Finding a Job in Museum Research

Part 5 by David Bradley

The transition into museum research is no harder or easier than finding a job anywhere else in academia but suggests Lewis it may carry an added burden if one chooses to concentrate on collections-based research rather than field research. 'In some disciplines, such as archaeology, collections based researched is viewed in the professional community as "less worthy" than field research,' he says. As with conventional academic research though, results are just as commonly presented at professional meetings and published in peer-reviewed journals. 'Museum researchers use the same methods and the same tools as academic researchers, and grant-writing skills, some readers will find regrettable, are just as necessary,' adds Lewis.

Research at a museum can often take on more of a public focus, particularly if external funds require it. 'One's research may end up on display in exhibits or in other educational contexts, and one may be encouraged to involve volunteers from the general public or school students in the research process,' says Ross. Indeed, many museums, including NHM have such volunteer programs. There, is then the pressure that research might need to be tailored to some extent so that non-specialists can participate, and be readily adapted for exhibits or educational purposes. Museums and academia can differ in the kinds of funds they can obtain, funding bodies, such as the NSF, have to account for the suitability of a research department of whatever disposition. Importantly though, a museum might play the public educational card so apply to non-traditional funding bodies interested in fostering public science education rather than research results. But, maybe this should also be a role of universities too.

Although museum research might seem to outsiders to be a very different environment to a life in university research Johnston does not feel that there is much of a distinction. 'They're very much the same in fact,' he says. According to Ralph Salier an archeologist expert in North American Early Man and stone tools, 'One major difference is that museum jobs are far rarer than academic research posts simply because there are far fewer museums with research departments as there are universities.' Megan Dennis who is working in North America before returning to Europe to do her PhD adds that, 'You have to be keen and know it is what you want to do. The hardest thing is finding somewhere to get experience of museum science.' As one other 'anonymous' museum researcher has it, 'the job market is very, very limited and one often has to be willing to volunteer until a funded position opens.'

Back to the intro... Scientific Research in the Past