Overview
The Prehistoric Museum at Utah State University Eastern invites applications for a three-year, full-time fossil preparator position. This newly created position will spearhead the preparation of fossils from the Cleveland-Lloyd Dinosaur Quarry (CLDQ) at Jurassic National Monument. Those fossils were collected during a mitigation project at the quarry and will be held in perpetuity in the Prehistoric Museum collections. This important fossil locality is less than 30 miles from the museum and is one of the region’s premiere paleontological resources. CLDQ contains one of the densest concentrations of Jurassic-aged dinosaur bones ever found, with over 12,000 fossils representing at least 74 individual animals. The site is notable for its unusually high number of carnivorous dinosaurs—more than 75% of the bones come from predators like Allosaurus, with over 46 individuals identified.
Though this position will primarily focus on fossil preparation, the qualified candidate will also oversee collections management of CLDQ specimens. The preparator will occasionally work with the museum's field program across eastern and southern Utah in some of the richest fossil-bearing rocks on the planet. The candidate will also have the opportunity to assist in paleontological education and outreach at the Prehistoric Museum. The successful candidate will be proficient in the use of air scribes for fossil preparation, will have some experience in collections work and fieldwork, and will have exceptional interpersonal skills to work as part of a growing team of paleontologists.
Review of applicants will begin March 16, 2026, and the position will remain open until filled.
Responsibilities
Fossil Preparation – 70%
1. Spearheads the CLDQ preparation project, conducting manual prep, occasional chemical prep, building archival cradles, etc. Maintains records documenting the preparation process. Uses best practices of AMMP, SVP, and SPNHC
2. Occasionally supervises student and volunteer preparators working on the CLDQ project.
3. Assists chief preparator in maintenance and repairs of lab equipment; maintains adequate supplies of reagents and other materials.
Collections Management – 15%
4. Catalogs CLDQ specimens as they transition from lab to collections.
5. Maintains all data relevant to CLDQ specimens in both digital and paper forms where appropriate.
6. Manages and updates the collections database with data relevant to the CLDQ project.
Fieldwork – 10%
7. In collaboration with the Curator of Paleontology, helps lead paleontological fieldwork across Utah.
8. Manages accurate data associated with all paleontological resources encountered and/or collected, including GPS coordinates, quarry maps, etc.
9. Occasionally supervises students and volunteers.
Other – 5%
10. Assists Curator of Paleontology in earth science education and outreach, including school group and other exhibits/collections tours.
11. Occasionally provides support for exhibits installation.
12. Other duties as assigned.
Qualifications
Minimum Qualifications:
13. A bachelor’s degree in geosciences, biology, or museum studies with an emphasis on paleontology.
14. At least six months of fossil preparation experience.
15. At least six months of air scribe experience
16. Experience working in museum collections.
17. Knowledge of and commitment to following best practices in laboratory, collections, and field settings.
18. Excellent written and oral communication skills, attention to detail, critical thinking, and interpersonal skills.
19. Proficiency in Microsoft Excel and Word.
Preferred Qualifications:
20. Familiarity with the anatomy of theropods (particularly Allosaurus) and other Jurassic dinosaurs.
21. At least one year of experience in fossil preparation.
22. At least one year of experience working in museum collections.
23. Proficiency in collections management software.
24. Experience supervising students and/or volunteers.
Required Documents
Along with the online application, please attach:
1. Resume/CV (to be uploaded during the application process)
2. Cover letter detailing your interest in the position and experience relevant to the minimum and preferred qualifications. (to be typed completed during the application process)
3. Contact information (email and phone number) for 3 Professional References
4. Optional: a portfolio detailing previous preparation and/or collections projects
**Document size may not exceed 10 MB.**
Advertised Salary
$43,000
ADA
The environment and physical requirements may change depending on the specific function of the work each department performs. Incumbents may be in both indoor and outdoor environments. Indoors, in an office space, event space, or public space are protected from weather conditions, but not necessarily from temperature changes. Incumbents may nearly continuously sit and often use repetitive hand motion (such as typing).
Outdoors, incumbents may not be protected from weather conditions and may be exposed to extreme heat and extreme cold. Additionally, indoor or outdoor work environments may include being confined or in narrow spaces for periods of time. The incumbent may also be exposed to loud noises or vibrations from equipment, and conditions that may affect the respiratory system, such as fumes, odors, dusts, mists, gases, and poor ventilation. Bending, crawling, and crouching may be required. Incumbents may be required to lift, push, and/or pull objects up to 50 pounds and be required to walk and/or stand for long periods of time.
Ability to lift up to 40 lbs and hike up to ten miles per day in extreme temperatures and terrains.
College/Department Highlights
The Prehistoric Museum is located in Price, UT – the gateway to Utah’s dinosaur country. The museum elucidates the history of life across eastern Utah and the Colorado Plateau, with a focus on its paleontological record and pre-Columbian human history, and educates the public about that history. The Prehistoric Museum currently houses over 8,000 paleontological specimens from across the region and beyond, with a majority of those specimens collected from within two hours of museum itself. The Prehistoric Museum has an active field program across the region, with a particular emphasis on the Mesozoic. Current field, lab, and collections projects include the Triassic Chinle Formation, Lower Cretaceous Cedar Mountain Formation, the marine Upper Cretaceous including the Mancos and Tropic shales, and the terrestrial Upper Cretaceous including the Neslen and North Horn formations, with plans to expand to other rock units in the near future.
University Highlights
Founded in 1888, Utah State University is Utah’s premier land-grant, public service university. As an R1 research institution, Utah State is dedicated to advancing knowledge and serving the public good through innovative research and scholarly activities that are grounded in reciprocal engagement with local, regional, and global communities. USU prepares students to be active, civically engaged leaders who are prepared to address critical societal challenges. Dedicated to providing a high-quality and affordable education, USU remains a leader in research, discovery, and public impact.
USU enrolls over 29,800 students, both online and in person at Utah State’s 30 locations include a main campus in Logan, Utah, residential campuses in Price and Blanding, and six additional statewide campuses, along with education centers serving every county. USU educates students from all 50 states and more than 80 countries. For over 100 years, USU Extension has served and engaged Utahns, serving every county in the state.
Competing at the NCAA Division I level, USU is a proud member of the Mountain West Conference and will join the Pac-12 Conference beginning in the 2026-2027 season. ’ long-standing tradition of athletic and academic excellence is exemplified by recent Mountain West regular-season and tournament championships in women’s volleyball, three consecutive Mountain West tournament titles in women’s soccer conference championships, and a first-ever conference championship for gymnastics, reflecting USU's commitment to perseverance and achievement.
Utah State is dedicated to fostering a community where all individuals feel respected, valued, and supported and where diversity of thought and culture are cultivated. We seek to recruit, hire, and retain people from all walks of life who will champion excellence in education, research, discovery, outreach, and service. We believe that promoting a strong sense of community and belonging empowers and engages all members of USU to thrive and be successful. Forbes recognized our commitment to employees when they named in 2023. about USU.
The university provides a to support careers for partners who are also seeking employment. Additionally, USU is committed to providing access and a reasonable accommodation for individuals with disabilities. To request a reasonable accommodation for a disability, contact the university’s ADA Coordinator in the Office of Human Resources at (435) 797-0122 or
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