Career Opportunities with Field Museum
Career Opportunities with Field Museum
Current job opportunities are posted here as they become available.
| Department: | Negaunee Integrative Research Ctr |
| Location: | Chicago, IL |
Field Museum Women in Science Undergraduate Internship– Paleontology
Paleontology, art, and outreach in the Midwest: a case study using the Mazon Creek Lagerstätte of Illinois
The Mazon Creek fossil beds are considered a Lagerstätte–an area of exceptional soft tissue preservation and fossil abundance. Renewed investigation of the vertebrate fauna from Mazon Creek has revealed dozens of new fossils, including significant fossils for understanding early tetrapod evolution and the establishment of terrestrial ecosystems. Additionally, Mazon Creek represents one of the largest and most diverse avocational paleontological communities of local collectors and amateur paleontologists who actively engage in the science and provide the backbone for research at this historic set of fossil localities. Furthermore, the accessibility, relative abundance, and unique charismatic nature of the fossils from Mazon Creek such as the “Tully Monster”, make this site a uniquely positioned platform for scientific outreach which should be further explored and fostered here at the Field Museum.
The proposed college-level internship will aim to synthesize fieldwork and research with art and outreach into a 6-week project. The Intern will aim to conduct a small research project on a group of early tetrapods from Mazon Creek known as nectrideans, using new fossils to test the hypothesis that they are of relatively low diversity in the Carboniferous estuarine ecosystem of Mazon Creek. They will learn the basics of anatomical data collections, scientific illustrations, and some basics of scientific writing. Then using their results combined with new research from the Mann Lab group on recent discoveries from Mazon Creek, the intern will aid Dr. Mann in the design of a small exhibit, through the Grainger Science Hub. This exhibit will highlight the contributions of local community stakeholder, paleoartists and scientists to the research process at Mazon Creek. Finally, this internship is designed with the goal of encouraging retention within the broader paleontological community and STEM–through the use multidisciplinary approach, which may include but is not limited to the use of art, science advocacy, outreach, and education.
This internship is intended for female and non-binary identifying students. The application deadline is April 25th and candidates chosen for interviews will be contacted by May 2nd.
Initial HR Orientation is on Monday, June 16th w/full time hours of 35 per week starting on June 23rd, 2025 - July 31st. Salary of $17.5 per hour.
Applicants must apply through the Field Museum website at www.fieldmuseum.org/careers. Applications through other websites will not be considered.
PLEASE READ: *If you apply for multiple positions on the Field Museum website, please make sure to delete your previous resume and cover letter and upload the latest version of your resume and cover letter that is relevant to the job you are applying for, every time you apply. This will help our hiring managers access the correct documents. Please note that removing the resume and cover letter will not delete any previously submitted resumes and cover letters.
The Field Museum is an equal-opportunity employer. We are committed to providing a workplace free from discrimination, embracing diversity, and fostering mutual respect. We value the unique perspectives each team member brings, which empowers our ability to innovate and overcome challenges.
At the Field Museum, we are dedicated to making our career website and recruitment process accessible to everyone. If you encounter any difficulty when using or accessing our online application, or if you need a reasonable accommodation for completing your application, participating in interviews, or any other part of the selection process, please reach out to us at recruitment@fieldmuseum.org.
