Curatorial Fellow

Distillations Magazine Curatorial Fellow

The Science History Institute seeks a Curatorial Fellow to serve as a member of the Distillations magazine editorial team. Currently a digital product with an annual “Best Of” print edition, the magazine publishes long-form narrative nonfiction that explores the history of the chemical and life sciences. With new content twice monthly, the magazine reaches an annual audience of more than 500,000, and its free content is consistently shared and cited by external sites. The Curatorial Fellow will join a two-person editorial team that commissions and develops articles from staff and freelance writers; manages production timelines and workflows; researches and edits illustrative art for articles; executes story layout and design; and collaborates with the Institute’s communications team on promotion. In addition, during this fellowship the editorial team will plan the magazine’s transition to a quarterly, print-first publication.

Overview

Curatorial fellowships are limited-term positions for those interested in a career in the public history of science. Curatorial fellows are integrated as members of Institute staff and benefit from professional development, portfolio building, networking, and mentorship opportunities. Project outcomes build fellows’ resumes in the museum field while advancing the Institute’s strategic goals.

Curatorial fellowships are intended for individuals with advanced degrees who are interested in a professional trajectory outside academia. Individuals from any relevant field with a demonstrated interest in the history of science, broadly defined, will be considered. As part of their professional development and networking, curatorial fellows participate in relevant seminars at the Institute (approximately 10% of the fellows’ time), including the Beckman Center’s Work-in-Progress Workshops and Fellows’ Talks.

The application deadline for the Curatorial Fellowship is January 15, 2027. Offers will be made in April 2027, with a start date of September 2027. This is a two-year position that will end in August 2029. The annual salary is $55,000. This position is eligible for employee benefits, including medical and dental coverage, paid time off, and 403(b) retirement matching funds. Curatorial fellows who meet the criteria of the Institute’s Relocation Assistance Program additionally receive a $1,500 payment upon moving to the Philadelphia area.

The ideal candidate will possess the following qualifications:

To be considered for this position, please send a cover letter, curriculum vitae, three published writing samples for a non-specialist audience, and contact information for three professional references to the ADP "APPLY" link provided.

The Science History Institute provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants and prohibits discrimination and harassment on the basis of race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws. The Science History Institute is committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion and strongly encourages applicants from underrepresented groups such as women, racioethnic minorities, LGBTQ+, and people with disabilities to apply.

About the Science History Institute

Founded in 1982, the Science History Institute collects, preserves, interprets, and shares the lesser-known and sometimes overlooked stories from the history of science and technology. And we don’t just mean discoveries made in laboratories. We dive deep into the history of scientific successes and failures, with a focus on expanding knowledge and broadening our understanding of how science and society intersect. We tell the stories behind the science. Visit the Institute’s museum and library, listen to our podcasts, read our magazine and blog, attend our programs, and browse our digital collections. It’s all free so you can be free to discover the science in your life. Learn more at sciencehistory.org or follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.