TENTATIVE

Occ. Code 6132100

New York State Department of Civil Service 

Classification Standard

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF CLASS SERIES

            Positions in this series perform scientific research that typically is connected to the State Museum collections and/or to New York State and its larger global context.  Incumbents write research papers that frequently result in published, peer-reviewed studies and otherwise disseminate the results of their research and share their knowledge.  They curate assigned collections related to their areas of expertise, compete for grants from a variety of sources to fund their research and collections work, and take part in exhibit planning to ensure the accuracy of the exhibits.  The areas of expertise include biology, archaeology, geology, paleontology, and other areas of scientific inquiry.  These positions are located only in the New York State Museum and are in the non-competitive jurisdictional class.

DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS

The levels are distinguished by increasing responsibility and independence in research, the scope of the research, supervisory, curatorial, and administrative responsibilities. 

            Museum Scientist 1: under supervision, performs entry-level scientific or technical tasks in research and collections projects conducted in the Research and Collections Division of the New York State Museum.

            Museum Scientist 2: performs a variety of difficult technical tasks preparatory or accessory to the work of a Museum Scientist in charge of a component of the State's natural history collections

            Museum Scientist 3: under general direction, is responsible for the design and development of comprehensive programs of independent original research in a recognized special branch of the subject field.

            Museum Scientist 4: under general direction of a higher level Museum Scientist or the Director, Research and Collections Division, functions as full member of a research team with major responsibilities for all phases of the research project.

            Museum Scientist 5: under broad administrative direction, formulates and conducts a systematic research design for problems that have been recognized as exceptionally difficult and unyielding to research analysis.

            Museum Scientist 6: serves as administrator of one of the four major Museum scientific research and collections areas (anthropology, biology, geology, paleontology). 

            Director, Research and Collections Division:  a one-position class; responsible for the administration of the Museums Research and Collections Division.

RELATED CLASSES

            Research Scientists perform basic research involving the formulation, conduct, analysis, interpretation, and reporting of scientific investigations of phenomena or problems with applications in specialized subject matter in the medical, biological and behavioral sciences.  Such work typically results in publishable contributions to the scientific field under study.

ILLUSTRATIVE DUTIES

            Museum Scientist 1:  under supervision of a higher level Museum Scientist, perform entry-level scientific or technical tasks in research and collections projects conducted in the Research and Collections Division of the New York State Museum. Such projects may involve several staff members at various levels, including volunteers and interns.  Duties include performing technical tasks in a subject collection, usually preparatory or accessory to the work of a higher-level Museum Scientists; data and specimen collection; accessioning collections into the Museum and performing related curatorial activities; and searching for publications relevant to the research of higher level Museum Scientists.

            Museum Scientist 2: under supervision of a higher level Museum Scientist, perform a variety of difficult technical tasks preparatory or accessory to the work of a Museum Scientist in charge of a component of the State's natural history collections; be assigned to segments of major research projects, and receive specific guidance as to objectives, methodology and reporting; supervise subordinate laboratory or field personnel; collect, analyze and organize research material and data using standard methodology or newly developed procedures with sophisticated equipment; perform day-to-day management of a specific collection to ensure its physical integrity; initiate and conduct independent research as a component of the Museums biology, anthropology, paleontology or geology programs; write sections of scholarly research reports and papers; may assist in the development of State Museum exhibits related the area of specialty and provide content expertise to displays; may make presentations to school groups and other visitors.

            Museum Scientist 3: under the general direction of a Museum Scientist 4 or higher, be responsible for the design and development of  comprehensive programs of independent original research in a recognized special branch of the subject field (such as biology, anthropology, geology, or paleontology) leading to the generation of new collections and/or increased scientific values of existing collections and result in a solely or jointly authored peer-reviewed publication that adds to scientific knowledge; curate a major collection within the Museum (e.g., mycology, ichthyology, anthropology), take overall responsibility for maintaining the physical and intellectual integrity of the collection, develop and implement collections policies, supervise one or more collections managers charged with its physical care, assure that intellectual content is consistent with current standards for scientific collections; develop and submit grant proposals to obtain funding for collections and/or research projects; collect, analyze and organize research material and data using standard methodology or newly developed methods and techniques; interpret the results of research efforts and prepare, individually or jointly, scholarly research findings and reports for peer-reviewed publications.

