Description
Oversee and interpret natural science collections—zoological, botanical, geological, and paleontological—for a museum or similar institution; manage acquisition, care, documentation, research, and public engagement.
- • Develop and maintain specimen registration, cataloging, digitization, and metadata in collection management databases.
- • Provide specimen data, identifications, images, and access to researchers, educators, agencies, and the public.
- • Inspect collection spaces and labs to ensure environmental controls, integrated pest management, and safety for fluid- and dry-preserved specimens.
- • Train and supervise collection managers, preparators, technicians, researchers, students, and volunteers.
- • Authorize and coordinate acquisitions, exchanges, deaccessions, and incoming/outgoing specimen loans.
- • Plan and conduct research in taxonomy, systematics, ecology, paleontology, or conservation using the collections.
- • Collaborate with leadership to set collections policies, priorities, budgets, and long-term strategies.
- • Represent the institution at scientific meetings and community events to promote the collections and build partnerships and funding.
- • Plan and deliver public programs, citizen-science projects, and field or lab demonstrations using specimens.
- • Write and review grant proposals, peer-reviewed articles, collection plans, and outreach materials.
- • Examine, prepare, and verify new specimens to confirm provenance, taxonomy, locality data, condition, and legal/ethical compliance.
- • Arrange insurance, packing, permits, and transport for specimen loans and traveling exhibits; review coverage for the collection.
- • Specify and oversee creation of scientific models, fossil casts, digital 3D reproductions, and other replicas.
- • Plan and oversee acquisition, preventive conservation, storage, and exhibition of natural history specimens; select themes and coordinate exhibit installation.
- • Design and lead tours, workshops, and educational sessions on biodiversity, geology, and collection care.
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O*NET occupational data (work activities, skills, knowledge).
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This site includes information from O*NET by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license. Career Clutch has modified some of this information for student readability. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.
Last reviewed: Jan 2026
