Job Vacancies: Two Laboratory Technician posts on AHRC RICHeS project

Laboratory Technician (Archaeobotany)

A part-time (0.5FTE; 18.25 hours per week) Laboratory Technician is sought with practical skills and experience in archaeobotany. This post will be funded in the first instance for a period of 21 months and will be available from 1 February 2025.

This role is part of the Institute of Archaeology’s ‘Advancing Access to the UCL Archaeological Reference Collections (A3RC)’ funded by the AHRC RICHeS programme. The A3RC project will enhance researcher access to UCL’s modern and archaeological scientific reference collections, specifically the Archaeobotanical, Osteological, and Artefact collections. 

The role holder will support the archaeobotany laboratory as it undergoes a period of refurbishment as part of a reorganisation program to increase the accessibility and research use of our unique archaeobotanical collections at UCL. The A3RC project objectives are to improve accessibility to visiting researchers, and to provide new spaces and equipment improving the study of the Institute's Archaeobotanical collections.

The successful candidate will have a Masters degree in Archaeology, Botany or related discipline (e.g. Quaternary Ecology/Geography with use of plant macrofossils). They will have experience in archaeobotanical laboratory work, including safe working practices and managing risk as well as experience in curating botanical reference materials. They must also have a good command of plant taxonomic nomenclature and morphological descriptive terminology.

Further information

• Further details of the post and the online application facility are available on the UCL website.
• Enquiries about the vacancy may be directed to Dorian Fuller (d.fuller@ucl.ac.uk). 
• Queries about the application process may be directed to the Institute's HR Administrator, Louisa Goldsmith.

Laboratory Technician (Osteology)

A part-time (0.5FTE; 18.25 hours per week) Laboratory Technician is sought with practical skills and experience in osteology. This post will be funded in the first instance for a period of 21 months and will be available from 1 February 2025.

This role is part of the Institute of Archaeology’s ‘Advancing Access to the UCL Archaeological Reference Collections (A3RC)’ funded by the AHRC RICHeS programme. The A3RC project will enhance researcher access to UCL’s modern and archaeological scientific reference collections, specifically the Archaeobotanical, Osteological, and Artefact collections. 

During the initial phase of the A3RC project, the role-holder will coordinate infrastructure work including the upgrade of the Osteology (human osteology and zooarchaeology) laboratories.

The role-holder will also work closely with the line manager on the day-to-day running of the osteology collections and laboratories, including facilitating staff and student access to the collections for research purposes, and liaising with external users wishing to undertake research with the collections. The role-holder will also support osteological research that requires access to specialist equipment and facilities.

The role-holder will develop and maintain a dedicated webpage that will increase the visibility of the Osteology collections and provide online catalogue access. They will oversee access requests, facilitate access research visits, maintain and update collection catalogues, and assist with the cataloguing and curation of the collections.

The successful candidate will have a Masters degree in Archaeology, Anatomical or Biological Science collections management, Human Osteology, or Zooarchaeology. They will have experience of researching in or working with Anatomical or Biological Sciences collections (this includes archaeological osteological collections), the ability to catalogue and maintain osteological collections ensuring their accessibility to all users and experience in osteological laboratory work, including safe working practices and managing risk.

Further information

• Further details of the post and the online application facility are available on the UCL website.
• Enquiries about the vacancy may be directed to Katie Hemer (k.hemer@ucl.ac.uk). 
• Queries about the application process may be directed to the Institute's HR Administrator, Louisa Goldsmith.

Read more

• UKRI-AHRC RICHeS award for UCL
• UKRI-AHRC RICHeS programme website