            Museum Scientist 4: under the general direction of a Museum Scientist 5 or 6 or the Director, Research and Collections Division, serve as full member of a research team with major responsibilities for all phases of the research project; define problems, perform necessary research, develop appropriate research designs, execute those plans, organize and evaluate results, and prepare acceptable reports of findings with minimal supervisory oversight; maintain a high level of professional credibility and visibility by participating in programs, and establishing and maintaining professional contacts that contribute to Statewide and national recognition in the area of research specialization and indirectly promote the New York State Museum; generally serve as curator of a major collection in the State Museum (e.g., entomology, geology collections), and be responsible for the intellectual integrity of the collection and supervision of its physical care; supervise several staff, including lower-level Museum Scientists 1 or 2 as collections managers, as well as laboratory and field staff; initiate and conduct original and independent research in one of the sciences; write technical papers that are peer-reviewed for publication; produce public educational and informational projects that align research projects with Museum-wide goals; prepare grant proposals and contracts for outside funding of ongoing or new research and/or collections projects; and perform related duties.

            Museum Scientist 5: under broad administrative supervision that is generally limited to approval of staffing, funds, and facilities and broad agency policies, responsible for formulating and conducting a systematic research design for problems that have been recognized as exceptionally difficult and unyielding to research analysis so that their solution would represent an advance of major significance; initiate new research studies and approve the goals, scope, substance and methodology of studies proposed by subordinate scientists within the framework of management objectives and priorities; publish the results of research in peer-reviewed journals and/or books; may serve as curator of a major Museum collection (e.g., mycology, invertebrate paleontology, vascular plants) and have responsibility for the intellectual integrity of the collection and supervision of its physical care; design and implement Museum policies regarding research and collections; edit and assist with the publications of staff scientists; direct collections management staff responsible for the day-to-day care of the collections under their responsibility; prepare and submit grants proposals and contracts for obtaining outside funding for ongoing or new research and collections projects; prepare research findings for publication in peer-reviewed scientific journals and books; maintain a high level of professional credibility and visibility by participating in programs, and establishing and maintaining professional contacts that contribute to statewide and national recognition in the area of research specialization and indirectly promote the New York State Museum; and perform related duties.

            Museum Scientist 6: provide overall direction, instruction and counsel to subordinate professional, technical, laboratory and field staff of a scientific unit; prepare annual budget and expenditure plan for one of the four scientific research and collections areas of the State Museum (anthropology, biology, geology, paleontology); conduct original and sophisticated research individually and in collaboration with other research scientists; prepare research findings for publication in peer-reviewed scientific journals and books; advise on Museum exhibit planning for permanent and temporary exhibits and displays; perform other administrative tasks to ensure the proper operation of the assigned research and collection area; may serve as curator of a major Museum collection (e.g., ichthyology, vertebrate paleontology, paleobotany), with responsibility for the intellectual integrity of the collection and supervision of its physical care; maintain a high level of professional credibility and visibility by participating in programs, and establishing and maintaining professional contacts that contribute to Statewide and national recognition in the area of research specialization and indirectly promote the New York State Museum; and perform related duties.    

