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Index/Position No.:       21610/TBD                                    Level 6

Position Title:                Preparator

Department:                                                      Natural History Museum, Don Sundquist

                                                                        Center of Excellence in Paleontology

 Expectations for All Employees

East Tennessee State University pursues its mission based upon core values.  An employee's job performance must support and exhibit the university's core values:

PEOPLE come first, are treated with dignity and respect, and are encouraged to achieve their full potential;
RELATIONSHIPS are built on honesty, integrity and trust;
DIVERSITY of people and thought is respected;
EXCELLENCE is achieved through teamwork, leadership, creativity, and a strong work ethic;
EFFICIENCY is achieved through wise use of human and financial resources; and
COMMITMENT to intellectual achievement is embraced.

Function of Position

Responsible to the Director of the Natural History Museum for overseeing operation in the Preparation laboratory; preparing or overseeing the preparation of all (predominately vertebrate) fossils coming into the museum from Gray Fossil Site and other localities under investigation; recruiting, training and supervising volunteers, student and other staff in picking concentrate from the wet screening activities and in cleaning and preparing fossils for housing in collections storage; assisting in installation and de-installation of exhibits; and performing other related duties as assigned.

Essential Functions

 -      

        Oversees the Museum preparation laboratory.

-       Regulates and supervises all workers (to include regular employees, student workers, and volunteers) within the preparation laboratory.

-       Prepares all fossil materials to be housed in the Museum.

-       Provides training in preparation, museum studies, molding and casting, etc. to both students and staff.

-       Assists in museum education, exhibition, and public programs.

Secondary Functions

Trains other personnel in molding and casting.

Assists in the installation and de-installation of exhibits.     

Performs other related duties as assigned.

Knowledge and Abilities

Knowledge of systematics and taxonomy.

-       Ability to communicate effectively.

-       Ability to work both independently and in a busy team environment.

-       Knowledge of computerized curation/cataloging of collections and database management.

-       Knowledge of fossil preparation.

-       Knowledge of conservation specialties appropriate to the museum’s collections.

Supervision Given and Received

Performs under general supervision.  Plans and arranges own work which is directed toward an established objective.  Supervises classified and temporary employees, volunteers and student workers.

Minimum Qualifications

Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience in the natural sciences, such as Geology/Geoscience, Biology, Museum Studies or related field; two years experience in fossil preparation.

April 2008