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Our Commitment

Texas A&M University is committed to enriching the learning and working environment by promoting a culture that respects all perspectives, talents & identities.  Embracing varying opinions and perspectives strengthens our core values which are: Respect, Excellence, Leadership, Loyalty, Integrity, and Selfless Service.

Who We Are

Anthropology, in the College of Arts and Sciences, is the study of what it means to be human in the broadest sense, through an examination of culture and society (sociocultural and linguistic anthropology), the biology and evolution of humans and our closest relatives (biological anthropology) and the study of past human communities and material culture (archaeology).  Students develop an appreciation of the value of physical and cultural differences at the local, national and global levels, and learn critical thinking skills that support them in careers that involve working with individuals of diverse national or ethnic backgrounds. 

What We Want

The Postdoctoral NAGPRA Compliance Assistant will serve as the compliance and support liaison for the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), to build Indigenous partnerships, and serve as curator to the repatriation of Native American Ancestors and cultural belongings. This position will include continuous engagement with tribal partners and the National NAGPRA program to facilitate meaningful consultation in a manner that is cognizant of all parties’ cultural values and achieving agreement for cultural affiliation and repatriation. The Postdoctoral Assistant will provide support on assessment of archaeological, biological, and cultural anthropology research collections currently held by the ARC. The purpose of this position will be to achieve the identification of any partial/fragmentary human remains, associated grave goods, or objects of cultural patrimony that may persist unidentified within archaeological collections curated by the Department of Anthropology.

What You Need to Know
Salary: Compensation will be commensurate based on the selected candidate’s education and experience.

Required Education and Experience:

• Appropriate PhD

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Strong leadership and organizational skills

• Effective written and verbal communication

• Ability to successfully navigate interactions requiring collaboration, cultural sensitivity, and confidentiality

• Able to lift and/or move moderate boxes

• Able to remain seated for extended times

Preferred Education and Experience:

• PhD in Anthropology or Archaeology

• Familiarity and experience with archaeological curation and osteological collections management

• Experience with archaeological research management

• Understanding of culture history, Native American archaeological sites, and associated collections of Texas from academic/scientific and Indigenous perspectives

• Experience in collections care and management informed by museum standards and Indigenous perspectives

• Familiarity and experience with tribal nations of North America

• Ability to successfully secure grant funding for NAGPRA compliance

• Experience with database management

Responsibilities:

• Collection Analysis/Documentation: Verifies and sustains the stability of collections in compliance with NAGPRA federal regulations. Sorts faunal collections and makes species-specific identifications as needed. Discerns faunal from ancestral human remains. Creates culturally appropriate storage in accordance with Federal curation regulations for the proper care and management of ancestral human remains and cultural objects. Contributes to federally mandated consultation to resolve cultural affiliation and repatriate ancestral remains and funerary objects. Critically, this position requires the careful and appropriate handling of sensitive information, cultural belongings, and ancestral human remains.

• Inventory: Manages and updates an inventory of collections. Reports and provides updates to TAMU representatives, federal compliance representatives, and tribal councils as requested in compliance with state and federal law.   

• Consultation for Cultural Affiliation: Serves as the point of contact with the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), to building Indigenous partnerships, and to the repatriation of Native American ancestors. This includes continuous engagement with tribal partners to facilitate meaningful consultation, as well as performing other duties as assigned.

Instructions to Applicants: Applications received by Texas A&M University must either have all job application data entered or a resume attached. Failure to provide all job application data or a complete resume could result in an invalid submission and a rejected application. We encourage all applicants to upload a resume or use a LinkedIn profile to pre-populate the online application.

All positions are security-sensitive. Applicants are subject to a criminal history investigation, and employment is contingent upon the institution’s verification of credentials and/or other information required by the institution’s procedures, including the completion of the criminal history check.

Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action/Veterans/Disability Employer committed to diversity.