The University Museum of Zoology, Cambridge is seeking a full-time, fixed-term Assistant Conservator (Projects) to support a major collections move programme.

The post holder will play a key role in delivering practical conservation work as part of a focused project team. This will include undertaking condition assessments, preparing specimens for relocation, and ensuring appropriate conservation workflows are applied throughout the move process. Where required, you will carry out interventive treatments to stabilise objects for safe transport and long-term storage, alongside implementing preventive measures to reduce risk during handling and movement.

In addition to project-specific work, the role will contribute to wider collections care across the Museum. This includes supporting environmental monitoring, integrated pest management (IPM), and maintaining appropriate storage conditions. The post holder will also assist with conservation treatments for displays, exhibitions, and stored collections, including work with fluid-preserved specimens.

This is an excellent opportunity to gain hands-on experience as part of a fast-paced, cross-disciplinary team, working across a wide range of natural history collections. The role requires the post holder to have good general knowledge and experience in the care and conservation of organic materials. While experience in natural history collections is desirable, training will be provided to support the development of specialist skills.

The successful candidate must be able to work independently and collaboratively, manage competing priorities, and deliver work to project deadlines.

This role is a specialist Museum collections conservation role. It is not an environmental conservation or wildlife/nature conservation role.

For a full person specification and other essential requirements, against which your application will be scored, please see the Further Particulars job description.

Interviews are planned in the week commencing Monday, 11 May 2026 (subject to change).

Fixed-term: The funds for this post are available for up to 18 months.

Once an offer of employment has been accepted, the successful candidate will be required to undergo a basic disclosure (criminal records check) check, a health assessment and a security check.

Applications are welcome from internal candidates who would like to apply for the role on the basis of a secondment from their current role in the University.

We particularly welcome applications from candidates from a BME background for this vacancy as they are currently under-represented at this level in the University.

Click the 'Apply' button below to register an account with our recruitment system (if you have not already) and apply online.

Informal enquiries are welcomed and should be directed to: Natalie Jones (Conservator) [email: nj273@cam.ac.uk]

If you have any queries regarding the application process, please contact Paulina Lasocka or Anastasia Nezhentseva [email: hr@zoo.cam.ac.uk]

Please quote reference PF49286 on your application and in any correspondence about this vacancy.

The University actively supports equality, diversity and inclusion and encourages applications from all sections of society.

The University has a responsibility to ensure that all employees are eligible to live and work in the UK.

An 100% Research Technician position is available in the Deep Time Ecology Group, led by Dr Emily Mitchell, in the Department of Zoology at the University of Cambridge. The position is part of a five-year project starting in June 2026: Understanding selection in the early animals of the Ediacaran. This project will bring together geochemistry, palaeontology and evolutionary biology to create an innovative framework for understanding early animal evolution - specifically, 1) What the patterns of early animal evolution were; 2) How selection acted upon these early animals; and 3) Why these adaptations occurred.

The successful applicant will support the lab's research through the processing and management of their digital palaeontological data. The key responsibilities will be to provide support for research projects by ensuring that raw fieldwork data is properly backed up for processing the fieldwork data. The technician will also manage the data storage as well as preparing and updating documentation, help train new lab members, and liaise with other research groups and departmental technical staff.

Applicants should have a BSc in a relevant field to palaeontology, such as biology or Earth sciences (or equivalent practical experience), with experience in processing 3D digital data. Essential skills include having a high degree of precision and accuracy, excellent organisational skills, the ability to work well within a team, as well as the ability to work autonomously and make independent decisions within guidelines. Experience with palaeontological data and an interest in understanding early animal evolution are desirable. There may be opportunities to participate in international fieldwork, though this is not required.

The role will be based on site in the Department of Zoology. Work cannot be undertaken remotely.

Interview date: Interviews are expected to take place in Cambridge during the week commencing Monday, 11th May 2026 (subject to change) and may be conducted remotely under exceptional circumstances.

Fixed-term: The funds for this post are available for up to 36 months.

Applications are welcome from internal candidates who would like to apply for the role on the basis of a secondment from their current role in the University.

Flexible working request will be considered.

We particularly welcome applications from candidates from a BME background for this vacancy as they are currently under-represented at this level in our University.

Click the 'Apply' button below to register an account with our recruitment system (if you have not already) and apply online.

Informal enquiries are welcome and should be directed to Dr Emily Mitchell [email: ek338@cam.ac.uk]

If you have any queries regarding the application process, please contact Paulina Lasocka or Anastasia Nezhentseva [email: hr@zoo.cam.ac.uk]

Please quote reference PF49018 on your application and in any correspondence about this vacancy.

The University actively supports equality, diversity and inclusion and encourages applications from all sections of society.

The University has a responsibility to ensure that all employees are eligible to live and work in the UK.