Osteologist (Laboratory Research Specialist)

Department Information:

Passed in 1990, the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act requires federally funded institutions and museums to consult with lineal descendants, federally recognized Native American tribes and Native Hawaiian organizations in order to return Native American cultural items – human remains, funerary objects, sacred objects, and objects of cultural patrimony.
The NAGPRA Project at Indiana University has the full support of the Provost and the administration. It is the University’s desire and objective that by creating new partnerships, establishing new lines of communication, and developing fruitful relationships, ancestral remains and funerary objects will be returned to the appropriate tribal communities.

Job Summary:
• Leads research activities and protocol development that requires expertise in the application and adaptation of various research techniques and procedures.
• Maintains equipment, including preventive maintenance, scheduling repairs as needed, service agreement negotiations, troubleshooting equipment malfunctions, and maintaining an active list of vendors to respond to equipment loss.
• Supervises, mentors, and provides training for junior-level staff.
• Prepares summary data reports and creates and maintains databases for storage and analysis.
• Ensures compliance with all applicable local and federal regulations.
• Collaborates with leadership to develop and maintain the budget.
• Establishes core operating goals, objectives, policies and procedures
• May develop, prepare, and coordinate grant applications and grant-related activities to obtain funding for research projects and related work.

Specific Department Responsibilities:
• Perform documentation/analysis on NAGPRA osteology collections as needed
• Assist with data entry for human osteoarchaeology database
• Processing and cataloguing of all Native American human remains
• Conduct cultural affiliation documentation on the collections
• Oversight of laboratory equipment, including servicing and organization of repairs for the upkeep of a safe environment
• Liaise with members of staff holding positions of responsibility over NAGPRA collections/laboratory space
• Assist NAGPRA Director with tasks such as consultation planning and travel arrangements
• Assist with repatriation preparation if needed
• Adjust to project and/or task assignments that may change quickly and/or frequently
• Travel on behalf of the Project if requested

Qualifications:

EDUCATION / WORK EXPERIENCE
Required
• Master’s degree in science plus 4 years of research experience; OR
• Bachelor’s degree in science plus 6 years of research experience.
Preferred
• Master’s degree in Anthropology or another related field with an emphasis on osteology.
• Ph.D.
• 2 years of experience in osteology-related work.
• Extensive experience working with human remains.
• Expert level knowledge of skeletal element ID and osteological methods such as age and sex determination.
• Experience working with NAGPRA collections.
• Experience working with tribal or indigenous communities.
• Experience organizing NAGPRA consultation meetings.
• Experience completing cultural affiliation research.
Combinations of related education and experience may be considered.

SKILLS
Required
• Proficient communication skills.
• Maintains a high degree of professionalism.
• Demonstrated time management and priority setting skills.
• Demonstrates a high commitment to quality.
• Possesses flexibility to work in a fast paced, dynamic environment.
• Seeks to acquire knowledge in area of specialty.
• Highly thorough and dependable.
• Possesses a high degree of initiative.
Preferred
• Ability to manage complex databases.
• Understanding of content and practical application of NAGPRA law.
• Skill in understanding and interpreting complex laws, regulations, policies, procedures and guidelines.
• Concentrated lab work to document the Native American remains which is a mandated component of NAGPRA law.

Working Conditions/Demands:
The role regularly requires the ability to effectively communicate. The role frequently requires the ability to move about the work environment and to position oneself to operate laboratory equipment effectively. The role requires the ability to move objects weighing up to 25 pounds and will occasionally work near moving mechanical parts. The person in this role must be able to perform the essential functions with or without an accommodation.
New employees will be provided with information regarding Indiana University’s COVID-19 vaccine policy, which includes the opportunity to request an exemption. To learn more, view our COVID-19 vaccine information page.
Indiana University is an equal employment and affirmative action employer and a provider of ADA services. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, ethnicity, color, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, genetic information, marital status, national origin, disability status or protected veteran status. Indiana University does not discriminate on the basis of sex in its educational programs and activities, including employment and admission, as required by Title IX. Questions or complaints regarding Title IX may be referred to the U.S. Department of Education Office for Civil Rights or the university Title IX Coordinator. See Indiana University’s Notice of Non-Discrimination here which includes contact information.