            Director, Research and Collections Division: under the general direction of the Assistant Commissioner for the State Museum, responsible for administration of the Museums Research and Collections Division and provide supervision to the Museum Scientists 6 and other staff; spend approximately 75% of the time on administrative/supervisory tasks with the remainder spent on research; administer all operations of the research and collections units of the State Museum; review and approve research and collections related decisions and policies; prepare research results for publication in peer-reviewed journals and books; oversee publications and information dissemination from research programs; in conjunction with the Director of Museum Services and staff, incorporate the results of the Museums research and collections programs into the permanent and temporary exhibits; coordinate the Divisions activities with other State and federal agencies in matters of mutual interest; oversee the collections curation; review all research and collections related grants submitted by the Division; monitor expenditures for staff and equipment, supplies, services, and travel; maintain a high level of professional credibility and visibility by participating in programs, and establishing and maintaining professional contacts that contribute to statewide and national recognition in the area of research specialization and indirectly promote the New York State Museum

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

            Museum Scientist 1

Bachelors Degree and two years of professional experience or a Masters Degree and one year of professional experience.

            Museum Scientist 2

Bachelors Degree and three years of professional experience or a Masters Degree and two years of professional experience or a doctoral degree.

            Museum Scientist 3

Bachelors Degree and four years of professional experience or a Masters Degree and three years of professional experience or a doctoral degree and one year of professional experience.

            Museum Scientist 4

Bachelors Degree and five years of professional experience or a Masters Degree and four years of professional experience or a doctoral degree and two years of professional experience.

            Museum Scientist 5

Masters Degree and five years of professional experience or a doctoral degree and three years of professional experience.

            Museum Scientist 6

Doctoral degree and three years of professional experience.

            Director of Research & Collections

Doctoral degree and six years of professional experience.

These minimum qualifications serve as a qualifying factor in a peer review process used to determine placement and promotion within the Museum Scientist series.  Candidates meeting the minimum qualifications submit their credentials to a panel for review and evaluation against a combination of relevant criteria including the major categories listed below.  The panel will consist of a minimum of four Museum Scientists/historians and Museum/SED administrator.  Staff must be at a level higher than that for which the review is being conducted.  At least two of the panel members must be experts in the field of the candidates being reviewed.  One or more scientists/historians from outside institutions may be substituted for Museum staff members to achieve the necessary number of experts in the field.

            Research

• Nature and quality of research goals and objectives.
• Evidence of productivity:  quality and quantity of published research, grant awards.
• Professional stature in relation to research (e.g., awards and honors, success at obtaining grants and contracts, offices in scientific/historical societies, appointments to editorial boards, etc.).

Curation

• Nature and quality of collections related goals and activities.
• Evidence of productivity:  quality and quantity of database activities; grant awards, increasing the size of a collections through fieldwork, exchanges, purchases, gifts; active promotion of the use of the collections for research, exhibition, and educational purposes.

Education

• Service to higher education such as adjunct appointments, membership on thesis and dissertation committees, teaching college and university courses, presentation of seminars and lectures.
• Organizing and teaching K-12 teacher training workshops related to the Museum.
• Participating in the development of research and collections-based exhibitions and other public programs (e.g., public lecture series, gallery tours).
• Serving on temporary and long-term exhibition committees.

            Service/Administration

• Effective performance in administrative tasks such as serving as principal investigator on grants and contracts, managing laboratories, managing outside-funded applied research program, etc.
• Service to the Museum through committee work; obtaining outside funding for research, collections, or education; contributing to a positive working atmosphere.
• Service to the profession by organizing conferences and symposia, serving on editorial boards, journal editorships, reviews of manuscripts and grant proposals, serving on a grants panel, etc.
• Service to community by providing information to other State agencies and the public.

            In situations in which candidates are seeking initial appointment, those with the highest combined scores will be recommended for appointment to Museum management.  Museum management makes the final recommendation for appointment.

            To be considered for promotion, candidates must achieve the pre-established threshold score or higher.

Date:  5/11

NOTE: Classification Standards illustrate the nature, extent and scope of duties and responsibilities of the classes they describe.  Standards cannot and do not include all of the work that might be appropriately performed by a class.  The minimum qualifications above are those which were required for appointment at the time the Classification Standard was written.  Please contact the Division of Staffing Services for current information on minimum qualification requirements for appointment or examination.