Research Assistant - Provenance Studies

Who We Are

Opened in 1914 and welcoming over 1.3 million visitors annually, the Royal Ontario Museum (ROM) is Canada's most-visited museum, ranking among the top 10 cultural institutions in North America. At ROM, we are dedicated to building and sharing global collections, sharing knowledge, inspiring learning, and fostering community engagement. As a globally recognized field research institute, ROM houses an impressive collection of over 18 million artworks, cultural objects, and natural history specimens, showcased in over 40 galleries and exhibition spaces.

We are committed to creating a space where art, culture, and nature intersect, connecting people and communities to the past, present and shared future.

Opened in 1914 and welcoming over 1.3 million visitors annually, the Royal Ontario Museum (ROM) is Canada's most-visited museum, ranking among the top 10 cultural institutions in North America. At ROM, we are dedicated to building and sharing global collections, sharing knowledge, inspiring learning, and fostering community engagement. As a globally recognized field research institute, ROM houses an impressive collection of over 18 million artworks, cultural objects, and natural history specimens, showcased in over 40 galleries and exhibition spaces.

We are committed to creating a space where art, culture, and nature intersect, connecting people and communities to the past, present and shared future.

We are seeking a Research Assistant – Provenance Studies (China) for a two-year contract to conduct original, collections-based research that strengthens our understanding and documentation of ROM’s Chinese collections and their collecting histories.

Reporting to the Chief Curator, Arts & Culture and supervised by the Manager of Provenance Studies, you will collaborate with curators and colleagues across ROM to investigate the provenance of objects whose acquisition histories warrant further research, including selected funerary contexts and human remains. You will also build on existing research and digitization of the George Crofts Collection, helping consolidate archival materials and develop a public-facing digital archive.

Your work will improve the accuracy and quality of collections data, strengthen provenance documentation, and make research findings more accessible to both internal and public audiences. This role is an exciting opportunity for a researcher specializing in Chinese history and collections who is interested in advancing ethical stewardship, transparency, and public understanding of museum collections.

• Conduct original, collections-based provenance research on objects within ROM’s Chinese collections whose acquisition histories warrant further investigation
• Investigate and document provenance associated with selected funerary contexts and human remains with appropriate care and sensitivity
• Build on existing research and digitization of the George Crofts Collection, consolidating archival materials and contributing to the development of a public-facing digital archive
• Prepare clear, accurate provenance histories and supporting documentation for inclusion in ROM’s collections management system (TMS)
• Produce research reports and maintain thorough documentation to support institutional records and ongoing provenance work
• Translate complex and potentially sensitive research findings into accessible public-facing content, including website articles, blog posts, and other materials
• Collaborate with the Manager of Provenance Studies, curators, registrars, Collections Information staff, and other stakeholders to strengthen museum-wide provenance documentation practices
• Contribute to provenance-related policy research and the continued development and implementation of documentation standards
• Support provenance research and interpretive content for ROM’s China gallery, exhibitions, and related initiatives as required
• Contribute to ROM’s broader commitment to responsible, transparent, and ethical collections stewardship

• Advanced degree in Art History, Archaeology, Museum Studies, or a related field, with specialization in Chinese…