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Museum Scientist
UCI Series Concepts
Class Specifications - I.25
Principal Museum Scientist - 9721
Senior Museum Scientist - 9722
Museum Scientist - 9723
Assistant Museum Scientist - 9724
November, 1976
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SERIES CONCEPT
Museum Scientists perform, supervise or manage the curatorial,
preparatory and clerical work in general museums, research collection
repositories, botanical gardens, art galleries, fine arts related
collections, aquariums or similar areas with collections of natural,
historical and anthropological material which is educational, scientific
or aesthetic in purpose; and perform other related duties as required.
In the specific references to a complex museum or similar area within
the class concepts which follow, these definitions will serve as
guidelines: A complex museum or similar area is one which is
multi-operational covering research performed by faculty, scholars and
qualified students in many disciplines; formalized teaching programs;
publications; and public education programs. A general museum is one
dealing with several or all fields. A research collection repository is
one where materials or specimens, which have been the subject of past or
current research, are stored.
The examples cited in the Class Concepts are illustrative and do not
preclude allocation to the series of positions in museums not described
within the disciplines given as examples.
CLASS CONCEPTS
Principal Museum Scientist
Under general direction, incumbents are assigned responsibility for the
administration of complex general museums, research collection
repositories, botanical gardens, art galleries, aquariums, fine arts
related collections, or similar areas; participate with the curators,
faculty or scientific community in formulating policy; and generally
supervise at least one Senior Museum Scientist.
In a complex general museum or similar area, Principal Museum Scientists
coordinate the activities of the curatorial and technical staff in
accessioning and cataloguing, collections organization, inventory and
conservation/preservation programs, and administrative support
activities; establish priority of work assignments for curatorial and
technical staff, and supervise the preservation and restoration
projects; direct library research relating to collections material; and
supervise the training and instruction of museum employees.
Additionally, Principal Museum Scientists represent the Museum Director
and the University in negotiating with donors, and independently examine
and accept donations on behalf of the museum; consult with the Director
as necessary on matters involving the formulation of museum policy;
assist in the planning and compilation of budgetary data, and make
recommendations to the Director for purchasing or collecting to meet the
museum's needs; conduct studies and prepare reports on all aspects of
the museum's operations; and serve as consultants to other professional
museum personnel on problems and projects requiring an extensive
background in museology and a detailed knowledge of museum
administration and organization.
Incumbents also work directly with curators, faculty, scholars and
qualified students in planning and designing research and study projects
to be carried out using museum facilities; work directly with field
collectors in establishing types of specimens available for the museum's
collections; and prepare research outlines and maintain research
bibliographies.
In a research collection repository, incumbents coordinate the
administrative aspects of instructional, research and public service
activities of a scientifically significant research collection of
materials or artifacts; make independent decisions in implementing
administrative policy; are assigned considerable fiscal responsibility;
and establish professional contacts with other institutions and
scientists, correspond and exchange data, attend meetings, and otherwise
seek the exchange of scientific information.
In addition, incumbents may organize and conduct field parties or
oceanographic expeditions, supervise the research as well as other
scientific aspects of the work, gather scientific papers, select
personnel, secure support, and make necessary contacts with officials of
other Jurisdictions; and supervise the assembly and dissemination of
data resulting from research done upon the collection for which
responsible.
Principal Museum Scientist positions are distinguished from Senior
Museum Scientist positions In that in addition to performing the duties
of a Senior Museum Scientist, incumbents are assigned responsibility for
the administration of complex general museums, research collection
repositories, or similar areas; typically supervise at least one Senior
Museum Scientist; and participate with the curators, faculty or
scientific community in formulating policy.
Senior Museum Scientist
Under direction, incumbents supervise the curatorial, preparatory and
clerical work in complex general museums, research collection
repositories, botanical gardens, art galleries, aquariums, fine arts
related collections, or similar areas; or perform difficult curatorial
work in a museum or similar area and may take charge of field parties;
or organize and develop a departmental museum; and may supervise at
least one Museum Scientist.
In a general museum or similar area, Senior Museum Scientists insure the
quality and accuracy of overall collections documentation through the
design and implementation of specific ongoing library and archival
research projects (or in an aquarium, are assigned responsibility for
the maintenance and accuracy of acquisition, mortality and longevity
records and other specimen maintenance records such as disease treatment,
water quality and feeding); assist Principal Museum Scientists or,
in the absence of a Principal level position, work with curators,
faculty, scholars and students in planning and designing research and
study projects to be carried out within museum facilities; train and
orient museum employees; and advise faculty of the potentialities of
various collections or specimens for study and research projects.
Incumbents may also select appropriate specimens for thematic or topical
display or loan; contribute to exhibition programs by writing texts, and
carrying out research in fields of specialized knowledge; suggest
exhibit themes, and in fields of specialized knowledge prepare exhibit
outlines for personnel involved in exhibition programs; interpret and
analyze materials sent to the museum for that purpose by scholars and
academicians; assist Principal Museum Scientists or, in the absence of
a Principal level position, determine the need for new acquisitions of
both collections and individual specimens to be obtained in the field or
by purchase, and outline the substance and form of documentation desired;
represent the museum to the general public in matters concerning the museum
and its collections, operations and facilities; or may direct field parties,
taking complete charge of all material aspects of field work other than
research.
