Assistant Curator of Ichthyology

Assistant Curator of Ichthyology at the Florida Museum of Natural History, University of Florida. 12-month tenure-track faculty position equivalent to Assistant Professor.

About the role

The Florida Museum of Natural History seeks an innovative ichthyologist whose research and teaching are collections-based. The successful candidate will contribute to and utilize the museum’s extensive and world-renowned fish collection, one of the largest globally with around 2.5 million specimens. The collection is 97% georeferenced, includes tissue samples and 2D/3D images, and is housed in a state-of-the-art facility with a dedicated collection laboratory and office suite. The position supports the museum’s goals of understanding, preserving, and interpreting biological and cultural diversity through integrative collaborations across the University of Florida’s 16 colleges.

Responsibilities

• Conduct specimen-based research on fishes, bolstering current strengths in evolutionary biology, systematics, biodiversity exploration, global change biology, biogeography, AI, and bioinformatics.
• Leverage and grow the Florida Museum’s fish collection, contributing to its curation, use, and expansion.
• Engage in sustained mentorship and formal academic advising.
• Collaborate across disciplines within the museum and university, fostering multidisciplinary research.
• Contribute to teaching, outreach, and public engagement initiatives.

Requirements

• Ph.D. in Biology or a related field.
• Evidence of excellence in research, demonstrated through publication record, grant record, or potential to conduct grant-funded research.
• Conduct specimen-based research on fishes.

Preferred Qualifications

• Research that addresses questions in the broad field of ichthyology and aligns with the museum’s strengths.
• Experience leveraging museum collections and collaborating across disciplines.
• Multidisciplinary research approaches.
• Commitment to mentorship, teaching, and outreach.

About the Florida Museum

The Florida Museum of Natural History is the official state museum of Florida, located on the University of Florida campus. It stewards 40 million specimens and artifacts, supports award-winning exhibitions and public programs, and leads in AI and biodiversity informatics. The Department of Natural History is a vibrant community of 300 employees, including 30 faculty, 80–100 graduate students, and numerous undergraduates and postdoctoral researchers. The museum collaborates with UF’s 16 colleges and offers resources such as the UF Genetics Institute, Biodiversity Institute, Whitney Lab, and Ordway-Swisher Biological Station.

Pay

Starting salary range: $90,000 – $105,000, negotiable based on experience.