Assistant, Curator Schlinger Chair of Diptera

California Academy of Sciences; Sacramento (CA); On-site; USD 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

The California Academy of Sciences invites applications for an endowed Assistant Curator in the Entomology Department, IBSS: the Schlinger Chair of Diptera. We seek a scientist to build a collections-based research program in Diptera, integrating morphology with genomics, imaging, and informatics, advancing biodiversity science.

Applicants with a strong lineage-focused approach to arthropod systematics are encouraged; exceptional candidates focusing on other strategic insect groups may also be

Job description

About The California Academy Of Sciences

Founded in 1853, the California Academy of Sciences is a globally renowned, AZA-accredited non‑profit scientific and cultural institution located in the heart of San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park. Home to a world‑class planetarium, aquarium, rainforest, research institute, and natural history museum—all under one living roof—our mission is to regenerate the natural world through science, learning, and collaboration.

Our living collection reflects Earth’s vast biodiversity, consisting of nearly 60,000 animals representing over 800 species. Our research collections are the largest west of the Mississippi, spanning nearly 46 million plants, animals, fossils, and cultural artifacts from across the globe and throughout history. Our diverse team includes leading biodiversity scientists, educators, storytellers, designers, and communicators who are passionate about advancing knowledge and catalyzing action through science and storytelling.

Whether you’re conducting research behind the scenes or engaging the public on the museum floor, your work will help connect people to the natural world and empower them to protect it.

About The Opportunity

Do you have a passion for arthropod biodiversity, collections‑based systematics, and the next generation of natural history infrastructure? Are you interested in joining a team of scientists at a world‑renowned natural history institution that is investing in genomics, systematics, and biodiversity monitoring at scale?

The California Academy of Sciences is seeking a candidate for an endowed Assistant Curator position in the Entomology Department, housed within the Institute for Biodiversity Science and Sustainability (IBSS): the Schlinger Chair of Diptera. We seek a scientist who takes a lineage‑focused approach to questions in the evolution, systematics, and biodiversity of terrestrial arthropods, and who will lead an internationally recognized, collections‑based research program that integrates traditional systematic and morphological work with modern genomic, imaging, and informatics tools.

We seek a systematic dipterist to develop a collections‑based research program on Diptera. Although expertise in Diptera is strongly preferred, we may also consider exceptional candidates whose collections‑based systematic research focuses on another insect group of strategic importance to the Academy’s collections.

This position is expected to contribute to the Academy's signature initiative in entomology, Project BEAC