Anthropologist (Osteology), IS-0190-12

Application deadline: 19 August 2026. Department: National Museum of Natural History. Location: Suitland, MD. This is a 2-year, full-time trust-fund position open to all qualified applicants eligible to work in the United States.

About the role

The National Museum of Natural History is seeking an experienced Anthropologist (Osteology) to join the International Repatriation and Domestic Returns Program within the Department of Anthropology. The incumbent will contribute to the documentation, analysis, and stewardship of human remains collections and support institutional efforts to identify and return remains to appropriate descendant communities globally.

The work requires prolonged standing while examining and processing skeletal collections; frequent bending, reaching, and lifting of collection materials; and the movement of collection containers, specimen trays, and storage units weighing up to 40 pounds. The incumbent regularly uses carts, ladders, and other equipment to access and transport collections stored in museum facilities. Normally works in a laboratory or collection area; infrequently performs field work in a variety of settings. May work with chemicals, some potentially hazardous, with proper safety precautions observed.

Responsibilities

• Provides technical guidance and oversees biological profile assessments, including age-at-death, sex, ancestry, pathology, trauma, and postmortem changes.
• Conducts advanced analyses and research to assist in determining biological ancestry.
• Produces technical reports, documentation, and scientific interpretations supporting IRDR activities.
• Applies osteological findings within historical, archaeological, and cultural contexts relevant to return efforts.
• Works closely with staff in the Department of Anthropology to maintain data and further develop standards for the capture and dissemination of biological information from collections of human remains being assessed for possible repatriation/return.
• Oversees data capture program for IRDR of human remains designated for return, working within established policies governing data collection, maintenance, and future collaborative use.
• Engages with international partners, descendant communities, and the scientific community to support transparency and collaboration.

Requirements

Applicants must meet the following Basic Requirements for Positions in the Smithsonian Institution:

• Successfully completed a full 4-year course of study leading to a bachelor's or higher degree that included or was supplemented by 24 semester hours in anthropology, history, biology, physical science, geology, human geography, or other closely related fields that primarily concern human adaptation to the environment or evolutionary development. Related fields may include archaeology, osteology, biological anthropology, and forensic anthropology.

In addition to the Basic Requirements above, applicants must possess:

• A master’s degree in anthropology, archaeology, osteology, biological anthropology, forensic anthropology, or a closely related field from an accredited four-year college or university; AND
• 5-7 years of related experience; OR an equivalent combination of education and experience.

Qualifications

• Advanced professional knowledge of biological anthropology, especially human skeletal biology and the related subdisciplines of osteometrics, paleopathology, and skeletal demography, collections documentation, and international/domestic returns practices to conduct comprehensive analyses of human skeletal remains.
• Comprehensive knowledge of museum collections management principles and practices, including the curation, preservation, documentation, and stewardship of human remains within biological anthropology collections, as well as familiarity with institutional standards governing collections care, sensitivity, and access.
• Knowledge of repatriation/return policies, legal authorities, and ethical standards, including institutional procedures and international considerations governing the identification, documentation, and return of human remains.
• Extensive knowledge of data management systems and standards to oversee data capture programs, ensure quality control, enhance accessibility, and documentation protocols used to capture, maintain, and disseminate biological information.
• Knowledge of scientific research methods and technical communication practices to prepare written detailed reports, provide expert technical guidance, and present findings in writing and orally to diverse audiences, including scientists, institutional leadership, and descendant communities.
• Demonstrated ability to supervise and guide others through reviewing completed work for soundness of overall approach, effectiveness in achieving program goals, technical adequacy, feasibility of recommendations, and adherence to applicable requirements and policies.

Benefits

• Health, Dental & Vision Insurance
• Life Insurance
• Transit/Commuter Benefits
• Accidental Death and Dismemberment Insurance
• Annual and Sick Leave
• Family Friendly Leave
• 403b Retirement Plan
• Discounts for Smithsonian Memberships, Museum Stores and Restaurants
• Credit Union
• Smithsonian Early Enrichment Center (Child Care)
• Flexible Spending Account (Health & Dependent Care)

Pay

$102,415 - $133,142 / year