Dr. Elizabeth (Betsy) Nicholls Postdoctoral Fellowship

Dr. Elizabeth (Betsy) Nicholls Postdoctoral Fellowship – Royal Tyrrell Museum of Palaeontology

The Royal Tyrrell Museum Cooperating Society, in collaboration with the Royal Tyrrell Museum of Palaeontology, invites applications for the position of Dr. Elizabeth (Betsy) Nicholls Postdoctoral Fellow. The Fellowship, established in 2005, supports research from a wide range of disciplines in palaeontology.

We are seeking qualified applicants to join the Preservation & Research section at the Royal Tyrrell Museum for an initial two-year appointment with the opportunity for a one-year extension. Prospective applicants with research interests in collections-based projects in any palaeontological discipline should assess their qualifications against the following information before applying:

  • The Royal Tyrrell Museum Collections include over 177,000 catalogued specimens representing more than one million fossils.
  • The Royal Tyrrell Museum Collections have particular strengths in dinosaurs, Cretaceous marine reptiles, Late Cretaceous and early Palaeogene mammals and plants, palynomorphs, Cretaceous ammonites and gastropods, and Late Cretaceous and early Palaeogene freshwater and terrestrial gastropods and bivalves.
  • Current research programs at the Royal Tyrrell Museum include dinosaur systematics and palaeoecology, vertebrate functional morphology, palaeobotany, fossil mammals, palaeoherpetology, and fossil fish.
  • The Royal Tyrrell Museum is a highly collaborative environment, and the successful candidate will have opportunities to contribute to a variety of museum functions, including fieldwork, public and school programming, and outreach.

The Royal Tyrrell Museum is situated in Midland Provincial Park in southeastern Alberta, among the badlands of the lower Horseshoe Canyon Formation in the Red Deer River Valley. We are within a day’s drive of Dinosaur Provincial Park, Dry Island Buffalo Jump, and significant exposures of Cretaceous and early Palaeogene age in southern Alberta.

To apply, applicants must:

  • Be legally able to work in Canada.
  • Have completed a Ph.D. in a field relevant to palaeontological research within the past five years.
  • Show a track record of high-quality peer-reviewed publications.

The successful applicant for this position will:

  • Work within the guidelines of the Province of Alberta Historical Resources Act, the legislation that governs palaeontological resources. 
  • Undertake fieldwork in support of research goals (if necessary).
  • Work in cooperation with members of the Royal Tyrrell Museum research, preparation, and collections teams.
  • Contribute to exhibit, communications, and educational programs of the Royal Tyrrell Museum.
  • Publish scientific papers on the results of research.
  • Present research results at scientific meetings and other venues.
  • Be able to work independently and demonstrate evidence of excellence in research.

Compensation:

  • $60,000 annual salary. 
  • Competitive benefits package.
  • Generous professional development, travel, and research budget.
  • $2,000 relocation allowance

The Cooperating Society is strongly committed to an inclusive and diverse workplace and welcomes all applicants who may contribute further to the advancement of the field of palaeontology.

Interested individuals should email their curriculum vitae, a research proposal (two pages maximum) detailing their interests, expertise, and prospective research project, and the names and contact information of three references, no later than 4:30 p.m. on April 30, 2024 to:

Patty Ralrick
Executive Director
Royal Tyrrell Museum Cooperating Society
Email: p.ralrick@tyrrellmuseum.ca 
Phone : 403-821-2117
Mail: P.O. Box 7500, Drumheller, AB T0J 0Y0

Please note that only applicants who are chosen for the next stage of this selection process will be contacted. Shortlisted applicants will be expected to deliver a one-hour presentation to the public as part of the interview process.