Scientist 2, William L. Brown Center

Summary : The scientist will lead a research theme within the William L. Brown Center on plants for food , including agrobiodiversity, crop wild relatives and wild utilized plants, and their role in global food security. Building on background in agrobiodiversity, ethnobotany, plant systematics, taxonomy, or related field s, the scientist will leverage MBG's strengths and build new initiatives to advance science in support of the WLBC mission to understand the relationships between humans, plants, and their environment . They will take a leadership role in developing and directing a program of studies of important food plant species, including cultivated, crop wild relative, and edible species, and may use field studies, geographic comparisons, monograp hic , morphological and / or molecular approach e s to address questions related to the analysis , maintenance and future trajectories o f food plant diversity . They will have the ability to attract funding and to conduct strategically aligned projects with significant independence. They will have at least some understanding of botanical garden collections and interest in producing knowledge that addresses societal challenges, including engagement with policy and local and Indigenous communities.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities :

• Assume s a leadership role in developing and executing research projects that advance ethnobotanical science and the understanding of plants for food; drawing upon expertise and collections of WLBC and the Garden.
• Publish es research results in high-quality peer-reviewed journals and other publications.
• Share s research findings at scientific meetings and with the public through talks and other outreach initiatives.
• Support s colleagues and students in the development and execution of collaborative research projects.
• Identif ies funding sources and write s competitive grant proposals.
• Manage s funded projects including budget oversight and supervision of support staff, contractors, or volunteers as necessary.
• Provide s mentorship to undergraduate, Master's, Ph.D. students, interns, volunteers, and Post-Doctoral Fellows.
• Collaborate s with other Departments and Divisions within MBG such as Conservation, Restoration and Sustainability and Education .
• Foster s external collaborations and partnerships to enhance MBG's William L. Brown Center.
• Serve s on scientific panels , committees or academic society leadership as needed.
• Represent s WLBC and MBG at scientific and non-scientific meetings, events, and outreach activities.
• Engages with diverse local and Indigenous community members and decision makers as n ecessary to develop programs and inform policy.
• Prepare s detailed reports on projects for internal and external stakeholders.
• Review s and contribute s to various documents including grant proposals and journal articles.
• Adhere s to MBG's guidelines for budgets, contracts, agreements, and projects.
• Follows and adheres to established policies and procedures, including but not limited to Employee Handbook, Garden Safety Guidelines and Department Policies.
• Behaves and communicates in a manner that promotes and fosters a culture of teamwork, cooperation, and respect within our division and throughout the Garden with all employees, supervisors / managers, volunteers, visitors and others
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Supervisory Responsibilities : This position supervise s 1 to 2 Research Specialist s . May provid e guidance to junior staff for their career development. They will also provide direction and training to undergraduate students, graduate students and / or postdoctoral fellows.

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