Biologist I

Love nature? Then you’re going to love The Nat.

The San Diego Natural History Museum (The Nat) was founded by amateur naturalists in 1874 and has played a major role in the conversation of our region. The Museum recently celebrated its 150th anniversary and completed a strategic plan focused on encouraging a love for nature, levering science and collections for conservation, and using our own voice to be here for nature.

The San Diego Natural History Museum is looking to hire one full-time, temporary Invertebrate Zoologist (Biologist I) to assist the Invertebrate Zoology and BioServices Departments. The Invertebrate Zoologist position assists the Curator of Invertebrate Zoology, and other Supervisory project staff as assigned by the Curator, with lab investigations of pollinators throughout San Diego County (i.e., Hymenoptera, Diptera, Coleoptera). This position is part of a larger project focused on plant-pollinator interactions, with the main goal of identifying unknown pollinators of rare plants using novel field and lab technologies. The primary responsibilities of the incumbent will be to identify and digitize specimens, conduct macro photography of pinned specimens, and help create an AI training data set for pollinators of San Diego County. 

Major Responsibilities:

• Specimen Imaging: Imaging of specimens to include lab photography with in-house camera setup, including high quality 2D, image stacking, processing, and file management, using standardized protocols, and field-based macro photography. Preserved specimen photography will rely on macro skills to creatively take lab-based photos, with AI training in mind, that can be used to identify specimens in field-based photos.
• AI training data set creation: Based on newly taken macro photographs of preserved specimens, and existing photos of live specimens, help to create an AI training data set specific to San Diego to automatically identify pollinators from photos.
• Pollinator Biology: Work will involve familiarity with pollinator (Hymenoptera, Lepidoptera, Diptera, Coleoptera) identification and morphology. Other duties may include specimen sorting, specimen preparation (e.g., pinning), data entry, and contributions to report writing.

Minimum qualifications:

• B.S. in Biology, Entomology, Zoology, Ecology or a related discipline.
• experience with pollinators (Hymenoptera, Lepidoptera, Diptera) from the southern California region.
• Experience with macro photography of arthropods, macro photography equipment, and photo processing techniques.
• Knowledge of AI and computer vision approaches.
• Have a valid Driver’s License and a clean driving record.

Preferred Qualifications:

• M.S. in Biology, Entomology, Zoology, Ecology, or a related discipline.
• Familiarity with relevant lab techniques and instruments preferred.
• Ability to think creatively regarding macrophotography in the context of AI training data
• Skilled in AI / machine learning algorithms, specifically computer vision models and applications.
• Skilled in programming languages (e.g., Python, R, Unix/Linux).
• Experience working in museum collections.

Time Commitment: 

Candidates must be able to commit 40 hours per week. Candidates will not be asked to do more than 40 hours per week. The duration of the position is 6 months, with potential for a renewal dependent on performance and available remaining project budget.

This is a full time, temporary position with benefits such as health insurance, vacation, sick-time,15 paid holidays, free admission into all of Balboa Park’s museums, and more. 

Pay:  $25/hour