[Taxacom] A good year indeed!

[Michael A. Ivie]

Further to my comments about the plethora of excellent job Openings, I 
give you 2 more:

  Assistant/Associate Curator Arachnology

California Academy of Sciences seeks an inspirational scientist who 
exemplifies the Academy's mission to "explore, explain, and sustain life 
on Earth."
<http://calacademy.snaphire.com/jobdetails?ajid=9LVs8>

and

CURATOR, SCHLINGER FOUNDATION CHAIR OF ENTOMOLOGY

The Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History seeks applicants for Curator 
of Entomology. This is a full time, exempt position, supported by 
endowment. Responsible for the continued development of the entomology 
collection and the energetic leadership of programs promoting the study 
and appreciation of insects as well as participation in the Museum's 
nature educational programs. A doctorate in entomology (or related 
subject), experience in insect collecting methodology, collection 
curation, and a record of collections-based research is desired. Should 
be good communicator and enthusiastic interpreter of general entomology 
to the public.

Salary DOE. Please submit (1) letter of interest; (2) current CV with 
list of publications, and up to three PDFs; (3) names of three 
references to Human Resources Department, SB Museum of Natural History, 
2559 Puesta del Sol Road, Santa Barbara, CA 93105. Electronic 
transmission preferred: _hr at sbnature2.org _

Detailed job description at: _http://www.sbnature.org/about/71.html _

Other questions to Dr. Henry W. Chaney at: _hchaney at sbnature2.org _

Review of applications starts January 5, 2015, until filled. EOE.

For those that think there are never enough, I respond:


As in all human enterprises, the laws of Malthus apply to our 
science.Our "reproductive capacity" is far higher than the carrying 
capacity of our institutions. There will always be a larger supply of 
propagules than can survive (i.e. be provided academic jobs), and 
selection will take the best and discard the others, often a majority. 
Some cohorts will have very strong selection, so that a tiny percentage 
make it through, and at other times selection will be relaxed, and a 
larger percentage will make it. Of course, this means that sometimes 
very excellent propagules will be discarded in lean times, and less 
excellent ones will make it through in fat times. However, the academic 
reproductive rate will always provide a diverse pool with different 
attributes and abilities, so that the overall resulting set will be 
maximally beneficial to the future.


Mike

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__________________________________________________

Michael A. Ivie, Ph.D., F.R.E.S.

Montana Entomology Collection
Marsh Labs, Room 50
1911 West Lincoln Street
NW corner of Lincoln and S.19th
Montana State University
Bozeman, MT 59717
USA

(406) 994-4610 (voice)
(406) 994-6029 (FAX)
mivie at montana.edu