World-leading Te Papa mollusc expert misses out on curator job
Tuesday, 21 May 2019
Te Papa's world-leading mollusc expert of 50 years has been beaten in a job contest by a researcher who finished his doctorate three years ago.
The decision has stunned scientists, with one calling it 'a f…ing joke'.
Mollusc scientist Bruce Marshall was one of two internationally renowned experts made redundant in Te Papa's controversial restructure. The most prolific namer of species in Te Papa's history, Marshall applied for several replacement positions as part of the restructure, but was told he was not suitable.
However, just weeks after axing the celebrated scientist, Te Papa advertised for a curator of molluscs, raising questions over whether Marshall's redundancy was genuine. Stuff understands Marshall applied for the new job, but has lost out to post-doctoral researcher Rodrigo Salvador.
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Marshall is so renowned in his field he was awarded a Doctor of Science degree. He has 23 species and six genera named after him. Salvador qualified with a bachelor of biological sciences at the University of Sao Paulo in 2009 and completed his PhD in paleontology in Germany in 2016. He has been a post-doctoral researcher at Te Papa since November 2017.
A Te Papa insider said staff were appalled by the appointment process and hiring Salvador over Marshall was 'really unbelievable'.
The position description said the job's 'key focus' was 'to develop Te Papa's scholarship in relation to its Mollusc collections'. 'The position holder will use their expertise in the mollusc taxonomy, evolution and biology, to enhance Te Papa's reputation for scholarship and publishing, and collection development.'
Giant squid researcher Steve O'Shea, who has called Marshall an intellectual genius, said Te Papa's decision was 'a f…ing joke'.
'I'm absolutely gutted.'
O'Shea was so appalled by plans to remove Marshall, who had been a mentor and 'constant inspiration', that he wrote to Te Papa asking it to remove any reference to him in the museum's colossal squid display.
He had argued Marshall - who was given a six-month job extension to finish a book - should be kept on for several years to train a replacement.
Otago University zoology professor Hamish Spencer, who studies mollusc evolution, said 'no-one knows more about New Zealand's molluscan fauna than Bruce Marshall, and he is one of the foremost half-dozen molluscan taxonomists in the world. I am surprised that Te Papa did not weight these factors more heavily in its decision.'
Restructure critic Nic Rawlence, a researcher in ancient DNA at Otago University, accused the museum of playing personality politics, by ditching Marshall for someone with Dr Salvador's level of expertise in New Zealand molluscs.
Marshall declined to comment.
Te Papa head of science Susan Waugh, who was on the job selection panel, said Salvador secured the role from a strong national and international field of candidates, and had 'an exceptionally strong research track record'.
'Other candidates in the field brought some impressive skills but it was the judgement of our panel that Dr Salvador best met the role's requirements for academic qualifications and research track record, as well as skills in community engagement, communication and leadership.'
Stuff understands fish expert Andrew Stewart is still negotiating to stay at the museum, after Te Papa backed down from plans to axe him.