Part-Time Student Archaeology Curatorial Assistant, IUMAA

Indiana University; Bloomington (IN); On-site; USD 18,184 - 25,898; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

Comprehensive medical and dental

HSA contributions

Flexible spending accounts

Retirement plan contributions

Tuition subsidy

Paid holidays & time off

EAP

Job summary

The Indiana University Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology seeks a Student Archaeology Curatorial for the 2026-2027 academic year in Bloomington. This in-person, part-time role supports research on the Lick Creek site and helps plan a future museum exhibition, in collaboration with descendant community members.

The position requires enrollment at IU, at least two years in relevant fields, and the ability to move materials up to 30 pounds.

Qualifications

• Currently enrolled as IU student required.
• 2 years in Anthropology, African American/African Diaspora studies, or related field (academic degree or time in program may substitute).
• Proficient communication and professionalism expected.
• Ability to review literature and engage with descendant communities.
• Experience collecting and analyzing complex information.

Responsibilities

• Conduct research on archaeological collections and plan a future IUMAA exhibition on Lick Creek.
• Review literature and meet with descendants of the Lick Creek community.
• Create an outline, identify themes, and select objects for display with community collaboration.
• Collaborate with descendant community members on planning.

Skills

Proficient communication skills

Maintains a high degree of profesional

Demonstrates time management and pri­o

Ability to collect and analyze complex

Willingness to build positive and eff.

Strong knowledge about Archaeology/Cul

Education

Currently enrolled as a student at Indiana University

Job description

IU MUSEUM OF ARCHAEOLOGY & ANT (BL-MAA-IUBLA)

The Indiana University Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology (IUMAA) is Indiana University's newest museum. The IUMAA takes aspects of the former Mathers Museum of World Culture and the Laboratory of Archaeology and combines them into 1 cohesive experience. With an impactful long-term vision focusing on purposeful storytelling, stewarding collections, and bringing these items to communities, the IUMAA thoughtfully houses and displays over 5 million artifacts that span a broad range of human experience. The IUMAA is accessible for research as well as teaching and is culturally connected to our broader community through partnerships with Indigenous communities, advisory boards, and other IUMAA community members.

The IU Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology (IUMAA) seeks a Student Archaeology Curatorial for the 2026-2027 academic year.

Department-specific Responsibilities

• Ability to conduct research on archaeological collections and begin planning a future IUMAA museum exhibition on the Lick Creek archaeological and historical site.
• Ability to review literature and meet with descendants of the Lick Creek community.
• Use the information learned to begin preliminary planning for a future museum exhibition, which includes creating an outline, identifying themes, and selecting objects for display.
• This preliminary planning will be done in collaboration with descendant community members.

EDUCATION

Required

• Currently enrolled as a student at Indiana University

WORK EXPERIENCE

Required

• 2 years in Anthropology, African American/African Diaspora studies, or related field (time spent in an academic degree program will be considered in lieu of field experience/field experience will be considered in lieu of academic degree program)

SKILLS

Required

• Proficient communication skills
• Maintains a high degree of professionalism
• Demonstrates time management and priority setting skills
• Ability to collect and analyze complex information
• Willingness to build positive and effective relationships with community partners
• Strong knowledge about Archaeology, Cultural Anthropology, and/or African American history in the United States

Preferred

• Experience working with Indiana Academic Standards
• Knowledge in museum or parks interpretation
• Experience working in a museum, library, archive, cultural center, or similar organization

This position involves sedentary work as well as periods of time moving around an office environment and outdoors. Requires the ability to effectively communicate and to operate a computer and other standard office productivity equipment.

The person in this role must have the ability to move materials weighing up to 30 pounds. Ability to perform light physical tasks related to filing, organizing records, and handling boxed materials. The person in this role must be able to perform the essential functions with or without accommodation.

For the Academic year of 2026/27 the IU Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology will oversee a grant-funded project designed to create community-centered archaeological and museum education content focused on the Hoosier National Forest Historical Site Lick Creek. The Lick Creek site was an early 19th-century Free African American Settlement located in Orange County, Indiana. The settlement was established by free Black settlers and Quaker allies in 1831. Although Indiana was a "free" state, and the community flourished over the years, the residents of Lick Creek eventually abandoned the settlement due to ongoing racial persecution and increasingly stringent anti-Black laws. This site is currently located in Hoosier National Forest and is managed by the U.S. Forest Service. All archaeological collections from this site are housed at the IU Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology.

Bloomington, Indiana
This is an in-person position.

$16.00 per hour

Up to 10 hours per week
Work hours and days will be determined based on department needs and your class schedule availability

Museum hours are 9:00 AM-5:00 PM, Monday-Friday

For full-time staff employees, Indiana University offers a wide array of benefits including:

• Comprehensive medical and dental insurance
• Health savings account with generous IU contributions
• Healthcare and dependent care flexible spending accounts
• Basic group life insurance paid by IU
• Voluntary supplemental life, long-term disability, critical illness, and supplemental accidental death & dismemberment insurance
• Base retirement plan with generous IU contributions, subject to vesting
• Voluntary supplemental retirement plan options
• Tuition subsidy for employees and family members taking IU courses
• 10 paid holidays plus a paid winter break each year
• Generous paid time off plans
• Paid leave for new parents and IU-sponsored volunteer events
• Employee assistance program (EAP)

Learn more about our benefits by reviewing the IU Benefit Programs Brochure.

Career Level: Part Time Employee

FLSA: Nonexempt

Job Function: Part Time Employee

Job Family: Part Time Student Employee

Indiana University is an equal opportunity employer and provider of ADA services and prohibits discrimination in hiring. See Indiana University Notice of Non-Discrimination here which includes contact information.

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