The Leibniz Institute for the Analysis of Biodiversity Change (LIB) seeks to fill a Curator (f/m/d) for Mineralogy in Hamburg.

The Leibniz Institute for the Analysis of Biodiversity Change (LIB) was established in July 2021 as an integration of the Centre of Natural History of the University Hamburg (CeNak) with its Zoological, Geological-Paleontological and Mineralogical Museums into the Zoological Research Museum Alexander Koenig – Leibniz Institute for Animal Biodiversity (ZFMK), Bonn. As such, the LIB will be a foundation under public law and a research museum of the Leibniz Association. The LIB will contribute to biodiversity research with its extensive collections and through its research fields of taxonomy, morphology and molecular science. LIB will further contribute to the conservation of global biodiversity, to documenting and analyzing evolutionary and ecological biodiversity change, and engage in science transfer activities on biodiversity change and its potential causes.

The LIB is looking for a scientist for a tenure track position as Curator Mineralogy (f/m/d) at the Hamburg branch starting at the earliest time possible. The position holder will manage the Mineralogical Museum Hamburg and its collections and will develop the field at an internationally competitive level as a bridge between geosciences and biology. Specifically, the candidate is expected to focus on the interdependency of abiotic materials, organisms and organismic diversity.

We expect the candidate to

• hold a PhD in geosciences or related areas, preferably with a strong focus on mineralogy
• have experience in the curation of scientific mineralogical collections
• have expertise in systematic mineralogy and other mineralogical fields (e.g. petrology, meteorite science or gemmology)
• develop a research strategy linking mineralogy with organisms and biodiversity
• interact with and support amateur geoscientists and their societies
• acquire substantial third-party funding
• promote LIB-internal teamwork and external collaborations
• have a vision of future work in the field, and promote novel ideas for collection-based research

The candidate will work in the Centre for Biodiversity monitoring and conservation science (zbm), Department Mineralogy, located in Hamburg and will contribute to the ongoing development of LIB as a globally leading institute for the study of biodiversity change. As a curator, the candidate will take responsibility for the public exhibition and for the substantial collections of minerals, rocks, ores, meteorites and gemstones, housed by LIB in Hamburg. This includes exhibition management, knowledge transfer, service to the scientific community, collection care, collections development, digitalization activities and collection-based research.

The successful candidate is expected to work on a sound theoretical basis, to build up an independent research group, to apply an array of appropriate modern methods, to integrate into existing and future in-house collaboration especially in the context of biodiversity monitoring, and to take part in self-administration and outreach activities. Working languages are English and German.

The Leibniz Association is committed to diversity and equal opportunities. LIB is certified as a family-friendly institution. We aim to increase the proportion of women in areas where women are under-represented and to promote their careers. We therefore strongly encourage women with relevant qualifications to apply.

Applications will be handled in accordance with the Landesgleichstellungsgesetz NRW (State Equality Act). Applications from suitable individuals with a certified serious disability and those of equal status are particularly welcome.

We offer a highly motivating environment and ability to work independently. Salary and benefits are according to a public service position in Germany (TV-L E 13). An upgrade of salary and benefits to TV-L E 14 is possible and will be subject of the tenure evaluation. The contract will start as soon as possible, earliest on October 1st 2021 and will initially be restricted to three years. A tenured position will be subject to personal performance reviewed by a commission.

Applications in English, accompanied by supporting documentation (CV, certificates, lists of publications and funding, soft skills) and a research concept integrating mineralogical and biodiversity related research should be submitted no later than September 12th in digital form to Sandra Middelhoff via https://bonn.leibniz-lib.de/de/job-portal.

For further information about the LIB and the Mineralogical Museum please see: https://leibniz-lib.de/en/; http://hamburg.leibniz-lib.de/en/le or http://hamburg.leibniz-lib.de/en/ausstellungen/museum-mineralogie.html.