Earth Sciences Postdoctoral Scholar
Description
Are you interested in doing research in a highly collaborative and outwardly focused museum environment? We are looking for a rising star to collaborate with us to propel new and existing museum scholarship. This donor-funded two-year postdoctoral position will be based in the Department of Earth Sciences at the Denver Museum of Nature & Science. The successful candidate will work closely with the Curator of Geology, other museum staff, and external colleagues to publish peer-reviewed publications that expand our understanding of earth history. This position offers opportunities to extend the candidate’s skills in research as well as in science communication, collections, and/or service to community. This is an in-person position. The position start date is flexible but ideally candidates would begin in summer 2026.
Job Class: Full Time
Hiring Range: $60,000 - $62,000/year
Work Schedule: Monday-Friday daytime hours; weekends and evenings as needed
Direct Reports: 0
Hiring Range: $60,000 - $62,000/year
Work Schedule: Monday-Friday daytime hours; weekends and evenings as needed
Direct Reports: 0
Essential Duties
Research (80%):
- Help complete and publish existing museum research projects, potentially including a focus on Cretaceous, Cambrian, or other systems.
- Collaborate with the Curator of Geology and as needed with other DMNS staff, interns, associates, and/or external partners to develop new scholarship.
- Develop skills and experience that will help propel their scientific career, potentially including database, collections, lab, field, and/or fundraising work.
Outreach (10%):
- Facilitate in-person outreach experiences at relevant internal and external events.
- Deliver outreach to the scientific and public communities via verbal, lecture, video, written, and/or other media formats.
Service (10%):
- Contribute to the museum’s impact by participating in activities such as inclusivity efforts and mentoring.
- Participate in leadership or other service roles that support and diversify the broader earth science community.
Minimum Qualifications/Requirements
- Ph.D. in Earth Sciences or a related field.
- Peer-reviewed publication record.
- Experience with sedimentary rocks, core, and/or fossils.
- Proficiency in using relevant software (e.g., GIS, R, Petra/Kingdom, relational databases).
Ideal Candidate Will Be/Have
- Interest and flexibility in adopting new projects.
- Interest in improving and diversifying their science communication skills.
- Experience in field and/or collections-based research
Working Conditions
- Travel: Conferences, fieldwork, collections visits, events.
- Occasional evening/weekend work: Outreach events, tours, donor, field activities.
- Office: Moderate noise (business office with computers and printers, light traffic).
- Lifting requirements: Move (equipment, specimens) up to 50 pounds in the collections, lab, field.
- Stand or sit: Able to remain in a stationary position (75% of time).
- Working machinery: Exposure to loud fans, air compressors, mechanical equipment, chemical materials.
- Collections: Preparation, cleaning, repair, maintenance of rocks, specimens.
- Fieldwork: Travel on foot across varied, remote terrain and inclement weather.
- Lab: Potential use of mechanical or hand tools, fume hoods, chemicals.
Application Instructions
Please submit a Curriculum Vitae (CV) detailing your research experience along with a 1-2 page statement that outlines your research interests by noon (MDT) on Friday, May 8, 2026. Applications will not be accepted after this time. DMNS reserves the right to close the position prior to this date. Applications may only be accepted electronically via the Museum's website.
DMNS Core Values
- We love science.
- We are curious, creative, and playful.
- We cultivate relationships with each other, diverse communities, the environment, and for our future.
- We think critically and act with empathy.
Perks of Working at DMNS
Click HERE (https://www.dmns.org/about/careers/benefits/) to learn more about the benefits package offered to DMNS staff.
Due to the high volume of people who apply, we are not able to respond to specific inquiries regarding your application status.
The Denver Museum of Nature & Science is an equal opportunity employer. The Museum is dedicated to the goal of building a culturally diverse staff committed to serving the needs of all our visitors, and we encourage applications from individuals of all backgrounds.