Mellon Foundation Postdoctoral Research Fellow - Bloomsbury, United Kingdom - The British Museum

The British Museum
The British Museum
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Bloomsbury, United Kingdom

4 weeks ago

Tom O´Connor

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Tom O´Connor

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Description

Scientific Research

Full-time

Fixed term (23 Months)

£32,193 per annum

Application deadline: 12pm (midday) on Thursday, 27 July 2023

About the role:


The Fellowship offers an exciting opportunity for an early career researcher with a doctorate in a science discipline to conduct research on clay tablets from ancient Iraq inscribed with cuneiform writing.

Through an innovative combination of invasive and non-invasive analytical techniques, the Fellow will reveal how selected groups of tablets were made and how production was organised.

The post must be taken up by 1st November 2023


Key areas of responsibility:


  • To use a range of invasive and noninvasive analytical and imaging techniques: polarised and digital microscopy, Xray CT, RTI, SEM-EDX and XRF and, working alongside other scientists and curators, use these skills in order to address the research questions and context.
  • To carry out a scientific research project on the study of clay tablets.
  • To identify technological processes used in the manufacture of these artefacts.
  • To contribute scientific data that enhances understanding of the objects and promotes effective storage and display of these objects.
  • To participate in the wider activities of Scientific Research, including contributing to the Museum's public programme, in order to fully understand the role of museum scientists within the organisation.
  • To update colleagues at regular progress meetings and publish results as appropriate, through internal reports and peerreviewed publications.
  • To organise an international workshop/symposium on clay tablet production in 2025.

About you:


  • PhD in a science discipline (geology, earth science, archaeological science preferred) awarded before the start of the Fellowship.
  • Demonstrable interest in aspects of the Museum's collections.
  • Experience of analysis of inorganic material (e.g. ceramics, glass, metals) from museum collections and/or archaeological assemblages.
  • Analytical research experience and an ability to plan and execute research.
  • Experience in the use of analytical techniques, such as polarised microscopy, XRF, SEM/EDX, XRD, X-Ray CT, RTI
  • High level of IT literacy.
  • Research experience and an ability to plan and execute research.
  • Experience in a laboratory and/or research environment.
  • Good organisational skills.
  • Ability to deliver work to agreed deadlines.
  • Ability to communicate effectively and clearly to a variety of audiences in oral and written form.
  • Strong team working abilities.
  • Coauthorship of publications in peer reviewed journals

About the British Museum:

Founded in 1753, the British Museum's remarkable collection spans over two million years of human history and culture.

The Museum is one of the leading visitor attractions and its world-famous collection includes the Rosetta Stone, the Parthenon sculptures, Egyptian mummies, the Admonitions Scroll, and the Amaravati sculptures.


The Museum offers a competitive benefits package including:

  • Membership of the civil service pension scheme
  • Free entry to a wide range of museums and exhibitions
  • Participation in private and public Museum activities, including talks by leading curators from around the world and behindthescenes opportunities to learn how museums care for and manage their extraordinary collections
  • Generous annual leave allowance
  • Interestfree travel, bicycle and rental deposit loans
  • Professional and personal development opportunities
  • Employee Assistance Programme
  • Discounts on food and gift shop purchases

Additional details:

For more information about this role, please see the job description.

The British Museum is committed to promoting equality of opportunity for all staff and job applicants.

We aim to create a working environment in which all individuals can make best use of their skills, free from unlawful discrimination or harassment.

We value the benefits that a diverse workforce brings to a museum which represents world culture. The Museum is committed to ensuring that no job applicant suffers unlawful discrimination because of any protected characteristics. Our recruitment procedures aim to ensure that individuals are treated fairly because of their relevant knowledge, skills and experience.


We are also currently piloting a flexible way of working that allows our employees to work remotely in a way that suits them and the organization.

We welcome questions and conversations at interview stage and how flexible working could work for you.

**The Museum adheres to the HMG Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS) for pre-employment screening of Civil Servants.
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