Manaaki Whenua Landcare Research

Project description

The Landcare Research fungal systematics group maintains the largest collections of both dried and living fungi in New Zealand, and delivers data associated with the collections through the BiotaNZ website. The successful applicants (X2) will provide assistance adding data to the fungal database, and maintaining, tracking, and storing fungal specimens and cultures and associated DNA sequence data. You will gain an understanding of the day to day running of a mycological research laboratory and key techniques you will learn include handling fungarium specimens, data capture and management, and microscopy. In addition, you will be expected to assist with ongoing projects in the mycology labs at Manaaki Whenua-Landcare Research, Tamaki. These could potentially involve culturing and identification of fungi from field samples, analysis of DNA data, etc.
Requirements: Attention to detail, ability to keyboard accurately, a general interest in fungi, bacteriology or plant pathology.

Project description

TWO STUDENTS REQUESTED
Work with entomologists and taxonomists on insect projects from New Zealand and the Pacific.
Learning research and technical skills to work in a taxonomic collection or natural science museum, including:

1. fieldwork and sorting field samples,
2. curation and identification of insect groups,
3. imaging specimens for machine learning / AI methods,
4. Databasing and geo-referencing specimens for biodiversity and biosecurity research projects.

Ability to work in a group or independently, position requires dexterity, care and attention to detail, data entry.
Applicants should have an interest in Entomology, Taxonomy and Natural History