Advert for mollusc specialist ‘outrageous’

Te Papa is recruiting for a mollusc specialist, weeks after axing its worldleading expert in the field.

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, he is so renowned in his field he has 23 species and six genera named after him.

It’s understood Marshall applied for several positions in the restructure but was told he was not suitable.

However, Te Papa is now advertising for a curator of molluscs.

Giant squid researcher Steve O’shea said for Te Papa to axe Marshall then advertise for a mollusc expert was ‘‘outrageous’’.

Te Papa head of science Susan Waugh said the advertised job was different to Marshall’s position. ‘‘The position we are advertising is for a curator, who will be a scientific researcher at PHD level. The collection manager role we disestablished is more about handson care of the collections rather than scientific research.’’

Waugh said the curator role reflected Te Papa’s investment in taxonomic research. However, Marshall was the most prolific taxonomic researcher in the history of the museum, having named more than 480 species and publishing more than 120 scientific papers.