Research Assistant

Research Assistant

Texas A&M's Anthropology Department is seeking a Research Assistant to support the Principal Investigator and conservation team in the stabilization and preservation of the Revolutionary War Gunboat Philadelphia. This position is located in Washington, D.C. and is grant-funded expected to conclude at the end of March 2027. The Research Assistant will assist with conservation efforts, documentation, and related project activities aimed at protecting and maintaining this historically significant artifact while supporting research, educational, and public outreach objectives.

Opportunities to Contribute

• Repairs and stabilizes wooden and iron artifacts to ensure their long-term preservation.
• Documents conservation activities to industry standards and communicates project work and findings to visitors and the public.
• Trains and supervises volunteer assistants while assisting the Principal Investigator with preparing and maintaining the worksite for visitors.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in a relevant field or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Physically able to lift and move objects up to 50 pounds.
• Hold a Class C motor vehicle license and the willingness to drive/operate a Class-C motor vehicle to and from the work site or to pick up supplies.
• Minimum of six months experience working with maritime archaeological artifacts comprised of wood, iron, and composite materials.
• Experience working with archaeological ship structures or disassociated ship timbers.
• A thorough understanding of degradation processes involved with artifacts recovered from a submerged environment.
• Ability to documentation watercraft and component parts to industry standards.
• DSLR artifact photography and UV reflective photography.
• A strong understanding of 18th and 19th-century ship construction.
• Familiarity with Rhino 7 (CAD) software.
• Ability to work independently with minimal supervision.
• Ability to analyze and characterize object components that have been recovered from freshwater or seawater environments.
• Basic understanding of the use of XRF, FTIR and other analytical methods.
• A thorough understanding of ship construction methods from the historic period with emphasis on the second half of the 18th century.
• Ability to multi-task and work cooperatively with others.
• Strong writing skills.

Salary: Compensation will be commensurate based on the selected candidate's education and experience.

Please note: This position is grant funded; future employment may be contingent upon future funding.