Curatorial Associate

Byrne Dairy; Town of Ithaca (NY); On-site; USD 4,057,000 - 4,361,000; Full time

Job summary

Cornell University seeks a Curatorial Associate to oversee all aspects of herbarium collection curation at the L. H. Bailey Hortorium in Ithaca, NY.

You will process, catalog, and manage data for over 950,000 specimens, supervise staff and volunteers, and develop strategies to improve preservation and efficiency. This is a full-time, on-site role with a standard 39-hour week. Qualifications include an advanced degree in a relevant field and 3+ years in herbarium work, including imaging, database

Qualifications

• Graduate degree (M.Sc. or Ph.D.) in Botany, Biology, Information Science, Museum Studies, or a related field.
• At least three years of experience with preserved plant specimens, digital imaging, herbarium databases, and barcode systems.
• Knowledge of botanical classification, nomenclature, and world geography.
• Expertise identifying North American flora, especially NY State, plus cultivated flora of the US.
• General plant identification, descriptions, and related botanical content.
• Experience conducting independent research and producing publishable content.
• Experience with digital imaging of specimens, data, image databasing, and barcode record-keeping.
• Experience with general herbarium curation, annotation, organization, and maintenance.
• Ability to cultivate inclusive working relationships with students, faculty, staff, and community.

Responsibilities

• Manage curated herbarium collections comprising over 950,000 dried plant specimens.
• Oversee preparation, processing, accessioning, documentation, imaging, data entry, and database management following museum standards.
• Manage loans, filing, accessioning, and loan request fulfillment.
• Update taxonomic nomenclature and annotate specimen names.
• Perform routine insect control and ensure safety compliance.
• Develop strategies to improve collection condition, preservation, organization, and efficiency.
• Coordinate with Digital Curator on digital collection management.
• Recruit, train, and supervise undergraduates, interns, and volunteers.
• Interface with partner institutions and NY projects for plant identification services.
• Deliver lectures and seminars for Cornell courses and external groups.
• Present research at conferences and professional meetings.
• Conduct tours, workshops, and educational programs; lead field trips and plant-focused instruction.
• Engage in herbarium research activities and publish scholarly work.
• Manage budgets, purchases, and annual reporting.

Skills

Botany knowledge

Database management

Digital imaging

Plant identification

Nomenclature

Geography

Research for publication

Leadership & supervision

Education

M.Sc. or Ph.D. in Botany/ Biology/ MIS/ Museum Studies

Tools

Herbarium databases

Barcode system

Digital imaging workflows

Job description

The Opportunity

The Curatorial Associate oversees all aspects of herbarium collection curation in accordance with established museum standards. Responsibilities include processing and cataloging incoming specimens and archives, managing collection data, maintaining systematic organization, and performing routine care and conservation. The position also evaluates collection standards and develops strategies to improve the physical condition of the collection, streamline processes, and enhance overall efficiency.

About The L. H. Bailey Hortorium Herbarium

The L. H. Bailey Hortorium Herbarium at Cornell University houses more than 950,000 preserved plant specimens collected from around the world, making it one of the largest university-affiliated herbaria in North America. The Herbarium supports botanical and horticultural research, education, and discovery through the preservation and advancement of its extensive collections. It provides unique field- and museum-based learning opportunities for Cornell students and the broader community. Looking ahead, the Herbarium is exploring innovative approaches to extended specimens, research, and experiential learning.

Key Responsibilities

• Manage and curate the Herbarium’s botanical collections, including more than 950,000 dried vascular and nonvascular plant specimens, native and cultivated material, and other special collections.


• Oversee the preparation, processing, accessioning, documentation, imaging, data entry, database management, specimen mapping, systematic organization, and routine conservation of herbarium materials in accordance with accepted museum standards.


• Manage incoming and outgoing loans, including filing incoming loans, accessioning new material, and assisting with the fulfillment of loan requests.


• Update taxonomic nomenclature and annotate specimen names on existing herbarium materials.


• Perform routine insect control, including the freezing of specimens, and ensure collection management practices comply with applicable safety protocols and procedures.


• Develop and implement strategies to improve the physical condition, preservation, organization, and efficiency of the collection.


• Provide day-to-day direction to the Digital Curator in coordinating digital collection management and development.


