Biological Science Technician (Osteology), IS-0404-09

Biological Science Technician (Osteology), IS-0404-09

Final date to receive applications: 18 August 2026

Department: National Museum of Natural History

Employment Type: Full Time

Location: Suitland, MD

Compensation: $70,623 - $91,815 / year

OPEN DATE: August 4, 2026

CLOSING DATE: August 18, 2026 (This job will close when the first 200 applications are received which may be sooner than the closing date)

POSITION TYPE: Trust Fund

APPOINTMENT TYPE: Not-To Exceed (NTE) 2 Years

SCHEDULE: Full Time

DUTY

LOCATION:

Suitland, MD

Position sensitivity and risk

Non-sensitive (NS)/Low Risk

Open to all qualified applicants

What are Trust Fund Positions?

Trust Fund positions are unique to the Smithsonian. They are paid for from a variety of sources, including the Smithsonian endowment, revenue from our business activities, donations, grants and contracts. Trust employees are not part of the civil service, nor does trust fund employment lead to Federal status. The salary ranges for trust positions are generally the same as for federal positions and in many cases trust and federal employees work side by side.

Trust employees have their own benefit program, which may include Health, Dental & Vision Insurance, Life Insurance, Transit/Commuter Benefits, Accidental Death and Dismemberment Insurance, Annual and Sick Leave, Family Friendly Leave, 403b Retirement Plan, Discounts for Smithsonian Memberships, Museum Stores and Restaurants, Credit Union, Smithsonian Early Enrichment Center (Child Care), Flexible Spending Account (Health & Dependent Care).

Conditions of Employment

• Pass Pre-employment Background Check and Subsequent Background Investigation for position designated.
• Complete a Probationary Period.
• Maintain a Bank Account for Direct Deposit/Electronic Transfer.
• The position is open to all candidates eligible to work in the United States. Proof of eligibility to work in U.S. is not required to apply.
• Applicants must meet all qualification and eligibility requirements within 30 days of the closing date of this announcement.
• The work requires prolonged standing while examining and processing skeletal collections; frequent bending, reaching, and lifting of collection materials; and the movement of collection containers, specimen trays, and storage units weighing up to 40 pounds. The Biological Science Technician for Osteology regularly uses carts, ladders, and other equipment to access and transport collections stored in museum facilities.
• Normally works in a laboratory or collection area; infrequently performs field work in a variety of settings. May work with chemicals, some potentially hazardous. Proper safety precautions are observed.

Come join a dedicated and creative team at an exceptional time for the Smithsonian, an institution with a bold vision for the future: to build a better tomorrow for all. The Smithsonian Institution is the world’s largest museum, education, and research complex. The National Museum of Natural History (NMNH) is part of the Smithsonian’s unique complex and is one of the most visited museums in the United States.

Its mission is to promote understanding of the natural world and our place in it. NMNH has a collection of 148 million specimens and artifacts. Each one reflects a moment in space and time and in these moments, we find Earth’s story.

The National Museum of Natural History is seeking an experienced candidate to fill the Biological Science Technician (Osteology) position within the International Repatriation and Domestic Returns (IRDR) Program, in the Department of Anthropology. The purpose of this position is to perform technical work associated with the documentation of Biological Anthropology collections. The goal of the documentation is to record information pertinent to the determination of biological linkages between human skeletal collections in NMNH and appropriate descendant communities, as needed to provide scientific insights for the potential repatriation of collections and for the permanent record of the museum.

• Examines, identifies, and documents human remains in collections that may be subject to repatriation.
• Develops biological profiles by recording age at death, sex, ancestry, and other biological attributes.
• Conducts technical research using existing literature and comparative collections to assist in determining biological ancestry.
• Searches museum records, collections, libraries, archives, and other technical sources for historical and scientific information related to collections.
• Records, organizes, and enters collection information into computerized databases to support interpretation, documentation, and permanent museum records.
• Assists repatriation-related visitors and responds to inquiries concerning biological anthropology collections and repatriation activities.

Education and Experience: To qualify for this position, applicants must possess a bachelor’s degree in anthropology, archaeology, osteology, biological…