Assistant Curator/Assistant Professor, Vertebrate Zoology

We seek an innovative evolutionary biologist who will develop a world-leading, collections-based research program focused on fishes or mammals. The successful candidate will leverage museum collections to address fundamental questions in evolution, biodiversity, and environmental change, integrating approaches from genomics, imaging, computational biology, biodiversity informatics, and/or other emerging analytical approaches. We are particularly interested in scientists who view natural history collections not simply as repositories of specimens, but as dynamic research platforms that generate new insights into the origins, diversification, and conservation of life on Earth.

Research and Collections

The ideal candidate will have a record of high-impact scholarship, strong potential for securing extramural funding, and the vision to establish an independent research program, mentor graduate students and postdoctoral scholars, and establish effective collaborations and partnerships within and outside the Museum. Research areas may include, but are not limited to, systematics, comparative genomics, morphology, population genetics, biogeography, or macroevolution. We welcome applicants who combine organismal biology with advanced molecular, imaging, machine learning, and other data-intensive approaches that advance the study of biodiversity and evolutionary change. The successful candidate will conduct original research on fishes or mammals, provide intellectual leadership for the continued development of their department's collections, and enhance those collections through field expeditions and scientific collecting. Responsibilities include the stewardship, curation, and long-term growth of one of the world's premier vertebrate zoology collections.

Education and Public Engagement

The successful candidate will serve as an Assistant Professor in the Richard Gilder Graduate School and must have an interest in teaching and advising PhD students and postdocs in comparative biology. There is also the opportunity to build on existing relationships with nearby partner institutions to advise doctoral students, including Columbia University and the City University of New York. The position will provide opportunities to contribute to exhibition development, collaborate with the Museum's education department, and participate in public engagement initiatives, especially on efforts aligned with AMNH's strategic priority to address the local and global impacts of climate change and biodiversity loss through collaboration across science, education, exhibitions, and external partners.

Research Environment The AMNH, an independent, non-governmental institution, is a recognized leader in scientific research, graduate education, and public education about science and the natural world. The Museum provides an exceptional environment for collections-based research with resources such as: world-class zoological and other collections, including a cryogenic collection; genomics labs and an ancient biomolecules lab; high performance computing research resources; a wide range of optical, electron beam, and X-ray analytical tools (including CT scanning); the Southwestern Research Station in the biodiverse Chiricahua mountains of southern Arizona; access to the 4000-acre Black Rock Forest approximately 1.5 hours north of NYC; and generous internal funding opportunities to support ambitious field research and other innovative scientific projects.

The expected salary range for the Assistant Curator/Assistant Professor is $120,000 – 130,000.

Pay will be determined based on several factors. The hiring range for the position at commencement is based on the type of work and the scope of responsibilities. The salary and placement offered is based on a number of individualized factors, including, but not limited to, skills, knowledge, training, education, credentials, areas of specialization and depth and scope of experience.

Application materials should include

• Cover letter (maximum one page)
• Curriculum Vitae
• Research statement, including goals, achievements, and future plans (maximum three pages)
• Museum service statement addressing your experience and interests in collections, collecting, teaching, exhibitions, and public outreach (maximum three pages)
• PDFs of up to 5 publications and/or preprints
• Names and contact information for three people who will be contacted to provide letters of reference at the time of application submission.

Application materials should be submitted as a single PDF under "Other Document," except for publication PDFs, which can be submitted under "Publications." Publications may be submitted as a file share link/folder if the size exceeds 10 MB.

Inquiries about the position should be directed to Brian Smith (bsmith1@amnh.org). Review of applications will begin November 10, 2026, but applications will continue to be accepted after this date. Applications should be submitted through the AMNH career portal: https://careers.amnh.org.

The American Museum of Natural History is an Equal Opportunity Employer. The Museum does not discriminate with respect to employment, or admission or access to Museum facilities, programs or activities on the basis of race, creed, color, religion, age, disability, marital status, partnership status, gender (including sexual harassment), sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, genetic information, pregnancy and lactation accommodations, alienage or citizenship status, current or former participation in the uniformed services, status as a veteran, caregiver, pre-employment marijuana testing, sexual and reproductive health decisions, salary history, national or ethnic origin, height, weight, or on account of any other basis prohibited by applicable City, State, or Federal law. Additional protections are afforded in employment based on arrest or conviction record, status as a victim of domestic violence, stalking and sex offenses, unemployment status, and credit history, in each case to the extent provided by law.