miércoles, diciembre 31, 2008

Puesto de trabajo de Director del Sternberg Museum of Natural History

Nos ha llegado información para ocupar el puesto de director del Sternberg Museum of Natural History en Kansas (EE.UU.). Os la adjuntamos a continuación:

The Sternberg Museum of Natural History occupies a completely renovated (completed in 1999), unique building adjacent to Interstate-70 Highway in Hays, Kansas. Its 101,000 square feet of floor space accommodates both public areas and collection management space. The collection space houses extensive research collections representing the disciplines of mammalogy, ornithology, herpetology, ichthyology, entomology, botany, vertebrate paleontology and paleobotany.

The Director of the Sternberg Museum of Natural History reports to the University's Vice President for Administration and Finance, who reports directly to the University President. The Director is responsible for leadership and day to day operations of the Museum. It is preferred, but not required, that the Director be qualified as the scientific authority for the Museum. Specific duties include the following: Administer the various Museum budgets, including State appropriations, grants and contracts, Museum endowments, Sternberg Store revenue, gate receipts, and any others that may exist. Plan and participate in fund raising activities of the Museum. Formulate, implement, monitor, and evaluate strategic and long-range plans. Establish and implement Museum policy. Recruit, supervise, and evaluate Museum staff. Approve and oversee plans for permanent and temporary exhibits, educational programs, and public service activities of the Museum. Develop and administer plans to market the Museum to the public and scientific community. Serve as spokesperson and advocate for the Museum both within and outside the University. Oversee curation of the collections of the Museum, ensuring that they are maintained according to acceptable professional standards. Oversee the functions of the Kansas Wetlands Education Center, the day to day operations of which are performed under the supervision of a Site Manager. Conduct and publish scholarly research. Participate in professional activities designed to promote the scholarly reputations of the Museum and the University. Provide service to the Museum, the University, and the community.

Minimal qualifications include an earned PhD degree in one of the academic disciplines represented by research collections in the Museum, preferably biology or paleontology. Experience in museum administration is preferred. Exceptional candidates with only an M.S. degree but having extensive experience in museum administration will be considered. Applicants should provide evidence of scholarship and must demonstrate aptitude for administration. Other qualifications include strong communication skills and the ability to interact with diverse constituents.

CONTACT: Dr. Elmer Finck, Search Committee Chair.Email efinck@fhsu.edu
Review of applications will begin February 15, 2009. Applications will be accepted until the position is filled.

martes, diciembre 30, 2008

Skorpiovenator: Un nuevo abelisauridae del Cretatácico Superior de Argentina

Nuestros colegas argentinos no paran de describir nuevos dinosaurios. En este caso, se trata de Juan Canale del Museo del Chocón y colaboradores acaban de describir Skorpiovenator bustingorryi en niveles de la parte baja del Cretácico Superior de Neuquén. Se trata de un ejemplar excepcionalmente completo y además se encuentra articulado. Más información en Aragosaurus.

La referencia completa es: Canale, J. I., Scanferia, C. A., Agnolin, F. L. & Novas, F. E. 2008. New carnivorous dinosaur from the Late Cretaceous of NW Patagonia and the evolution of abelisaurid theropods. Naturwissenschaften, DOI 10.1007/s00114-008-0487-4

domingo, diciembre 28, 2008

Arsuaga, no para...

Os adjuntamos información de la penúltima investigación de Arsuaga en Asturias.

El hallazgo de un trozo de mandíbula humana fechada hace unos 17.500 años en Santo Adriano ha llevado esta semana a un equipo multidisciplinar liderado por Juan Luis Arsuaga, codirector del yacimiento de la Sierra de Atapuerca, y la arqueóloga Gema Adán a emprender una campaña con el objetivo de reconstruir los hechos que rodearon a este descubrimiento. El resto en cuestión consiste, según explicaron ayer las biólogas asturianas de la Universidad de Burgos Laura Rodríguez y Rebeca García, en un gonión con el germen del primer molar inferior perteneciente a una niña de unos dos años y medio que fue encontrado en la gruta El Camarín de las Ciervas, en Castañedo del Monte, durante las excavaciones que realizó el equipo en la campaña de junio de 2007 mientras estudiaba los grabados del interior de la citada cueva.

Más información en la Voz de Asturias

Encontrado el ADN de diez dinosaurios en un mosquito

Hemos ancontrado el ADN de diez dinosaurios conservados en un mosquito del Cretácico Inferior de Teruel. Ronaldinho, que así hemos llamado al mosquito, reservaba una sorpresa enorme en su interior. Se había dado el gran atracón antes de morir. Más información en Aragosaurus.