Responsibilities
- Leads research projects on paleobotany of Late Cretaceous and early Paleocene macrofloral fossil specimens resulting in peer-reviewed publications.
- Collaborates with the Curator of Paleobotany and as needed with other DMNS staff, interns, associates, and/or external partners to contribute to ongoing scholarship.
- Assists with specimen preparation and curation activities.
- Submits and approves timesheets and expenses promptly.
- Participates in Museum and Science Division initiatives and professional paleontology community activities including regular professional meeting attendance.
- Develops skills and experience that will help propel their scientific career, potentially including database, collections, lab, field, and/or fundraising work.
- Facilitates internal and external outreach events to the scientific and public communities via verbal, lecture, video, written, and/or other media formats.
- Contributes to the museum’s impact by participating in activities such as inclusivity efforts and mentoring.
- Participates in leadership or other service roles that support and diversify the broader earth science community.
Requirements
- Ph.D. in Paleobiology, Biology, Geology or a related field by the start of the position.
- Peer-reviewed publication record.
- Proficiency in Mesozoic and/or early Cenozoic paleobotanical research.
- Specific experience with macrofloral paleobotanical specimens.
Nice to Have
- Proficiency in organizing datasets in Microsoft Excel.
- Proficiency in performing data analyses in relevant software (e.g. R).
- Experience in field and/or collections-based research.
Additional Information
- Position start date is flexible, but ideally the candidate will begin by Fall 2026.
- Job Class: Full Time
- Work Schedule: Monday–Friday daytime hours; weekends and evenings as needed
- Direct Reports: 0
- Travel: Conferences, fieldwork, collections visits, events.
- Occasional evening/weekend work: Outreach events, tours, donor, field activities.
- Office: Moderate noise (business office with computers and printers, light traffic).
- Lifting requirements: Move (equipment, specimens) up to 40 pounds in the collections, lab, field.
- Stand or sit: Able to remain in a stationary position (75% of time).
- Working machinery: Exposure to loud fans, air compressors, mechanical equipment, chemical materials.
- Collections: Preparation, cleaning, repair, maintenance of specimens.
- Fieldwork: Travel on foot across varied, remote terrain and inclement weather.
- Lab: Potential use of mechanical or hand tools, fume hoods, chemicals.
- Contract duration: Two-year position
