Student Special Collections Assistant, Kevin Erwin Environmental Ecology Collection

Florida Gulf Coast University; Fort Myers (FL); On-site; USD 17,000 - 25,000; Full time

Job summary

Florida Gulf Coast University seeks a Student Special Collections Assistant to help arrange, describe, preserve, and digitize the Kevin Erwin Environmental Ecology Collection. This role supports access for students, researchers, and the global scientific community by preparing materials for long-term preservation and online availability.

The position collaborates with the ecosystem ecology team and collection creator to capture contextual information and ensure accurate descriptions, while

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree OR pursuing bachelor's degree in environmental studies, environmental ecology, ecological history, or related field.
• Currently enrolled student at Florida Gulf Coast University at time of hire and throughout the appointment.
• Experience with digitization equipment, scanning software, or metadata creation preferred.
• Experience with large research collections or scientific data is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Arrange, organize, process, and digitize archival materials using professional archival standards (e.g., DACS) and methods.
• Research the materials to create descriptive metadata, finding aids, and item-level inventories for online and physical access.
• Consult with the collection creator to capture contextual information and ensure accurate description of the materials already in the collection.
• Support public access initiatives, including reproduction requests, research requests, and instructional use.
• Maintain documentation of processing workflows and project progress.
• Other job-related duties as assigned.

Skills

Strong organizational skills

Attention to detail

Written communication

Verbal communication

Independent work

Collaborative work

Education

Bachelor's degree (in progress) environmental studies/ecology/history or related

Currently enrolled FGCU student

Tools

Digitization equipment

Scanning software

Metadata creation

Job description

Student Special Collections Assistant, Kevin Erwin EnvironmentalEcology Collection

Florida Gulf Coast University

Job Summary

The Student Special Collections Assistant supports the arrangement,description, preservation, and digitization of the Kevin ErwinEnvironmental Ecology Collection. This large, high-impactcollection includes ecological surveys, permits, planningdocuments, maps, photographs, correspondence, field data, and othermaterials that document the environmental history of SouthwestFlorida and the development of FGCU. The Student SpecialCollections Assistant will help make these materials accessible tostudents, faculty, staff, visiting researchers, and the globalscientific community by preparing them for long-term preservationand online access. The position will collaborate directly withecosystem ecology, Kevin Erwin, to verify and enhance contextualinformation while this opportunity remains available.

Job Description

Primary Responsibilities:

• Arrange, organize, process, and digitize archival materialsusing professional archival standards (e.g., DACS) andmethods.
• Research the materials to create descriptive metadata, findingaids, and item-level inventories for online and physical accessthat highlight the scientific purposes and importance of thematerials.
• Consult with the collection creator to capture contextualinformation and ensure accurate description of the materialsalready in the collection and potential acquisitions to thecollection.
• Support public access initiatives, including reproductionrequests, research requests, and instructional use.
• Maintain documentation of processing workflows and projectprogress.

Other Responsibilities:

• Other job-related duties as assigned.

Additional Job Description

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree OR pursuing bachelor's degree inenvironmental studies, environmental ecology, ecological history,or related field.
• Currently enrolled student at Florida Gulf Coast University attime of hire and throughout the appointment.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Enrolled in a graduate degree program for environmentalstudies, environmental ecology, ecological history, or a relatedfield.
• Coursework or experience working with ecological or historicalmaterials.
• Experience with digitization equipment, scanning software, ormetadata creation.
• Experience working with large research collections orscientific data.

Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities:

• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Knowledge of ecological terminology; ability to identify anddifferentiate between ecological map types and survey data.
• Comfort working independently and collaboratively with faculty,staff, donors, and researchers.
• Willingness to learn professional archival standards, methods,and processes.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.

Physical Requirements:

• Ability7 to lift archival boxes up to 20 lbs.
• Ability to move and rehouse large-format materials (blueprints,maps, oversized documents).
• Extended periods of standing, scanning, or working withcollections in storage environments.

FGCU is a State University System of Florida member and an EqualOpportunity and Equal Access employer. All qualified applicantswill receive consideration for employment without regard to race,color, religion, sex, age, national origin, disability, orprotected veteran status.