Job Abstract

The University and Jepson Herbaria at the University of California, Berkeley seeks applications for an Assistant Researcher or Associate Researcher in the University and Jepson Herbaria.

The Jepson Herbarium is the epicenter of research and education on the native and naturalized plants of California. The mission of the Jepson Herbarium is to understand and conserve the California flora through systematic, floristic, and conservation biology studies and to communicate knowledge of the flora through publications and instructional programs.

Leading the Jepson Flora Project and curation of the Jepson Herbarium (40%)
• Serve as Convening Editor for the Jepson Flora Project.
• Take the lead on Jepson eFlora revisions (with or without author input), request and edit contributions, continue to add synonyms to the eFlora, and work on KeyBase updates.
• Maintain and update the Index of California Plant Names (ICPN), especially before a major eFlora revision.
• Resolve conflicting taxonomies between eFlora names and names in the ICPN.
• Search literature for new additions to the eFlora and prioritizing them.
• Manage the Jepson editors.
• Supervise the curation of the Jepson Herbarium.
• Supervise staff and students hired to work on the Jepson Flora Project.
• Maintain detailed correspondence related to the Jepson Flora Project and answer questions from the botanical community.
• Take the lead in working to resolve comments from CCH1 backlog and CCH2

Research on California Floristics (10%)
• Fieldwork and research on the literature and herbarium collections to stay abreast of the distributions of California plants
• Conduct novel taxonomic research and keep abreast of the literature on taxonomy at all levels in order to enhance the classification of Californian plant diversity

Independent Research (40%)
• Research of choice (with the research program expected to be primarily California-based and collections-oriented, in floristics or systematics).
• Add personal research specimens to the Jepson Herbarium.
• Share results through original peer-reviewed research papers and research talks.
• Submit grant proposals to support research projects.
• Supervise postdocs, GSRs, and undergraduate researchers working in the Herbaria

Fundraising and Outreach (10%)
• Participate in donor cultivation, stewardship, planned giving solicitations, and fundraising events.
• Lead a workshop on identification of California plant families or basic botany (alternate years)
• Lead a workshop in area of specialization (alternate years).
• Edit Jepson Videos before they are released to the public.
• Serve as on-site coordinator for one Jepson field workshop per year, and contribute other workshops, sometimes virtual.

PhD or equivalent international degree

Ph.D. or equivalent foreign degree in plant systematics or related field

Experience with writing or editing floras

Demonstrated experience studying vascular plants of the California Flora or western North American flora

Demonstrated experience in plant taxonomy and nomenclature

Evidence of independent research in floristics, systematics or related field, including peer-reviewed publications

Demonstrated interest in public outreach

Supervisory experience

• 3-5 required (contact information only)

UC Berkeley is committed to diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging. The excellence of the institution requires an environment in which the diverse community of faculty, students, and staff are welcome and included. Successful candidates will demonstrate knowledge and skill related to ensuring equity and inclusion in the activities of their academic position (e.g., teaching, research, and service, as applicable).

The University of California, Berkeley is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, or protected veteran status.

Please refer to the University of California’s Affirmative Action Policy and the University of California’s Anti-Discrimination Policy.

In searches when letters of reference are required all letters will be treated as confidential per University of California policy and California state law. Please refer potential referees, including when letters are provided via a third party (i.e., dossier service or career center), to the UC Berkeley statement of confidentiality prior to submitting their letter.

As a University employee, you will be required to comply with all applicable University policies and/or collective bargaining agreements, as may be amended from time to time. Federal, state, or local government directives may impose additional requirements.