• Establish work priorities and direct staffing to accomplish the herbarium goals and objectives; recruit, train, and manage undergraduates, interns, and volunteers.


• Interface with other institutions and major New York State projects such as the New York Flora Association; is the primary resource for plant identification service (diagnostics) and handles requests from NY county extension agents, agriculturists, horticulturists departments and the general public.


• Deliver guest lectures and seminars for Cornell courses and presentations to plant-focused organizations.


• Present research and professional work at conferences and professional meetings.


• Conduct tours, demonstrations, workshops, and educational programs for Cornell classes, outside organizations, and other visitors.


• Lead field trips to local natural areas and provide botanical and herbarium-related instruction.


• Engage in herbarium research-related activities, including and authoring scholarly publications and reports.


• Manage herbarium budgets, purchase materials and supplies, maintain records on collection use and growth, and prepare annual reports.

What We Need

• Graduate degree (M.Sc. or Ph.D.) in Botany, Biology, Information Science, Museum Studies, or a related field.


• At least three years of experience working with preserved plant specimens or managing a plant collection, including digital imaging of specimens, herbarium database management, and management of a barcode system as it pertains to standard modern herbarium practice.


• Knowledge of botanical classification, nomenclature, and world geography.


• Knowledge and demonstrated expertise in identifying North American flora, particularly the flora of New York State, as well as cultivated flora of the United States.


• General knowledge and skills in plant identification, plant descriptions, and developing related botanical content.


• Experience conducting independent, directed research related to New York and cultivated floras and the ability to develop research findings into publishable content.


• Knowledge of and proficiency with digital imaging of specimens, specimen data and image databasing, and barcode record-keeping.


• Experience with general herbarium curation, including established methods for specimen annotation, organization, and maintenance.


• Ability to cultivate and develop inclusive working relationships with students, faculty, staff, and community members.

Required training for People Leaders

• Must complete Cornell University Supervisory Development Training within one year of hire into the position. Recommendations: Turning Point and Harold Craft.

If you have all those things, great! We have a few more things that we would prefer you to have, but it’s ok if you don’t.

Preferred Experience

• Field experience with specimen collection, preparation, and archiving, both nationally and internationally.


• Experience with specimen imaging (e.g., high-resolution 3-D digital images, CT scans, etc.) storage and archiving digital image files, and image analysis.


• Experience with analysis and management of spatial data (georeferencing, GIS, etc.).


• Experience with collection management databases and online aggregators (Symbiota, iDigBio, Arctos, etc.).


• Experience with curation of extended (holistic) specimens.


• Ability to maintain a website.


• Experience with grant preparation and administration, including budget management.


• Experience supervising undergraduate students.

This is a full-time (39 hours/week) position that is based in Ithaca, NY and fully on-site. Core hours are Monday to Friday, 8am to 4:30pm. The final schedule will be established in collaboration with the supervisor. This is a one-year term appointment that is contingent upon available work, funding, and performance.

Rewards and Benefits

• Cornell receives national recognition as an award-winning workplace for our health, wellbeing, and sustainability.


• Our benefits programs include comprehensive health care options, generous retirement contributions, access to wellness programs, and employee discounts with local and national retail brands. We invite you to follow this link to get more information about our benefits: Understand Your Benefits | Working at Cornell.


• Our leave provisions include health and personal leave, three weeks of vacation and 13 holidays: Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Memorial Day, Juneteenth, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving and the day after, and an end of the year winter break from December 25-January 1. To offer greater flexibility for observing faiths and traditions we also offer two additional floating holidays. Learn more about our generous leave provisions: Holiday and Accrued Time Off | Working at Cornell.


• Cornell's impressive educational benefits include tuition-free Extramural Study and Employee Degree Program, tuition aid for external education, and Cornell Children's Tuition Assistance Program. Learn more about our extensive educational benefits: Education Benefits | Working at Cornell.


• Follow this link to learn more about the Total Rewards of Working at Cornell: Total Rewards | Working at Cornell.

Visa sponsorship is not available for this position.

University Job Title: Collections Asst V

Job Family: Library/Museum

Level: E

Pay Rate Type: Hourly

Pay Range: $29.45 - $31.66

Remote Option Availability: Onsite

Company: Contract College

Contact Name: Keionda Lewis

Contact Email: [e-mail]

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2026-08-20