Agency

Department

Here’s a Glimpse of the Job

Texas A&M’s Anthropology Department is seeking a Research Assistant to support the Principal Investigator and conservation team in the stabilization and preservation of the Revolutionary War Gunboat Philadelphia. This position is located in Washington, D.C. and is grant-funded expected to conclude at the end of March 2027. The Research Assistant will assist with conservation efforts, documentation, and related project activities aimed at protecting and maintaining this historically significant artifact while supporting research, educational, and public outreach objectives.

Opportunities to Contribute

• Repairs and stabilizes wooden and iron artifacts to ensure their long-term preservation.

• Documents conservation activities to industry standards and communicates project work and findings to visitors and the public.

• Trains and supervises volunteer assistants while assisting the Principal Investigator with preparing and maintaining the worksite for visitors.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

• Physically able to lift and move objects up to 50 pounds.

A well-qualified candidate for this position will also possess:

• Hold a Class C motor vehicle license and the willingness to drive/operate a Class-C motor vehicle to and from the work site or to pick up supplies.

• Minimum of six months experience working with maritime archaeological artifacts comprised of wood, iron, and composite materials.

• Experience working with archaeological ship structures or disassociated ship timbers.

• A thorough understanding of degradation processes involved with artifacts recovered from a submerged environment.

• Ability to documentation watercraft and component parts to industry standards.

• DSLR artifact photography and UV reflective photography.

• A strong understanding of 18th and 19th-century ship construction.

• Familiarity with Rhino 7 (CAD) software.

• Ability to work independently with minimal supervision.

• Ability to analyze and characterize object components that have been recovered from freshwater or seawater environments.

• Basic understanding of the use of XRF, FTIR and other analytical methods.

• A thorough understanding of ship construction methods from the historic period with emphasis on the second half of the 18th century.

• Ability to multi-task and work cooperatively with others.

• Strong writing skills.

Salary: Compensation will be commensurate based on the selected candidate's education and experience.

Please note: This position is grant funded; future employment may be contingent upon future funding.

What you need to do

Apply! Submit a cover letter, CV/Resume to assist us with the review process. You may upload these documents on the application under CV/Resume. 

Why Texas A&M University? 

Texas A&M University is committed to enriching the learning and working environment by promoting a culture that respects all perspectives, talents & lived experiences. Embracing varying opinions and perspectives strengthens our core values which are: Respect, Excellence, Leadership, Loyalty, Integrity, and Selfless Service.   

Anthropology, in the College of Arts and Sciences, is the study of what it means to be human in the broadest sense, through an examination of culture and society (sociocultural and linguistic anthropology), the biology and evolution of humans and our closest relatives (biological anthropology) and the study of past human communities and material culture (archaeology).  Students develop an appreciation of the value of physical and cultural differences at the local, national, and global levels, and learn critical thinking skills that support them in their careers.  

We are a prestigious university with strong traditions, Core Values, and a community of caring and collaboration.  Amenities associated with a major university, such as sporting and cultural events, state-of-the-art recreation facilities, the Bush Library and Museum, and much more await you.  Experience all that a big city has to offer but with a reasonable cost-of-living and no long commutes.  

• Medical, prescription drug, dental, vision, life and AD&D, flexible spending accounts, and long-term disability insurance with Texas A&M contributing to employee health and basic life premiums 

• 12-15 days of annual paid holidays  

• Up to eight hours of paid sick leave and at least eight hours of paid vacation each month 

• Automatic enrollment in the Teacher Retirement System of Texas  

• Health and Wellness: Free exercise programs and release time 

• Professional Development: All employees have access to free LinkedIn Learning training, webinars, and limited financial support to attend conferences, workshops, and more  

• Educational release time and tuition assistance for completing a degree while a Texas A&M employee 

• Living Well, a program at Texas A&M that has been built by employees, for employees 

Instructions to Applicants: Applications received by Texas A&M University must either have all job application data entered, or a resume attached. Failure to provide all job application data or a complete resume could result in an invalid submission and a rejected application. We encourage all applicants to upload a resume or use a LinkedIn profile to prepopulate the online application.

All positions are security-sensitive. Applicants are subject to a criminal history investigation, and employment is contingent upon the institution’s verification of credentials and/or other information required by the institution’s procedures, including the completion of the criminal history check.

Equal Opportunity/Veterans/Disability Employer.