills and an ability to effectively communicate with a broad range of staff in NYBG Science and Administration, project partners, and the general public
How to Apply:
Please be advised, as a term and condition of accepting a job offer the candidate for employment must submit proof of full vaccination. Candidates for employment unable to submit proof of full vaccination at the time of the offer will not be considered for employment.
This policy is subject to the reasonable accommodation provisions of Title VII and the American for Disabilities Act (ADA) and other EEO consideration. If you believe that because of a disability or a sincerely held religious belief that you may be entitled to a reasonable accommodation or exemption to this policy please contact HR@nybg.org.
If you require an accommodation for any part of the application process, please notify the Human Resources department at HR@nybg.org.
EOE/BIPOC/F/Persons with disabilities/Veterans