Postdoctoral Research Assistant

Research Scientist: Dyes & Textiles Full-time 41 hours per week Hybrid (at least 3 days per week on-site in Bloomsbury, London) Fixed term (36 months) £36,396 per annum Application deadline: 12pm (midday) on 3 June 2026

About the role This is an exciting opportunity to join the British Museum as a Research Scientist, contributing to DYE‑a‑LOG, a major ERC‑funded project re‑examining the global history of early synthetic dyes. You will lead the scientific analysis of historic textiles from South and Southeast Asia and Latin America, using state‑of‑the‑art LC‑MS techniques to uncover how synthetic dyes transformed textile production, trade and colour cultures in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

Working within the Museum’s world‑class Department of Scientific Research, you will collaborate closely with curators, historians and international partners, and play a key role in building a ground‑breaking open‑access molecular database of early synthetic dyes that will reshape research in heritage science and textile history.

About you We are looking for a motivated researcher with a PhD in Chemistry, Materials Science or a related field, and experience analysing organic materials - ideally dyes - using liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry. You are confident working with complex datasets, enjoy interdisciplinary collaboration, and are keen to see scientific research inform wider historical and cultural understanding.

You communicate clearly, work well in international research teams, and are enthusiastic about producing high‑quality publications while engaging audiences beyond academia. You are particularly drawn to research that connects science with global histories, sustainability and decolonisation.

Key areas of responsibility Perform advanced dye analysis of historic textiles using LC‑MS and complementary analytical techniques, and interpret results in collaboration with curators and researchers Analyse dye reference materials and contribute to the development of an open‑access molecular database of early synthetic dyes Optimise and develop analytical protocols for identifying natural and synthetic dyes in historical textiles Produce high‑quality research outputs, including peer‑reviewed publications, conference presentations and public‑facing content Contribute to the installation, use and good practice of cutting‑edge analytical facilities within the Department of Scientific Research Work collaboratively across museum departments and international partner institutions, supporting workshops, symposia and project reporting

The Masterplan The British Museum is undertaking its biggest transformation since its founding nearly 300 years ago. This physical and intellectual transformation includes large scale building and gallery transformation, new ways of connecting with audiences and different ways of working. As we look towards this exciting future, we remain guided by the words of our founder Hans Sloane - who dreamed of a museum connecting all arts and sciences, which would be accessible to everyone, everywhere.

Benefits At the British Museum, we believe our people are at the heart of everything we do and have designed a benefits package that goes beyond the ordinary. Our full list of benefits can be found here, but we’ve outlined some highlights below: Free exhibition entry for you and guests, exclusive private views, ICOM and reciprocal museum access. 25 days’ annual leave plus bank holidays and 2.5 privilege days (and +5 days after 10 years). Discounts at onsite catering, Museum shops and local Bloomsbury partners. Social and wellbeing perks including Staff parties, social clubs, CSSC sports and leisure, and support from the Civil Service Retirement Fellowship. Peer support and allyship with five diversity networks for community. Learning and development through courses, mentoring and Athena as well as support for professional qualifications. Employee Assistance Programme available 24/7 for counselling, wellbeing support and more. Civil Service Pension Scheme with a secure, inflation‑linked defined benefit. Interest‑free loans including season ticket, rental deposit and bicycle loans.

Our Values Our values drive everything we do, from how we handle our objects to how we work in our team to fostering a culture where everyone feels heard and empowered: Care Deeply Embrace the Unknown Spark Curiosity Value Many Voices These are a core part of how we recruit. Throughout the application, interview and selection process, we look for examples of how candidates demonstrate these behaviours in their own work and experiences. We encourage you to familiarise yourself with our values and reflect them in your application.

Additional details If you have any additional needs that we should be aware of to support you with your application, please provide details to bmrecruit@britishmuseum.org.

We may be able to provide visa sponsorship for this role, subject to meeting strict eligibility requirements. You can find out more about these here. You must have the full right to work for the duration of this contract to apply.

The Museum also adheres to the HMG Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS) for pre-employment screening of Civil Servants.