Contract Osteologist

This is a call for submissions to fill a contract osteologist position in the Office of Repatriation Osteology Laboratory, Department of Anthropology, National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC. Please refer to the program’s website http://anthropology.si.edu/repatriation/ for further information.

Osteologist duties:
The osteologist will work closely with the Osteology Laboratory staff, case officers from the Repatriation Office, and, when necessary, with the curators of physical anthropology of the Department of Anthropology at the National Museum of Natural History (NMNH). Visual observations and measurements of human skeletal remains will be collected following data capture standards developed by Buikstra and Ubelaker (1994), and expanded upon by the Repatriation Office Osteology Laboratory; see related skeletal documentation software: https://osteoware.si.edu/.
1. Inventory the skeletal remains.
2. Estimate the age and sex of individuals.
3. Record taphonomic alterations.
4. Record skeletal pathological conditions and trauma.
5. Record any cultural modifications.
6. Collect postcranial measurements.
7. Write short summaries for each set of remains.
8. Enter all data using Osteoware software interface.
9. Assist in the retrieval, inventory, storage, and packing of remains to be repatriated.
10. Submit a written monthly report outlining the work completed during the month as required in the contract.

Requirements for consideration:
A minimum of a completed Master’s degree in Biological Anthropology is required, PhD is preferred, with emphasis on bioarchaeological perspectives. Coursework in Human Osteology, Forensic Anthropology, and Paleopathology, as well as hands-on experience with data collection from archaeologically recovered human skeletal remains collections are a must.

Terms:
One year contract from $36,000 to $42,000 per year, depending on experience, with options for annual extensions. Starting summer or perhaps fall 2016.

To submit a proposal:
You must be capable of legally working in the United States to submit a proposal for this contract (U.S. citizen, or possess the appropriate U.S. immigration work permits). Submission materials will be accepted until the position is filled, and will be kept on file for future consideration. Please email C.V., brief cover letter highlighting your relevant experience, the names and contact information for three references, and at least one writing sample in pdf format.

The Smithsonian Institution is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer, and prohibits discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation/preference and gender identity/expression.