Job Description
About Us
We are a world-class visitor attraction and leading science research centre. We use the Museum's unique collections and our unrivalled expertise to tackle the biggest challenges facing the world today. We care for more than 80 million objects spanning billions of years and welcome more than five million visitors annually and 16 million visits to our website.
Today the Museum is more relevant and influential than ever. By attracting people from a range of backgrounds to work for us, we can continue to look at the world with fresh eyes and find new ways of doing things.
We employ 1100 staff in a variety of roles, all united by our vision of a future where people and planet thrive. We need everyone to have the passion and drive to help us with our mission to create advocates for our planet and inspire millions to care about the natural world.
Diversity and inclusion matter to us.
Our vision is of a future where both people and the planet thrive. Diversity is one of our core values and we strive to build a workplace where everyone feels a sense of belonging. All new staff who join us learn about the importance of diversity and inclusion to the Museum and how to contribute to creating an inclusive environment. We know we have more to do, but we are committed to ensuring that everyone who works at the Museum feels they can thrive and feel valued and respected.
About the role
The Centre for Human Evolution Research (CHER) at the Natural History Museum is seeking a Research Assistant to support a Leverhulme Trust-funded project, investigating how the inner ear works in mammals. Following established protocols you will carry out detailed digital segmentation of the bony labyrinth and the delicate membranous semicircular ducts from micro-CT scans of extant mammal specimens. You will also organise the segmented datasets and keep an accurate digital record of your work, with quality control and data archiving supported by a senior member of the team. This is a computer-based role involving time-intensive image processing, and it offers the chance to contribute directly to cutting-edge research in inner ear biomechanics. This is a full-time, one-year fixed-term position.
About you
We are looking for a meticulous and well-organised Research Assistant with a postgraduate qualification (MSc or equivalent) in vertebrate palaeontology, evolutionary biology, zoology, anatomical sciences or a closely related discipline. You will have proven experience segmenting anatomical structures from CT, MRI or similar 3D imaging data, and you will already be proficient in Avizo or possibly equivalent software. You take a methodical approach to repetitive, detail-heavy tasks and maintain a high level of accuracy throughout. You are able to manage your own time and work independently, while also being a flexible and supportive member of a small team. Experience segmenting soft tissues, a basic understanding of vertebrate cranial and inner-ear anatomy, and good written and verbal communication skills would be an advantage.
Thriving at the Museum: the way we work
We are proud to work at the Museum and have identified the qualities we all need to embody to reach our shared ambition. This sits alongside the Museum’s values and forms the framework for the way we work.
Find out more here
What we offer
- 27.5 days holiday plus 8 bank holidays (full time equivalent)
- Generous defined contribution Natural History Museum Pension Scheme (employer contribution 4 - 10%)
- Season ticket, bicycle and rental loan
- Life insurance
- Free admission to our exhibitions and many other paid exhibitions at museums, galleries and institutions across London and the UK.
- Staff discount at our Museum shops and cafes
- We offer a wide variety of training initiatives and opportunities to build skills. Investing in staff development is important to us, and we are ambitious about helping staff to grow and fulfil their potential.
- Affordable membership to the Civil Service Sports Council which offers a range of benefits including an extensive list of special offers and reduced entry fees at a selection of cinema chains, theme parks, theatres, retailers and supermarkets. It also provides entry to up to 300 English Heritage sites and other national treasures. For more details, visit https://www.cssc.co.uk
- Membership to our Sports and Social Association (for a small fee), which includes access to our in-house gym and clubs such as football, softball, table tennis and tennis and classes in Middle Eastern dance, yoga and Tai Chi
Hybrid working
We are working towards a vision where both people and planet thrive, and nothing gives a greater connection with this, than seeing first-hand, the visitors, scientific research and collections that all of our work is inspired by and working side by side with the teams delivering the visitor experience and events. We also recognise the benefits and flexibility that hybrid working brings. We operate a hybrid working model that requires regular, weekly attendance for this role, with the precise pattern of days on site and worked from home to be agreed with your manager.
However, due to the specific requirements for this role, the work pattern will be 100% onsite.
How to apply
If this sounds like you, please apply below by clicking on Apply for job.
Please note that as part of our commitment to anonymised shortlisting, panels do not view CVs during the recruitment process. If you choose to upload your CV, our system will automatically pull information from your CV into our application form. We advise you to double-check your application form data before submitting as the tool may interpret CVs differently.
Closing date: 16 November 2026 at 23:59.
Interviews expected: w/c 30 November 2026
Please note that this role does not qualify for Museum sponsorship so the successful postholder will need to have a valid right to work in the UK at the point of offer.