Careers and Volunteering

CAREERS AND VOLUNTEERING

CAREERS

museum of natural history by john cairns 19 6 18 149

CAREERS

Working at the Museum of Natural History comes with a host of benefits, including behind-the-scenes access to our collections, and access to the resources and facilities of the wider University.

HIRING AND DIVERSITY

Oxford University Museum of Natural History continues to work towards a recruitment process that is fair and accessible to everyone. We welcome applications from people of all genders and identities, people with disabilities, and people from minority ethnic backgrounds.

If you have a disability and would like an adjustment made to the recruitment process, please email hannah.betts@oum.ox.ac.uk to let us know. If you have any questions or concerns about how will we use any information regarding a disability please email hannah.betts@oum.ox.ac.uk.

Athena Swan

Oxford University Museum of Natural History is proud to have been awarded a Silver Award by the Athena Swan Gender Charter for our commitment to, and progress in, achieving gender equality as an institution of higher education.

Community Engagement Officer

Hayleigh Jutson

Ben standing in front of the T Rex head at the Museum

Maintenance Technician

Ben Wilsker

Collections Manager

Amoret Spooner

INTERNSHIPS AND BURSARIES

INTERNSHIPS, PLACEMENTS, AND BURSARIES

Oxford University Museum of Natural History offers internships and placements for students in secondary school and university.

Undergraduate Bursary Scheme

Applications for the 2024 undergraduate bursary scheme are now CLOSED.

The Undergraduate Bursary Scheme is designed to give undergraduate students hands-on experience working in a museum of natural history. The scheme accepts applications from students from underrepresented backgrounds who are ordinarily resident in the UK.

Oxford Summer Internship Scheme

Every year, the Museum participates in the Oxford Summer Internship Scheme, providing Collections and Research placements to Oxford University undergraduate students. Applications are now closed for Summer 2024. Learn about the Oxford Summer Internship Scheme.

Research Placements

The Museum hosts STEM Research Placements during the summer holiday for secondary students in Years 12 and 13 from under-represented backgrounds. Placements are typically 2 weeks in length and can cover a wide range of disciplines, supported by specimens from the Earth and Life collections.

For further details, please email education@oum.ox.ac.uk

Natural Science and Heritage Scheme

The Natural Science and Heritage Scheme is a paid opportunity for students in Year 12 and 13. The scheme runs during the summer holidays, and invites applicants from diverse backgrounds to find out more about the museum - particularly its public-facing roles. Participants are able to get hands-on experience of developing activities for museum visitors, with a focus on events that appeal to diverse families. Learn more about the Natural Science and Heritage Scheme.

Get in touch

Please send any enquiries to Hannah Betts – hannah.betts@oum.ox.ac.uk

WORK EXPERIENCE

WORK EXPERIENCE

Are you interested in getting work experience at a museum, or learning more about natural sciences?

Please apply through one of the following programmes...

Natural Science and Heritage Scheme

The Natural Science and Heritage Scheme is a paid opportunity for pupils in Years 12 and 13. The scheme runs during the summer holidays and invites applicants from diverse backgrounds to find out more about the museum - particularly its public-facing roles. Participants are able to get hands-on experience developing activities for museum visitors with a focus on events that appeal to diverse families. Applications for the 2024 Natural Science and Heritage Scheme are now closed.

Natural History Investigators

Each year the Museum runs a club for key stage 4 students. Investigators interested in the natural world have an opportunity to meet in the Museum and pursue an extended project of their choice. Investigators meet on Saturdays from 10:30 to 12:30 for 10 weeks, and work on their personal projects. Investigators have access to special Museum objects and experts in the field. They develop their work into a display or activity to be included in the Museum’s annual family science fair in March. Investigators are also able to submit their work for a British Science Association CREST award. Click here to find out more about Natural History Investigators or contact education@oum.ox.ac.uk.

Youth Forum

The Museum’s Youth Forum is a group of young people aged between 14 and 19 who are involved in designing and setting up activities and events. They work with the public and create opportunities for other young people to engage with the museum. Youth Forum members have the opportunity to go behind the scenes and are involved in planning new developments in the museum, including exhibitions. Click here to find out more about the Youth Forum.

Nuffield Research Placements

The Museum hosts Nuffield Research Placements, for those aged between 16 and 19, over the summer holidays. Placements are hosted in the fields of zoology, entomology and geology. Projects cover a wide range of disciplines, from collections-based curation and research to insect ecology and ecosystem services. Previous project titles include 'Darwin's Insects in the Hope Entomological Collections', 'Burchell’s African Insect Collection' and 'Dung Beetle Ecology'. Applications for placements are submitted via Science Oxford. Find out more about Nuffield Research Placements or contact education@oum.ox.ac.uk.

APPRENTICESHIPS

APPRENTICESHIPS

The Museum, as part of the University of Oxford, offers a number of apprenticeships. Click here to find out more about apprenticeships.

VOLUNTEERING

VOLUNTEERING

We are very grateful for the support of our amazing volunteer team. Whether volunteers come to us with an interest in our building, our collections, or audiences, or our work, we hope the experience is a positive one!

"Every time you volunteer you notice something new about the Museum and the people who visit it. It really gives you a humbling insight into the world and our desire to understand it." – Robbie (Volunteer)

"Volunteering in Museums offers contact with rare specimens, some centuries old, and the chance to meet staff and visitors with their varied interests." – Caroline (Volunteer)

Most of our volunteering opportunities involve engaging with visitors: supporting one-off events, delivering tours and regular family-friendly activities, and assisting with evaluation (surveys). There are also online and behind-the-scenes opportunities: helping with collections cataloguing, digitisation, storage, and research — although these are fewer.

A volunteer teaches a young visitor about zebra stripes

Learning about science with Museum visitors

Some volunteers admiring a Pleistocene fossil at the Upper Heyford storage facility

Sorting Pleistocene collections at Upper Heyford

BECOME A VOLUNTEER

We recruit volunteers aged 16+ through the GLAM Volunteer Service. Follow the link below to find out how it works and how you can get involved, including how to register on the volunteer mailing list.

APPLY

While our Museum was closed to visitors in 2020, some of our volunteer tour guides took to the web to record presentations to share online. Watch to learn about some of our guides' favourite stories from the Museum and its history.

https://www.youtube.com/embed/Y_buWx42Shw