Please apply using the form below.

For full Job description and Details:

Priority Deadline: April 21, 2026

Applications received by this date will receive full consideration. Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled. 

Position: Director of Research & Collections

Location: 737 N Main Street, Rockford, Illinois

Institution: Burpee Museum of Natural History

Overview

The Burpee Museum of Natural History seeks an accomplished scientist and leader to serve as Director of Science and Curator of Collections. This role provides strategic leadership for the museum’s scientific programs, overseeing internationally recognized paleontology and biology collections while guiding research, collections stewardship, and field exploration.

Burpee’s collections include premier specimens from the Cretaceous Hell Creek and Jurassic Morrison formations, as well as important comparative biological collections that support research, exhibitions, and public education.

The museum houses multiple holotypes and scientifically significant specimens, including Infernodrakon hastacollis and Nanotyrannus lethaeus (“Jane”), along with important research material including notable specimens of Anzu wyliei, Triceratops, extensive Cretaceous turtle material, and several undescribed vertebrate taxa. The collections also house a growing collection of vertebrate fossils from active field programs in the Jurassic of Utah and latest Cretaceous of Montana. Significant unpublished specimens from the Hanksville Burpee Dinosaur Quarry, one of the largest known bonebeds in the Jurassic Morrison Formation, provide exceptional opportunities for new research and publication.

The Director of Research and Collections will supervise the Jay and Barbara Brost Paleontology Lab; mentor staff, students, and volunteers; and lead Burpee’s long-standing tradition of field discovery, including annual expeditions to Montana and Utah, with potential for new field exploration of other locations. The successful candidate will help shape the museum’s scientific vision while strengthening collaborations with universities, government agencies, and collaborative research partners.

Key Responsibilities

Collections Stewardship and Federal Compliance

• Provide experienced and professional oversight of the Museum’s paleontology and biology collections, ensuring specimens are managed and preserved according to museum best practices and federal regulations, including the Paleontological Resources Preservation Act (PRPA).
• Maintain Burpee’s standing as a trusted repository for federally collected paleontological resources by providing professional collections oversight and inventories; managing permits and annual reports; and facilitating and tracking research requests, loans, and sampling.
• Seek external funding to support collections activities and care, including grants from federal agencies and independent foundations.

 Research Leadership

• Develop and pursue an active, externally funded research program in vertebrate paleontology or a related discipline.
• Publish in peer-reviewed journals and foster collaborative research projects that leverage Burpee’s collections and established field programs.
• Coordinate with other associated researchers to maintain ongoing projects and develop new project directions that integrate professional development of students at every level.

Laboratory and Staff Supervision

• Direct operations of the Jay and Barbara Brost Paleontology Lab, supervising staff, students, interns, and a large volunteer corps engaged in fossil preparation, collections management, and research support
• Seek external support for laboratory activities and capacity, with attention to best practices and established safety standards.

Field Expeditions and Discovery

• Lead annual field expeditions to major fossil localities.
• Continue Burpee’s legacy of discovery associated with specimens
• Maintain strong relationships with federal land managers, research collaborators, local communities, and local land owners.

Public Science and Institutional Leadership

• Serve as a public ambassador for Burpee’s scientific work through lectures, media engagement, and signature programs such as the Museum’s annual PaleoFest.
• Contribute to exhibition development and public interpretation that connects research with public engagement.

Grants and Scientific Partnerships

• Secure external funding through competitive grants and philanthropic partnerships to support collections care, field research, and laboratory operations.

Collections Digitization and Data Management

• Maintain records of accessioned material and associated data in an accessible format
• Lead modernization of collections records and digitization efforts to ensure accessibility for the global research community.

Qualifications

Education
Minimum requirement of Master’s degree in Paleontology, Geology, Biology or a closely related field; PhD preferred

Experience
Demonstrated experience in natural history collections management
Active research record and and record of scientific publication
Experience conducting field research and supervising field crews strongly preferred

Professional Skills
Expertise in vertebrate paleontology fossil preparation and field excavation
Familiarity with federal and state permitting for paleontological research and collecting
Experience supervising laboratory teams and mentoring students and volunteers
Strong written and verbal communication skills, including grant writing and public speaking

Physical Requirements
Ability to lead field expeditions that may involve hiking in rugged terrain, remote field conditions, and regularly lifting up to 50 pounds.

How to Apply
Applicants should submit:
Curriculum vitae
Statement of research and curatorial vision in alignment with the mission of the Burpee Museum of Natural History
Three professional references

Materials should be sent to:
Anne Weerda
Executive Director
Burpee Museum of Natural History
anne.weerda@burpee.org

Updated March 2026 to reflect refinements: title change and updated role requirements.