1350-11)

Smithsonian Institution•Washington, DC

41d•$85,447 - $111,087•Onsite

About The Position

Come join a dedicated and creative team at an exceptional time for the Smithsonian, an institution with a bold vision for the future: to build a better tomorrow for all. The Smithsonian Institution is the world’s largest museum, education, and research complex. The National Museum of Natural History (NMNH) is part of the Smithsonian’s unique complex and is one of the most visited museums in the United States. Its mission is to promote understanding of the natural world and our place in it. NMNH has a collection of 148 million specimens and artifacts. Each one reflects a moment in space and time and in these moments, we find Earth’s story. The National Museum of Natural History, Department of Mineral Sciences invites applications for three (3) positions of Biologist (Postdoctoral Research Fellow) and/or Geologist (Postdoctoral Research Fellow) in support of the National Museum of Natural History’s Our Unique Planet initiative which is focused on understanding the origin of the unique features of our planet. Up to one position will be selected in each of following research areas: (1) Continents - use the compositions of ancient rocks and minerals and/or computational modeling to investigate the generation of continental crust and its relation to the evolution of the early Earth and the onset of modern-style plate tectonics; (2) Meteoritics – conduct petrologic and mineralogical studies of aqueously-altered carbonaceous chondrites and samples returned by the OSIRIS-REx mission to understand their history and the evolution of water before and during delivery to Earth; and (3) Biomineralogy – focus on the emergence of the earliest biomineralizing organisms by studying early-Earth specimens, modern analog mineral-microbial processes, or evidence of life from extreme environments.

Requirements

To qualify for this position, candidates must demonstrate the experience outlined above and possess three full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree related to the position or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
Professional knowledge of a wide range of concepts, principles, and theories of the physical and/or biological sciences in the field of geology, biology, or other related discipline.
Demonstrated experience in a field directly relevant to the research areas (e.g., one or more of one or more of petrology, geochemistry, meteoritics, biomineralogy, geomicrobiology or astrobiology).
Professional knowledge and experience in sampling and experimental design, as well as a broad analytical outlook based on wide knowledge of various systematic methodologies.
Experience with relevant analytical techniques is preferred (e.g., electron microscopy, magnetometry, mass spectrometry, and other micro-to-nano analytical techniques).
Knowledge and experience in computerized statistical analysis of complex data.
Knowledge and expertise in publishing and giving oral presentations of complex scientific results.
Working knowledge of the scientific literature in area of expertise.

Responsibilities

The successful candidate will have a track record of published research commensurate with level of experience.
The ability to effectively communicate with a wide variety of audiences, including the public, is essential.
The successful candidate will have the opportunity to participate in museum activities, such as educational outreach activities, and to be involved with professional associations and other organizations within the scientific community.