The organisation - The British Museum Founded in 1753, the British Museum’s remarkable collection spans over two million years of human history and culture. The Museum is a leading visitor attraction, and its world-famous collection includes the Rosetta Stone, Egyptian mummies, the Sutton-Hoo finds, and the Lewis Chessmen.

The role - Research Assistant: Craft Interactions in a New Kingdom Industrial Landscape We are seeking a Research Assistant to investigate ancient Egyptian high-temperature crafts, with a focus on understanding technological interactions during the New Kingdom—particularly at the site of Amarna in Middle Egypt. The post-holder will apply microscopy, elemental, and isotopic analysis to study the production technologies behind materials such as glass, faience, Egyptian Blue, and copper alloys. The post is part of an AHRC/DFG-funded project led by the British Museum and Freie Universität Berlin.

Job requirements • Demonstrated experience in the technological analysis of metals, vitreous materials, and/or production remains using XRF, microscopy, and/or SEM. • Experience in provenance studies using trace element and/or isotopic analysis of metals and/or vitreous materials. • Background in working within university departments, analytical laboratories, museums, or other cultural heritage institutions. • Strong organisational and problem-solving skills. • Clear and confident communicator, with fluency in spoken and written English. • Collaborative team player. • At least one peer-reviewed publication in a relevant field.

Benefits • Generous annual leave allowance of 25 days (rising to 30 days after 10 years’ service) plus 2.5 privilege days and plus bank holidays. • Membership of the civil service defined benefit pension scheme. • Free entry to a wide range of museums and exhibitions • Participation in private and public Museum activities, including talks by leading curators from around the world and behind-the-scenes opportunities to learn how museums care for and manage their extraordinary collections. • Interest-free travel, bicycle, and rental deposit loans • Professional and personal development opportunities • Employee Assistance Programme • Discounts on food and gift shop purchases

Additional details We have a legal responsibility to ensure that employees have the right to work in the UK. If you currently do not hold the right to work in the UK, we can only sponsor a limited number of roles that meet eligibility criteria. To offer a sponsorship, the job role you apply needs to be in the list of eligible occupations. Additionally (with some limited exceptions), the role will need to meet the minimum salary threshold of £38,700 or the going rate for the job, whichever is the highest.