This post is part of our Curators’ Corner series. Every so often we’ll feature a different DCN Curator. The series grew out of a community-building activity wherein curators at our partner organizations interview each other “chain-letter style” in order to get to know each other and their work outside of the DCN better. We hope you enjoy these posts!
Molly Hirst is a Senior Data Curator at Dryad. Molly was interviewed by Alfredo Gonzalez-Espinoza in August 2025.
How did you come to your current position?
Before and during my PhD (Ecology and Evolutionary Biology), I spent a lot of time curating museum research specimens and their data in the Museum of Zoology at the University of Michigan. I am naturally a very organized and curious person, so collecting, prepping, and curating specimens and their data was the perfect job for me. There’s a concept called the “extended specimen,” which incorporates the physical specimen itself and all the information that comes from it (e.g., DNA sequences, morphometric measurements, etc.), that started to pique my interest as I began thinking about how much data and knowledge a single specimen can hold. This was one of my first real experiences that demonstrated to me how curation can facilitate the dissemination of knowledge and data, which can be used for further research and education. As a researcher who spent years working to obtain biological samples from wild howler monkeys in the field, and wishing there was an easier way, working toward making the extended specimen a reality for other researchers became an important part of how I viewed curation for future generations.
After completing my PhD, I realized I did not want to follow the traditional path of a tenured professorship, so I began exploring career opportunities in data science and curation. A good friend of mine (who is also a DCN member- Hi Peter!) sent me the job application for Dryad. I applied, and the rest is history.
What do you do?
Dryad is a non-profit organization, and we have a small team, so everyone is involved in most aspects of the company. As a senior data curator, I do a lot more than just data curation, although curation is a large chunk of the job. Senior curators at Dryad are responsible for our help desk (only two people are currently running our help desk!), documentation (internal and external-facing), process improvement, policy development and implementation at all levels, guiding other team members, including in recruitment and training, working with our developers, leading projects for the company, teaching researchers about data management, and occasionally having professional development opportunities.
How much of your job involves data curation?
At this point, about 80% of my job is data curation. We receive a very large volume of data at Dryad, and sometimes there is a larger queue than ideal. During those surges, we have to dedicate more time to strict data curation. I touch anywhere between 10-20 datasets per day, just for curation (even more if you add all the other tasks I do regarding data hosting).
Why is data curation important to you?
As a first-generation woman from a low-income background, I’ve always felt a responsibility to help ease the path for others from similar circumstances pursuing careers in science. Frequently, due to funding or other constraints, museums and data repositories are the only means by which researchers can obtain data to answer research questions. Although I did not use museum specimens for my doctoral research, I interacted with countless people who did. I witnessed how important it is for researchers to have a curated collection that is as complete as possible in terms of data collection and management. These types of collections (and their associated data) can make or break professional research opportunities for underserved researchers, so it is vital for stewards such as ourselves to ensure that each specimen and each dataset is as FAIR as possible.
Why is the Data Curation Network important?
The Data Curation Network is a brilliant resource for data curators/librarians to keep up-to-date with data publication standards, ask questions when they’re unsure about something, and practice curating datasets outside of their home institutions. One aspect of my current job is that it is very practical instead of theoretical, and we are not as involved in broader conversations about data curation, which is where the DCN comes into play. I see the DCN as an invaluable resource for us, whereas we can provide very detailed, practical advice and knowledge about various data formats, for example, in return.
If you weren’t doing data curation, what would you be doing?
I love interacting with people and helping them solve problems. I would likely be curating museum specimens and their data, and also teaching college-level biology courses. Education is vital for a healthy society, and I’ve always enjoyed teaching at the community college and university levels. In an ideal world where money and responsibilities didn’t matter, I would love to travel the world as a wildlife photographer, learn the language of everywhere I visit, and hold outreach events in the local language to promote education about native wildlife everywhere I went.
What’s your favorite cuisine?
I love anything flavorful and complex. Some of my favorite restaurants in Ann Arbor are Indian, Nepalese, and Korean. The only time food ever made me cry because it was so delicious was when I went to the New Asha Sri Lankan restaurant on Staten Island in New York City. It’s a must-try if you’re ever in the borough.
What do you like to do outside of work?
These days I enjoy running, cycling, reading, working on research projects, spending time with friends and family (and my cats), and exploring new places and activities. I’m a huge wildlife nerd, so it’s always a possibility that you will find me watching and photographing animals doing weird things (and sometimes getting published papers from it!).
What’s your favorite city?
I’ve only ever lived in SE Michigan, and I’ve called Ann Arbor my home for a decade now. I love the small-town, community feel to Ann Arbor, and I enjoy living here, but I wouldn’t say it is my favorite city. There are many cities around the world that I love, but I don’t believe I have found “the one” city that is my absolute favorite- they all have unique charms and cultures that make them incomparable.
Where would you most like to travel to next (state/country/continent/city)?
The only continents I haven’t been to are Australia (although New Zealand was close!) and Antarctica. I would love to visit both to explore nature and wildlife, to learn more about the culture (in Australia), and to experience the difference between a sand desert and a polar desert!
