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Palaeontologist
Palaeontologists study fossils to develop knowledge of ancient life forms and their environments. Palaeontology can also reveal how the environment and climate have changed over time. Palaeontologists are involved in research, education, managing museum collections.
Work activities
Palaeontologists study fossils to develop knowledge of ancient life forms, including their anatomy, physiology, evolution, and the ecosystems that they would have been part of. Palaeontologists can establish which plants and animals lived in particular areas. The types of fossils found can reveal if the area used to be a desert, forest, river bed or ocean floor, for example. This gives us information about climate and environmental change. They can also use fossils to establish the type and age of the rocks that contain them.
Fossils are usually preserved in layers of sedimentary rocks. Palaeontologists can identify them based on their shape, size and the material they are made from. While fieldwork to find fossils is very important, palaeontologists spend most of their time in laboratory work. This involves preparing specimens, doing experiments and analysing the results, working with other scientists and writing up results in scientific papers and reports. Palaeontologists usually have very specialist knowledge of one particular area of the science. They often also have expertise in a related area, such as oceanography, anatomy or evolution.
They might be experts on:
- Vertebrate palaeontology, for example, fish, reptiles, dinosaurs, birds and mammals.
- Invertebrate palaeontology, such as sponges, corals and molluscs.
- Micropalaeontology – small, single-celled or multi-celled organisms.
- Palaeobotany – larger, multi-celled fossil plants.
Invertebrate palaeontology involves the broadest range of fossils, including those that are most likely to be found in fieldwork, such as ammonites. Most of the academic posts in palaeontology are to do with invertebrates. However, most professional palaeontologists are involved in micropalaeontology. Microfossils are widely found across the world.
A very small number of palaeontologists work in palaeobotany. This is a highly specialised area. It plays an important part in increasing our understanding of ancient ecosystems, including the animals that would have eaten the plants. Fossil plant data is widely used in climate change studies.
Duties include:
- Checking the physical condition of the fossils.
- Cleaning and repairing fossils ready for display.
- Updating computer records of the collection.
- Searching for new fossils, including negotiating to add them to the collection.
- Answering enquiries from other academics.
- Organising public events, exhibitions and talks.
- Working with volunteers.
- Applying for funding.
- Academic research.
Personal qualities and skills
To become a palaeontologist, you’ll need:
- An interest in ancient life forms and ecosystems. Palaeontology uses skills from both geology and biology. An interest in environmental issues, such as climate change, can also be important.
- Laboratory skills, for example, using techniques like radiometric dating to establish how old fossils are.
- Patience to be involved in a research project over a long period of time.
- Communication skills to work with other scientists, write reports of your findings or give talks and lectures to the public in a museum.
- Computer skills for tasks such as research work or updating museum collection databases.
- Willingness to do fieldwork, including in remote areas.
Pay and opportunities
Salaries for palaeontologists vary. Palaeontologists earn in the range of £20,000 - £60,000 a year. Higher salaries are available depending on employer, role and responsibilities.
Palaeontologists usually work 39-41 hours a week, Monday to Friday.
This is a small profession, with fierce competition for jobs.
Most employment is with universities, museums and consulting organisations. There are opportunities in the four broad categories of palaeontology:
- Micropalaeontology offers the greatest number of commercial job opportunities.
- Invertebrate palaeontology offers most academic job opportunities, mainly in universities (although there are still not many vacancies).
- Vertebrate palaeontology offers only limited academic job opportunities, mainly in museums.
- Palaeobotany is a small area of employment. Most is in academic departments allied to botanical training programmes, with a few commercial opportunities.
Where are vacancies advertised?
Vacancies are advertised on the Natural History Museum website, in science magazines such as New Scientist (which also posts jobs on its website), on specialist job boards (academic and scientific) and in national newspapers.
Entry routes and training
Usual entry is through a degree in a relevant subject such as geology, Earth science or a biological science. Many palaeobotanists, for example, have a background in botany rather than geology. Generally, biological science is as useful as geology because palaeontology sits between life and Earth sciences. A small number of specialist degrees are available, for example, in palaeontology, palaeobiology, and geology with palaeobiology.
You will then usually need a postgraduate qualification (either an MSc or PhD) in palaeontology. Most palaeontologists have an MSc. Museum-based research palaeontologists and university lecturers almost always have PhDs. In museums, palaeontological curators have at least a degree. Many will also have an MSc or PhD. Entrants to museum work have usually first gained skills and knowledge through voluntary work experience.
You might have training on-the-job in particular lab techniques or specialist equipment. Palaeontologists also go to conferences, seminars and workshops to develop their knowledge.
In universities, palaeontologists can progress to become senior lecturers and professors. In industry, progression could be to a supervisory or management position.
Qualifications
Most entrants have a first degree in geology/Earth science or a biological science, followed by a postgraduate qualification in palaeontology. For entry to a degree in geology, the usual minimum requirement is:
- Two to three A-levels, including at least one science subject, maths or geology. Some universities accept geography as a science subject.
- GCSEs at grades 9-4 in your A-level subjects.
- A further two to three GCSEs at grades 9-4, often to include English and maths.
- Alternatives to separate science GCSEs (biology, chemistry and physics) are science and additional science, or science and additional applied science.
- Edexcel (BTEC) level 3 Nationals.
- International Baccalaureate (IB) diploma. However, course requirements vary, so please check prospectuses carefully.
Adult opportunities
Age limits: It is illegal for any organisation to set age limits for entry to employment, education or training, unless they can show there is a real need to have these limits.
Some entrants have skills and knowledge gained in laboratory work during relevant work placements, or in relevant scientific fieldwork.
If you don’t have the qualifications needed to enter a relevant degree course, you might be able to start one after completing an Access course (for example, Access to Science). You don’t usually need any qualifications to start an Access course, although you should check individual course details.
Funding for postgraduate study and research is available, through universities, from UKRI (UK Research and Innovation).
