FMF - Friends of Minerals Forum, discussion and message board

[John Jaszczak]

Associate Curator
A. E. Seaman Mineral Museum
Michigan Technological University

The A. E. Seaman Mineral Museum at Michigan Tech invites applications for a full-time professional staff appointment at the Associate Curator level. The Associate Curator is the principal Curatorial staff member and is responsible for the Museum’s outstanding collection of minerals and the exhibits in the Thomas D. Shaffner Hall. The successful candidate is also responsible for teaching mineralogy in the Department of Geological and Mining Engineering and Sciences. The Associate Curator is eligible for promotion to Curator.

A Ph.D. in geological sciences or closely related field or M.S. with an equivalent combination of education and experience is required.The successful candidate would research, manage, and enhance the quality and usefulness of the mineral collection, design and implement museum exhibits, teach a one-semester course in mineralogy, be knowledgeable of the availability and values of minerals in the mineral market, and conduct and publish mineralogical research in popular and/or technical journals. The ideal candidate would be highly motivated to work in the museum environment, and be able to independently initiate, organize, prioritize, and complete activities. Other duties would include promoting the museum and the understanding of minerals through international, national and local events. Applicants will be evaluated based on the full position description available at https://www.jobs.mtu.edu/postings/875

Michigan Tech has a total student population of about 7000 and is located in Houghton, in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, “gateway to the Keweenaw” which is considered one of the best 100 small towns in America ( https://www.cityofhoughton.com ).The university is committed to delivering outstanding undergraduate and graduate educations as well as to advancing knowledge and technology through research. Through the university, the Museum has access to many state-of-the-art research facilities, including scanning and transmission electron microscopes and x-ray diffraction laboratories. The Museum is committed to be recognized nationally and internationally for its collection and its exhibits, and demonstrating its stature as the officially mineral museum of the state of Michigan and is among the foremost mineral museums of the Midwest and Great Lakes regions. In 2011, the Museum moved into a newly constructed building on the edge of campus.Interested candidates can learn more about the Museum at: https://www.museum.mtu.edu
Applicants should apply through Michigan Tech Human Resources at https://www.jobs.mtu.edu/postings/875

Applications should include a statement about the relevance of mineralogy and mineral museums in modern society, and a statement of research and teaching philosophy. Questions about the position can be addressed to Museum Director Dr. Ted Bornhorst by email to tjb(@)mtu(.)edu
Review of applications will begin on June 1, 2013 and will continue to be reviewed until the position is filled. Expected starting date will be January 6, 2014 although the starting date is negotiable.

MichiganTech has a Dual Career Program which assists units with partner orientation to the university and community and identification of possible positions for partners (see https://www.dual.mtu.edu ) Michigan Technological University is an Equal Opportunity Educational Institution/Equal Opportunity Employer.

Links normalized by FMF

[John S. White]

I guess it is common knowledge that the present curator George Robinson is retiring. So here is a great opportunity for an aspiring young mineralogist to get to work with one of the best mineral collections there is in a new and elegant museum. Pretty exciting!

[Cesar M. Salvan]

I think it is also a proof of the success of our Forum as a meeting point for the mineralogical community and a link between professional and amateur approaches to the sciences of minerals.

I recommend to those interested in know more about the A.E. Seaman Mineral Museum to take a look to A. E. Seaman Mineral Museum, Michigan Technological Univ., Houghton, Michigan. This thread soon will receive the yellow star (100000 lectures) and I think is a very good reference about the museum.

[Jordi Fabre]

Absolutely. The idea to offer a so coveted spot here is an honour for FMF and a responsability to do better every day to match the expectations that it seems we generate in a so important institutions as Seaman Museum. It is also a proof of how much changed the world in the last years. John (White), could you imagine an offer like this on line when you achieved the Smithsonian's curator employment? ;-)

I agree also with the kind words of Cesar about the A. E. Seaman Mineral Museum, Michigan Technological Univ., Houghton, Michigan thread. I believe that this thread is a model of a kind of new connexion of the Museums with visitors and collectors, breaking barriers among scientific institutions and the common public.

Good job John! (Jaszczak ;-)

[John Jaszczak]

From the Michigan Technological University's Tech Today online newsletter:

Presentation by Candidates for Associate Curator in the A. E. Seaman Mineral Museum

The A. E. Seaman Mineral Museum is pleased to announce presentations by two candidates for the open position of associate curator. The associate curator will be the principal curatorial professional staff at the museum. The University community and general public are welcome to hear and meet the candidates.

Chris Stefano earned his PhD in Geology at the University of Michigan and is currently research assistant for the mineral collection in the Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences at the University of Michigan. He will present: "Volatile Geochemistry in the Snake River Plain and Columbia River Flood Basalts: Implications for the Evolution of a Continental Hotspot" from 4 to 5 p.m., on Friday, July 26, in Dow 610. A reception will follow the presentation in the 6th floor Dow atrium.

Chris Holl earned his PhD in Geological Sciences at the University of Colorado, Boulder and is currently collection manager of the gem and mineral collection in the Department of Geological Sciences at Princeton University. He will present: "Water in Nominally Anhydrous Silicates: An Ocean in the Mantle" from 4 to 5 p.m., on Monday, July 29, in Dow 610. A reception will follow the presentation in the 6th floor Dow atrium.

[John Jaszczak]

The museum is pleased to announce that Dr. Christopher Stefano has been appointed the new associate curator. Please see the following link for more information.
https://www.admin.mtu.edu/ure/ttoday/previous.php?issue=20130912#2
(link normalized by FMF)