Assistant Curator/Assistant Professor, Invertebrate Zoology

American Museum of Natural History; New York (NY); On-site; USD 120,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

American Museum of Natural History seeks an outstanding tenure-track Assistant Curator/Assistant Professor in Invertebrate Zoology with expertise in Lepidoptera evolution. The position emphasizes a world-leading, collections-based program integrated with genomics, imaging, and data science.

The candidate will steward AMNH's Lepidoptera collection, develop fieldworthy accessions, and teach and mentor PhD students in the Richard Gilder Graduate School, with opportunities for collaboration across

Qualifications

• PhD in Entomology or related field at time of application submission.
• Strong record of high-impact scholarship and potential for extramural funding.
• Excellent knowledge of moth and butterfly diversity is essential.

Responsibilities

• Conduct original research on Lepidoptera and evolutionary biology.
• Steward and develop AMNH's Lepidoptera collection; expand it through fieldwork and accessions.
• Lead collections-based research combining specimens with genomic, morphological, ecological data.

Skills

Lepidoptera knowledge

Education

Doctoral degree in Entomology or related field

Job description

Assistant Curator/Assistant Professor, Invertebrate Zoology

The Division of Invertebrate Zoology at the American Museum of Natural History (AMNH) seeks an outstanding tenure-track Assistant Curator/Assistant Professor with expertise in the evolution of Lepidoptera, to start on or after July 1, 2027.

We seek an innovative evolutionary biologist who will develop a world-leading, collections-based research program in Lepidoptera. The successful candidate will integrate modern approaches in evolutionary biology with genomics, imaging, computational biology, biodiversity informatics, and/or other emerging computational approaches. We are particularly interested in scientists who envision natural-history collections not simply as repositories of specimens, but as powerful research platforms for addressing fundamental questions about evolution, biodiversity, and environmental change.

The ideal candidate will have a record of high-impact scholarship, strong potential for extramural funding, and the vision to establish an internationally recognized independent research program. Research interests may include, but are not limited to, systematics, morphology, comparative genomics, biogeography, and/or macroevolution. We are especially interested in candidates who combine organismal biology with emerging computational approaches, including machine learning, computer vision, automated specimen identification, large-scale image analysis, and other data-intensive methods for understanding biodiversity.

Excellent knowledge of moth and butterfly diversity is essential.

Research and Collections

The successful candidate will conduct original scientific research on Lepidoptera; steward and develop the Museum's Lepidoptera collection; and expand the collection through fieldwork, strategic collecting, and other accessions.

AMNH's Lepidoptera collection comprises more than 3 million specimens, with particular strengths in New World macrolepidopterans. The collection is well organized and largely housed in compactors, including a spacious new butterfly facility. Together, these holdings provide an exceptional foundation for research across evolutionary timescales and geographic regions. We envision the successful candidate playing a leadership role in advancing the next generation of collections-based research through integration of physical specimens with genomic, morphological, ecological, geographic, imaging, and other digital datasets.

Opportunities include developing methods to extract new information from historical specimens; applying machine learning and advanced analytical methods to specimen images and biodiversity data; integrating museum specimens with genomic and environmental datasets; and developing computational approaches that accelerate species discovery, identification, classification, and our understanding of evolutionary change.

Education and Public Engagement

In addition, the successful candidate will serve as an Assistant Professor in the Richard Gilder Graduate School and should have an interest in teaching and advising PhD students and postdocs in comparative biology through this program. There is also the opportunity to build on existing relationships with nearby partner institutions to advise doctoral students, including Columbia University and the City University of New York.

The position will provide opportunities to contribute to exhibition development, collaborate with the Museum's education department, and participate in public engagement initiatives, especially on efforts aligned with AMNH's strategic priority to address the local and global impacts of climate change and biodiversity loss.

Research Environment

The AMNH, an independent, non-governmental institution, is a recognized leader in scientific research, graduate education, and public education about science and the natural world. The Museum provides an exceptional environment for collections-based research with resources such as: world-class zoological and other collections, including a cryogenic collection and associated facility; genomics labs and an ancient biomolecules lab; micro-CT scanning and scanning electron microscopy; advanced optical, electron-beam, and X-ray analytical technologies; high performance computing research resources; the Southwestern Research Station in the biodiverse Chiricahua mountains of southern Arizona, which has hosted the Lepidoptera field course for the past 18 years; access through AMNH's consortium membership to the 4000-acre Black Rock Forest approximately 1.5 hours north of NYC; and generous internal funding opportunities to support ambitious field research and other innovative scientific projects.

Salary

The expected salary range for the Assistant Curator/Assistant Professor is $120,000 - 130,000.

Pay Information

Pay will be determined based on several factors. The hiring range for the position at commencement is based on the type of work and the scope of responsibilities. The salary and placement offered is based on a number of individualized factors, including, but not limited to, skills, knowledge, training, education, credentials, areas of specialization and depth and scope of experience.

Required Qualifications

Candidates must hold a doctoral degree in Entomology or related field such as Biology or Ecology and Evolution at the time of application submission.

Position Type

Full-Time

Total Number of Scheduled Hours Per Pay Period

70

Union Status

Non-Union

FLSA

Exempt

Expected Salary Minimum

$120,000/annual

Expected Salary Maximum

$130,000/annual

Open or Filled

Open Until Filled: Yes

Posting Number

FA017P

Open Date

09/11/2026

Quick Link

https://careers.amnh.org/postings/4923

EEO Statement

The American Museum of Natural History is an Equal Opportunity Employer. The Museum does not discriminate with respect to employment, or admission or access to Museum facilities, programs or activities on the basis of race, creed, color, religion, age, disability, marital status, partnership status, gender (including sexual harassment), sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, genetic information, pregnancy and lactation accommodations, alienage or citizenship status, current or former participation in the uniformed services, status as a veteran, caregiver, pre-employment marijuana testing, sexual and reproductive health decisions, salary history, national or ethnic origin, height, weight, or on account of any other basis prohibited by applicable City, State, or Federal law. Additional protections are afforded in employment based on arrest or conviction record, status as a victim of domestic violence, stalking and sex offenses, unemployment status, and credit history, in each case to the extent provided by law.