CURATOR OF FUNGAL COLLECTIONS

Tiivistelmä työpaikkailmoituksesta: The Curator will curate non-lichenized fungal collections, perform collection-based research, secure external funding, and establish and lead a research group. The role includes up to 5% university teaching and supervision, participation in international cooperation and stakeholder collaboration, and mainly on-site work at the Herbarium in Kaisaniemi, Helsinki. Applicants must hold a doctoral degree by the end of the application period, show recent publications and a proven record of external funding, and demonstrate leadership, teaching ability, international collaboration, and excellent knowledge of fungal species. The permanent position starts 1 March 2027 (or as agreed), the initial gross salary will be approximately EUR 4,300–4,600 per month, and applications must be submitted by 30 November 2026 at 23:59. Tämä tiivistelmä on luotu tekoälyn avulla. The Finnish Museum of Natural History Luomus, part of the University of Helsinki, is seeking a CURATOR OF FUNGAL COLLECTIONS for a permanent employment relationship starting on 1 March 2027, or as agreed. The position is located in the Mycology and Bryology Team of the Botany and Mycology Unit, and the Curator will participate in the activities of Luomus research programmes. The Mycology and Bryology Team is responsible for curating the world’s largest cryptogam collection, comprising approximately 1.7 million specimens. The team updates the collections database of the herbarium collections, participates in the development and maintenance of the Finnish Biodiversity Information Facility (FinBIF), and conducts scientific research in fungal and bryophyte taxonomy, systematics, conservation biology, and biogeography. Team members also participate in teaching university courses. The team consists of 26 people in total, eight of whom are permanent staff members; half of these hold academic positions. About the Position We are particularly seeking an expert in non-lichenized fungi who conducts collection-based research, for example on speciation and its mechanisms, functional, developmental and morphological innovations, species relationships, taxonomy, evolutionary transitions, fungal diversity, biogeographical changes, or nomenclature. The successful applicant will be familiar with key scientific methods and capable of conducting independent research. The Curator will have primary responsibility for curating the collections of non-lichenized fungi. The Curator will also teach university courses, accounting for no more than 5% of working time, and supervise master’s theses and doctoral dissertations. The Curator’s teaching is intended to contribute, where applicable, to teaching in the Faculty of Biological and Environmental Sciences and the Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry. The Curator is expected to be active in acquiring external research funding, establishing a research group, and supervising members of their own research group. The Curator will also participate in the international cooperation of the Finnish Museum of Natural History and in stakeholder collaboration within the field. Qualification Requirements The field of the person we are seeking is fungal systematics, fungal taxonomy, biogeography, evolution, or conservation biology. The person selected for the position is required to have: a doctoral degree; the degree requirements must be fulfilled by the end of the application period evidence of active publication activity in recent years a proven track record of securing external funding and the ability to attract further funding the ability to lead a research group the ability to provide high-quality teaching based on collection research and to supervise theses documented international collaboration in their field of research excellent knowledge of fungal species excellent organizational and collaboration skills a willingness to contribute to the development of the unit and of the Finnish Museum of Natural History as a whole Because the Curator’s main duties are the curation and development of fungal collections, high-quality research, and university-level teaching, successful performance of the duties requires good proficiency in Finnish and English. If you do not yet speak Finnish, we expect you to achieve good language proficiency within five years after being selected for the position. Experience in working with scientific collections and developing collection and research infrastructure is considered an advantage, as is demonstrated experience in public outreach. The official languages of the University of Helsinki are Finnish and Swedish. What We Offer We offer meaningful work with some of the world’s most valuable fungal collections in an international working environment. We support your wellbeing at work through flexible working hours, comprehensive occupational health services, and affordable sports services. The University also offers language studies to support the development of Finnish language ski