Student Collections Assistant, Mineralogy

The Canadian Museum Of Nature; Outaouais; Hybrid; CAD 11,572,000 - 14,878,000; Full time

Job summary

The Canadian Museum Of Nature is seeking a student for a 16-week, in-person internship in Gatineau to support mineral projects. You will prepare specimens for imaging, perform digital photography, and manage datasheets using Excel and the museum database.

Eligible students must be enrolled in Earth Sciences or Geology, plan to resume full-time studies in Fall 2027, and demonstrate English proficiency. The role runs Monday to Friday during standard daytime hours.

Qualifications

• enrolled in a university undergraduate or college program in Earth Sciences or Geology
• must resume full-time studies Fall 2027
• English speaking and writing essential, bilingualism is an asset

Responsibilities

• Preparing specimens for electronic data and image capture, inventories, sorting, organizing and labelling specimens
• Digital imaging of mineral specimens
• Managing specimen data and images using Excel and the museum database

Skills

English proficiency

Teamwork

Manual dexterity

Independent work

Education

Earth Sciences program

Geology program

Tools

Microsoft Excel

Museum collection database

Job description

Selection process number: 2090-CMN-26-OC-052
16 weeks, January to April 2027
Full-time, 37,5 hours per week
1 position

Work Location

Canada Museum of Nature, 1740 Pink Road, Gatineau

Selection process number: 2090-CMN-26-OC-052

The Canadian Museum of Nature (CMN), Canada’s largest natural history museum, houses an active collection of more than 60,000 mineralogical and geological specimens. This includes many historical and significant specimens from all provinces and territories. The Museum serves the research and education needs of a broad community by building, preserving, upgrading, and facilitating access to the collection, providing staff with exciting opportunities to play a role in current natural history research and collection management.

We are currently seeking a student to support collections-based mineral projects. The successful candidate will collaborate with CMN staff on the digital imaging of mineral specimens from the CMN Mineral Collections. The resulting images will contribute to resources used by the public, partner institutions, and the mineralogical research community.

The student in this role will be:

• Preparing specimens for electronic data and image capture, making inventories, sorting, organizing and labelling specimens as necessary;
• Digital imaging of mineral specimens; and
• Managing of the specimen data and images, using primarily Microsoft Excel and the Museum collection database

Your place at the Museum

We value diversity and believe we benefit from working in a place where everyone feels included and where the unique qualities and strengths inherent in a diverse workforce are combined. We welcome applications from persons who may identify as a member of one or more other equity seeking groups (for e.g. visible minorities, disabled, 2SLGBTQIA+, religious or cultural minority).

You have a place at the Museum!

QUALIFICATIONS:
Candidates must meet the following basic requirements:

• Candidates must be enrolled in a university undergraduate or college program in Earth Sciences, Geology, or related field.
• Candidates must be registered to resume full-time studies in Fall 2027;
• Ability to speak and write in English is essential, bilingualism is an asset;
• Show initiative and be able to work both independently as well as in a team;
• Have a high degree of manual dexterity and feel comfortable with handling irreplaceable mineral specimens of high value.

The following qualifications are considered an asset:

• Prior experience with mineral identification, using visual and analytical techniques.
• Interest and experience in museums or other scientific institutions

Please note that this is a full-time in-person position, during weekday hours only.

SALARY: Rates of pay are determined at the initial appointment or reappointment stage and are based on the incumbent’s current academic level as per the museum’s terms and conditions of employment for students . The official working period is from Monday to Friday between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m.

NOTE: Canadian citizenship is not required, however individuals must be legally entitled to work in Canada. The Canadian Museum of Nature is committed to developing inclusive, barrier-free selection processes and work environments. If contacted in relation to a job opportunity or testing, please advise the Human Resources Advisor in a timely fashion of the accommodation measures which must be taken to enable you to be assessed in a fair and equitable manner. Information received relating to accommodation measures will be addressed confidentially.

For more information regarding the position, please contact: Michael Bainbridge, Curator, Mineralogy ([e-mail])