Position Function:
A research-focused staff member supporting the Mississippi Bug Blues outreach program through the development and execution of invasive and endangered species education initiatives. Responsibilities include conducting targeted fieldwork, specimen imaging, morphometric analysis, and digitization of entomological data and labels. The role also involves creating scientifically accurate insect-related educational materials and participating in public engagement activities, including classroom visits, science fairs, and horticultural events across Mississippi.
Salary Grade: 13
Please see Staff Compensation Structure or Skilled Crafts and Service Maintenance Compensation Schedule for salary ranges. For salary grade UC, these positions are "Unclassified" and salary ranges are determined by the hiring department.
Department Profile:
The Department of Agricultural Science and Plant Protection has academic, research, and extension education missions within the traditions of land-grant universities. The Department has 26 faculty in the entomology and plant pathology disciplines. The Department offers B.S, M.S., and Ph.D. degrees and currently advises approximately 100 undergraduate and 30 graduate students.
Area of Specialization:
Museum outreach and collections research
Essential Duties and Responsibilities:
• Coordinates the schedule of the outreach program Mississippi Bug Blues.
• Develops and maintains the program image across various outreach mechanisms and any events as a result of outreach efforts.
• Images, measures, and digitizes museum specimens for research projects.
• Develops new teaching strategies that help reach as wide an audience as possible statewide with various messages important to the safety and care of Mississippi as it relates to insects, biodiversity and conservation.
• Leads presentations at various events throughout the state including scientific meetings, state fairs, agriculture events, and school classrooms.
• Manages a team of several student workers and supervises their work on a wide variety of research and outreach projects.
• Performs miscellaneous job-related duties as assigned.
Minimum Qualifications:
• Bachelor’s degree with area of focus in Biology, Wildlife, Entomology, Education or associated field.
• Experience (yrs.): 1 year plus the education listed above
Preferred Qualifications:
• Coordinating schedules involving youth education events, and teaching.
• Experience working in a research collection and with specimens
• Comfortable with public speaking.
• Intermediate experience with Adobe Illustrator, InDesign, Photoshop, and Microsoft Office
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
• Excellent interpersonal, communications, organizational, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to develop, plan, and implement short and long-range goals.
• Excellent public speaking skills with the ability to teach a variety of technical topics to all ages.
• Experience with making presentations and leading meetings.
• Ability to work effectively with a wide range of constituencies in a diverse community.
• Ability to prioritize competing demands and meet deadlines.
• Ability to innovate and work as both a team member and team leader.
• Ability to organize and manage projects and prepare a written plan with objectives, actions, milestones, budgets, timelines, success measurements, and evaluation methods.
• Ability to anticipate barriers to project completion; plan and manage contingencies.
Working Conditions and Physical Effort
• Requires limited lifting of files, records, and insect drawers with most work taking place indoors.
• Light field work requires ability to drive and includes exposure to the outdoors and associated unpredictable weather.
• Frequent, external imposed deadlines; set and revised beyond one’s control; interruptions influence priorities; difficult to anticipate nature or volume of work with certainty beyond a few days; meeting of deadlines and coordination of unrelated activities are key to position.
• Job frequently requires walking, sitting, reaching, talking, hearing, handling objects with hands.
• Travel throughout Mississippi to various events and field sites will be necessary with some overnight stays required on occasion.
Instructions for Applying:
Link to apply: http://explore.msujobs.msstate.edu/
Applications must be submitted through the Human Resources
Management website at https://www.jobs.msstate.edu by completing the professional
application and submitting a cover letter, resume, three references, and current dated unofficial transcript. Any social numbers included on requested transcripts should be redacted prior to submitting online. An official transcript will be required if selected for an interview.
For additional questions, please contact Swayze Hollenhead at sh1270@msstate.edu.
Restricted Clause:
Position is contingent upon continued availability of funding.
Equal Employment Opportunity Statement:
Mississippi State University is an equal opportunity institution. Discrimination is prohibited in university employment, programs or activities based on race, color, ethnicity, sex, pregnancy, religion, national origin, disability, age, sexual orientation, genetic information, status as a U.S. veteran, or any other status to the extent protected by applicable law. Questions about equal opportunity programs or compliance should be directed to the Office of Civil Rights Compliance, 231 Famous Maroon Band Street, P.O. 6044, Mississippi State, MS 39762, (662) 325-5839.
What do I do if I need an accommodation?
In compliance with the ADA Amendments Act (ADA), if you have a disability and would like to request an accommodation in order to apply for a position with Mississippi State University, please contact the Department of Human Resources Management at tel: (662) 325-3713 or ada@hrm.msstate.edu.
If you have any questions regarding this policy, contact the Department of Human Resources Management at (662) 325-3713 or ada@hrm.msstate.edu. Upon request, sections of this job listing are available in large print, and readers are available to assist the visually impaired.
