Digital Imaging Technician (Young Canada Works program)

POSITION SUMMARY:

Natural History Collections Digitization Project

ROM, a leader in natural history and culture, houses a magnificent collection of 13 million artworks, cultural objects, and natural history specimens across 40 galleries. This includes one of Canada’s largest natural history collections, recognized internationally for its extensive scope and historical importance. This project involves digitizing three key natural history collections at the ROM: Botany (Plants), Ichthyology (Fish), and Mycology (Fungi) to enhance their accessibility for global research and conservation efforts.

Key Collections:

1. Botany (Plants): This collection features over 1.1 million specimens, including vascular plants, bryophytes, and more. Approximately 20% of the collection has been digitized to date.
2. Ichthyology (Fish): It includes more than 1.5 million specimens and over 40,000 tissue samples, making it Canada’s largest and one of the ten largest in the Western Hemisphere.
3. Mycology (Fungi): This section hosts over half a million specimens, of which 99,000 have been digitized so far. It focuses on significant pathogens like rusts and smuts that affect various plant species.

The ROM is initiating a project aimed at imaging significant plant, fish, and fungal specimens and developing a Public Participation in Scientific Research (PPSR) project on the Zooniverse platform. This project will enhance public engagement and accessibility of our natural history collections, aligning with the ROM’s commitment to educational outreach and scientific research.

The project objectives include accurately imaging the plant, fish, and fungal specimens from the ROM’s collections for digital imaging, and developing and managing a Public Participation in Scientific Research (PPSR) project on Zooniverse, where volunteers can transcribe data from the imaged specimen labels.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Digitize and catalogue both historical and new specimens in the collections.
• Ensure accurate data entry and effective management of digital records.
• Utilize a camera imaging system to create high-quality images of natural history specimens and labels, organize and add metadata using Adobe Bridge and Capture One, and conduct post-production work using Adobe Photoshop.
• Collaborate with researchers, academic partners, IT, and collections management teams to facilitate access to and utilization of digitized collections.
• Design, develop, and manage a Public Participation in Scientific Research (PPSR) project on Zooniverse for volunteer transcription of specimen label data.
• Incorporate images and transcribed data into The Museum System (TMS) and upload them to biodiversity data platforms such as Canadensys and the Global Biodiversity Information Facility.
• Engage with the public to promote the scientific and economic significance of the collections.
• Provide support and resources to researchers and policymakers utilizing the digitized data.
• Support ongoing research and initiatives related to biodiversity, environmental conservation, and climate change impact studies.

Candidate Profile:

• University students with a background in biology, environmental science, library sciences, or related fields are preferred.
• Organizational capability, attention to detail, ability to work independently and in a team, responsiveness to direction, self-motivation, and keen on skill acquisition.
• Experience in macro-photography is beneficial.
• Experience in digitization projects and data management preferred.
• Familiarity with natural history collections and scientific taxonomy beneficial.

Application Process/Eligibility Criteria:

To be considered for the Digital Imaging Technician position, applicants must satisfy the following criteria as part of the Young Canada Works in Heritage Organizations (YCW-HO) initiative:

• Candidates must be registered for Young Canada Works.
• Applicants must be Canadian citizens, permanent residents, or individuals granted refugee status in Canada. Please note that non-Canadians holding temporary work visas or those awaiting permanent resident status are not eligible.
• Applicants must be legally entitled to work in Canada and hold a valid social insurance number.
• Applicants must be between 16 and 30 years of age at the start of employment.
• Applicants must currently enroll in high school, college, CEGEP, or university.

These criteria ensure that the YCW-HO program supports job skills development and provides eligible students with valuable work experience in the heritage sector. We encourage all who meet these criteria to apply for this enriching opportunity to work with us.

SALARY & TERMS OF EMPLOYMENT 
START DATE: May 2024 
END DATE: September 2, 2024
OPEN DATE: April 19, 2024
CLOSE DATE: April 28, 2024
STATUS: Full-time  Contract
EMPLOYEE GROUP: EXEMPT 
HOURLY RATE: $18
SCHEDULE: 35 hours
LOCATION (onsite): Toronto, ON

Applications are accepted exclusively online via the ROM’s Career page.

Selection Process: The top candidates will be shortlisted for interviews in early May 2024. The interviews will focus on skills, qualifications, experience, and career goals and may be conducted in person or online.

Diversity Statement
At ROM, we consider equity, diversity, and inclusion foundational to our institutional success. We seek to foster a workplace that reflects the diversity of the city and province in which we are located and welcome all qualified and experienced candidates to apply, regardless of their gender, age, sex, race, religion, ethnicity, ability, sexual orientation, or gender identity.

Accessibility Statement
ROM is committed to fair and accessible employment practices. Upon request, suitable accommodations are available under the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disability Act (AODA) to applicants invited to an interview.

Only candidates selected for an interview will be contacted. Please note that all candidates receiving a verbal job offer will be subject to a background check. This includes a criminal background check and verification of professional references, and, other checks depending on the role.

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