NEWS

1. Project Manager and taxonomic coordinator (general). 

Minimum Requirements: 

Mandatory

• MS in Biology or equivalent

• experience conducting research on biological taxonomy in the Caucasus region, preferably in Georgia

• scientific publications in the field of biological taxonomy in international peer-reviewed journals during the last 5 years

• Language skills: English (at least C1 level); preferably also skills in German and Georgian.

• Computer/ software skills

Desired

• Experience in data basing

• Leadership experience

Job description: tasks as project manager 

1. communication / coordination of activities by all regional project partners, including ISU, Agricultural University, Yerevan Zoological Institute, and Yerevan State University; managing communications and lab processing requests from these institutions; communication and aligning project management with project coordinator at ZFMK Bonn

2. monitoring procurement processes & finances at ISU, contact to ISU administration; coordination of finances with ZFMK

3. public relations / project outreach, 

4. permitting, licensing of collection activities

5. organizing inter-institutional events (together with project coordinator at ZFMK), 

6. Reporting, including primary treatment (this is not very specific—what does it mean?) of the reports of regional partners

7. development of work plans for regional partners, including scheduling and monitoring of achievements

Job description: tasks as a taxonomic coordinator

1. organizing taxonomic identification, field data validation and data entry, photography (includes working with students, and supervising their training in field and laboratory activities)

2. recruiting external taxonomic expertise as needed, correspondence with the in-house and external taxonomic experts, and taxonomic coordinators at partner institutions

3. supervising technicians and student helpers  

4. DNA barcode data validation (in concert with taxonomic experts), and data publication on CaBOL websites

5. Organization and maintenance of a continuously updated inventory of samples, including their location, processing and taxonomic identification (together with the other taxonomic coordinators).

Conditions: One year-long initial contact, starting from 1st August, with possibility of extension for a longer period. The position is full time (40 hours a week). 

2. Taxonomic coordinator (zoology).

Requirements: 

Mandatory

• MS in Biology or related field (e.g. ecology)

• Good knowledge of general zoological taxonomy, and detailed knowledge of at least one taxonomic group of animals

• field research experience in Georgia

• Language skills requested: English (starting with B2 level, proven by an international certificate or interview); German and Georgian a plus.

• Computer/ software skills

Preferred

• Recent scientific publications in biological taxonomy in peer-reviewed journals, 

• Experience in data-basing

• Leadership experience

Job description

1. managing animal specimen collections, together with the project coordinator

2. Organization and maintenance of a continuously updated inventory of samples, including their location, processing and taxonomic identification (together with the project coordinator).

4. planning and organizing fieldwork

5. organizing taxonomic identification of specimens, field data validation and entry, photography (includes working with students, providing training in field and laboratory procedures)

6. recruiting external taxonomic expertise as needed, coordinating activities of in-house and external taxonomic experts

7. assisting the project coordinator in communication with university administration

8. supervising student helpers   

9. DNA barcode data validation and entry, upload & publication

Conditions: Six month-long initial contact, starting from 1st August, with possibility of extension for a longer period. The position is full-time (40 hours a week) for the duration of the grant. 

3. Taxonomic coordinator (plants).

Requirements: 

Mandatory

• MS in Biology or related field (e.g. ecology)

• Good knowledge of general taxonomy of plants, and detailed knowledge of at least one taxonomic group of vascular plants

• experience of conducting field research in Georgia

• Language skills requested: English (starting with B2 level, proven by an international certificate or interview); German and Georgian a plus.

• Computer/ software skills

Considered

• Recent peer-reviewed scientific publications in field of biological taxonomy, 

• Experience in data basing

• Leadership experience

Job description 

1. managing plant collections, coordinating storage of specimens with regional herbaria 

2. Organization and maintenance of a continuously updated inventory of samples, including their location, processing and taxonomic identification (together with the project coordinator).

4. establishing correspondence between the specimens and barcodes (that task includes involvement of the taxonomic experts)

5. organizing taxonomic identification of specimens, field data validation and entry, photography (includes working with students, providing training in field and laboratory procedures)

10. recruiting external taxonomic expertise as needed, coordinating activities of in-house and external taxonomic experts

6. supervising student helpers  

7. DNA barcode data validation, upload & publication
   

Conditions: Six month-long initial contact, starting from 1st August, with possibility of extension for a longer period. Full-time occupation (40 hours a week) during the contract period. Payment: for applicants, the information can be sent in private.

4,5. Laboratory technicians (2 positions)

Requirements: 

Mandatory

• MS or BSc in Biology or related field (e.g. genetics)

• Laboratory skills, e.g., preparation of solutions, pipetting

• Language skills: spoken and written English and Georgian.

• Computer/ software skills

Job description 

1. DNA extraction, PCR, barcoding using next-gen sequencing methods

2. Data Management (filling databases, uploading sequences)

3. Communication with taxonomic coordinators and project coordinator

4. Weekly progress reports
   

Conditions: Six month-long initial contact, starting from 1st August, with possibility of extension for a longer period. The position is full time (40 hours a week), for the duration of the project.