In a research collection repository, incumbents supervise sample
distribution, loans, public service and other activities, receiving
supervision only in matters of policy and fiscal limitations; plan and
assign tasks, advise on difficult scientific problems other than
research, check scientific accuracy of results, serve as liaison between
the technical workers and academic staff workers, and secure equipment
and supplies; supervise data reduction and encoding so that data derived
from research can be processed into the data bank; coordinate work of
investigators and programmers to assure that the best data is available
to the scientific community; and conduct investigations with other
repositories regarding methods of curating, storage and data handling.
Incumbents may also assist senior scientists at sea or may serve as
delegated substitute Chief Scientists for specified oceanographic
collecting; supervise junior scientists or students and/or technicians
in the collecting and curating aspects of oceanographic expeditions; or
may serve as business managers and scientific directors of field trips.
Museum Scientist
Under general supervision and at the operational level, incumbents
perform professional curatorial duties relating to incumbents' field
of specialized knowledge in general museums, research collection
repositories, botanical gardens, art galleries, aquariums, fine arts
related collections or similar areas.
In a general museum or similar area, Museum Scientists perform
independent research on collections material (in an aquarium this
includes research on problems relating to the health and exhibition of
living animals and plants); produce professional reports, and prepare
drafts for exhibition programs; accession and catalogue any type of
material, and assign and direct activities of Museum Preparators in
these activities; maintain assigned collections; keep records current
and in conformity with museum standards; direct Assistant Museum
Scientists and/or Museum Preparators in conservation and restoration
projects; make recommendations for new acquisitions (in an aquarium this
includes the purchase or collection of living specimens); select
specimens for loan at the request of museum officials; present lectures
to various groups, and may serve as docents for special visitors and
groups; and may plan the routine maintenance and activity of a small
museum, art gallery, or similar area.
In a research collection repository, incumbents study collection
material and organize reports of such study for use in research; prepare
indicies of available literature relating to collections for use by
students and other researchers; assist students in the use of research
tools, collections and related literature; perform routine maintenance
such as accessioning, filing, loans, exchange and data management;
answer request for identification and information from other
institutions, industrial organizations, and the scientific community;
and may assist senior scientists and/or serve as working supervisors of
junior scientists or technicians in the collecting and curating aspects
of oceanographic expeditions.
In addition, incumbents may be assigned responsibility for performing or
supervising all internal handling, preparation, storage, sampling and
cross-content description of a division of a research collection of
marine geological core samples.
Assistant Museum Scientist
Under supervision, incumbents perform curatorial work, or work relating
to incumbents' field of speciality which requires a definite though
limited degree of independent judgment. The duties are performed in
general museums, research collection repositories, botanical gardens,
art galleries, aquariums, fine arts related collections or similar
areas.
In a general museum or similar area, Assistant Museum Scientists
accession, identify, classify and catalog specimens, with review by and
general assistance from the supervisor; answer requests from the public
or other institutions for identification or other information
concerning material or specimens; collect or assist in the collection of
material or specimens, and assemble the collections for class use; send
and receive loan collections; recondition specimens; perform simple
illustrating and map making; and may assist students in the use of
materials and specimens, and related literature.
In a research collection repository, incumbents perform curatorial work
such as the preparation of storage areas, maintenance of material
containers, preparation of specimens, monitoring of use rates of
consumable supplies, and maintenance of equipment; assist visitors
desiring to inspect or view the collection, or requesting information
concerning sample distribution policies and procedures; and participate
aboard research vessels in the capacity of Curatorial Representative.
Assistant Museum Scientist positions are distinguished from Museum
Preparator Positions in that incumbents apply a specialized academic
knowledge in the discipline involved, and perform curatorial work
involving identification, classification and cataloging of materials.
This is the entry level class for college graduates with specialization
in the discipline involved. Assignments are structured to provide
training experience under the supervision of higher level Museum
Scientists.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
Principal Museum Scientist
Graduation from college with specialization in the discipline involved
and six years of experience in curatorial work, including two years in a
supervisory capacity; or an equivalent combination of education and
experience; and knowledges and abilities essential to the successful
performance of the duties assigned to the position.
Senior Museum Scientist
Graduation from college with specialization in the discipline involved
and four years of experience in curatorial work, including one year in a
supervisory capacity; or an equivalent combination of education and
experience; and knowledges and abilities essential to the successful
performance of the duties assigned to the position.
Museum Scientist
Graduation from college with specialization in the discipline involved
and one year of experience in curatorial work; or an equivalent
combination of education and experience; and knowledges and abilities
essential to the successful performance of the duties assigned to the
position.
Assistant Museum Scientist
Graduation from college with specialization in the discipline involved;
or an equivalent combination of education and experience; and knowledges
and abilities essential to the successful performance of the duties
assigned to the position.
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