Palaeontologist

Career path and progression

With experience, you could become a:

• senior researcher, managing a project team
• collections curator at a museum
• lecturer in higher education

You may also find opportunities in geological surveying in mining and minerals exploration, or work as a consultant in media publishing.

What it takes

Skills and knowledge

You'll need:

• science skills
• maths knowledge
• knowledge of geography
• analytical thinking skills
• to be thorough and pay attention to detail
• excellent verbal communication skills
• excellent written communication skills
• persistence and determination
• to be able to use a computer and the main software packages confidently

Related subjects

Most relevant

• Geology - Palaeontologists work directly with rocks and sediments to find, extract, and date fossils. Understanding rock types, geological time periods, and how layers of sediment form is essential for knowing where to look for fossils and how old they are.
• Biology - Palaeontologists study the history of life on Earth, so they need a deep understanding of how living organisms are classified, how they evolve, and how ecosystems work. This helps them interpret what fossil organisms looked like, how they lived, and how they relate to species alive today.
• Chemistry - Palaeontologists use chemical analysis techniques to study the composition of fossils and the rocks surrounding them. Understanding processes like mineralisation and isotope analysis helps them determine how fossils formed and what ancient environments were like.
• Geography - Palaeontologists need to understand how landscapes, climates, and environments have changed over millions of years. Knowledge of plate tectonics, erosion, and environmental systems helps them reconstruct the ancient worlds in which fossil organisms lived.
• Mathematics - Palaeontologists use statistics to analyse data from fossil collections and apply mathematical methods when dating specimens or modelling evolutionary patterns. Measurements, spatial analysis, and data interpretation are part of their everyday research work.

Also relevant

• Physics - Palaeontologists use technologies like CT scanning and radiometric dating that rely on physics principles such as radiation and wave behaviour. Understanding how these tools work helps them extract detailed information from fossils without damaging them.
• Environmental Science - Palaeontologists study how past environments and climates affected life on Earth, including mass extinctions and ecosystem changes. This overlaps closely with environmental science and can inform our understanding of current environmental challenges.
• English Language - Palaeontologists write research papers, give public talks, and provide expert advice to broadcasters and publishers. Being able to communicate complex scientific findings clearly – both in writing and in person – is a key part of the role.
• History - Palaeontologists piece together evidence from the deep past to build a picture of how life on Earth has changed over time. The skills of interpreting incomplete evidence and constructing narratives from fragments are shared with historians, even though the timescales are very different.