We are looking for a colleague who has experience and affinity in working with scientific plant collections and its related policies. In this position, you will work as a Curator of the collections within the curator team as well as a (junior) Lecturer within the Quantitative Biodiversity Dynamics research unit. In addition to the core task of collection management, you are involved in conducting and developing academic education and/or conducting (independent) scientific research.

The work includes three key activities:

1. Collection management
   This includes activities related to curating the collection, including accessioning and deaccessioning plants, keeping track of their origins and uses, and the inventory, labelling and identification of plants in the garden. Plants are identified on the basis of scientific and taxonomic literature as well as potential (taxonomic) research. The collection is kept optimised for scientific research, academic education and public enjoyment and education, and compliant with international agreements.
2. Education 
   Providing, maintaining and developing regular education in the field of plant systematics, diversity and identification in academic courses. In addition, it is possible to provide non-regular education in the form of student theses, project supervision and excursions.
3. Research
   Profiling your own research by producing scientific and popular science publications as well as participating in public outreach. You actively participate in national forums and international congresses of botanical gardens. In addition, you maintain contacts within various (inter)national networks.

We are looking for a colleague with an analytical mind, an eye for detail and experience in research and/or education. You are capable of overseeing the entire range of tasks and determining priorities. You have an ambition to develop yourself in relation to the gardens which you can successfully convey to your colleagues and the general public. We would also like you to bring multiple of the following: 

• an academic work and thinking level;
• demonstrable experience with applying (botanical) taxonomic and systematic knowledge in practice;
• experience with relational databases, including importing and exporting data for both scientific and public purposes, preferably with specialized plant collection software (e.g., IrisBG);
• experience or affinity with international policies related to plant collections, such as the Convention of Biological Diversity (CBD), the Nagoya Protocol on Access and Benefit Sharing (ABS), and the International Plant Exchange Network (IPEN);
• experience or affinity with (botanical) taxonomy and systematics research;
• experience and affinity with academic education;
• your own vision on profiling your research and/or education in connection to the gardens;
• a scientifically oriented curriculum vitae, preferably including peer-reviewed publications;
• an open and social attitude towards colleagues and volunteers.

• a full-time position for one year, with the prospect of an extension;
• a full-time gross salary ranging from €2960 to €5439 in scale 10 or 11;
• 8% holiday bonus and 8.3% end-of-year bonus;
• a pension scheme, partially paid parental leave, and flexible employment conditions based on the Collective Labour Agreement Dutch Universities.

In addition to the employment conditions from the CAO for Dutch Universities, Utrecht University has a number of its own arrangements. These include agreements on professional development, leave arrangements and sports. We also give you the opportunity to expand your terms of employment through the Employment Conditions Selection Model. This is how we encourage you to grow.

For more information, please visit working at Utrecht University.

A better future for everyone. This ambition motivates our scientists in executing their leading research and inspiring teaching. At Utrecht University, the various disciplines collaborate intensively towards major societal themes. Our focus is on Dynamics of Youth, Institutions for Open Societies, Life Sciences and Sustainability.

At the Faculty of Science, there are 6 departments to make a fundamental connection with: Biology, Chemistry, Information and Computing Sciences, Mathematics, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Physics. Each of these is made up of distinct institutes that work together to focus on answering some of humanity’s most pressing problems. More fundamental still are the individual research groups – the building blocks of our ambitious scientific projects. The faculty is located at Utrecht Science Park in the Buys Ballot building near the historical city centre of Utrecht. For an impression, watch the video Working at the Faculty of Science of Utrecht University. 

As a curator you work at the Botanic Gardens of Utrecht University, one of the oldest academic Botanic Gardens in Europe, dating back to 1639. We house a collection of over 9,000 plant species intended for science, conservation and the public, for which we welcome more than 150,000 visitors annually. Within the Botanic Gardens there is ample space for education, research and experiments. This makes the Gardens an inspiring place for employees, students and visitors to stay and meet each other. We are in full development with a clear ambition towards research, education and our audience.