Work with us

Volunteer with us

1. Join our community

The Griffith Institute welcomes volunteers who share our passion for Egyptology, archaeology, and the history of discovery. Our volunteers are vital to our mission to preserve, research, and make accessible the Institute’s unique archival collections — including the records of Howard Carter’s excavation of the tomb of Tutankhamun.

Volunteering with us offers the opportunity to gain experience in archival and research work, contribute to open-access scholarship, and help safeguard Egyptological heritage for future generations.

2. What our volunteers do

Volunteer projects vary depending on your interests, background, and available time. Recent activities have included:

• Assisting with digitisation and cataloguing of archival material
• Transcribing and proofreading excavation journals and correspondence
• Supporting metadata entry and quality checks for the Tutankhamun Spatial Archive
• Helping with public engagement events and online outreach

We match volunteers to projects based on their skills and the needs of the Institute.

Roles may be in person in Oxford or remote, depending on the nature of the work.

3. Who can volunteer

We welcome applications from anyone with an interest in Egyptology, archives, or the digital humanities, including:

• Students and early-career researchers
• Retired professionals and independent scholars
• Members of the public with enthusiasm for Egypt’s archaeological history

No prior experience in archives is required, though attention to detail and familiarity with academic or historical materials are helpful.

Full training and guidance are provided for all roles.

4. How to apply

If you would like to volunteer with us, please email griffith.institute@ames.ox.ac.uk with:

• A brief statement about your interests and relevant experience
• Your preferred working arrangement (in person or remote)
• Your availability (e.g. number of hours per week or total duration)

We will review your details and contact you when suitable volunteer opportunities arise.

5. Accessibility and inclusion

The Griffith Institute aims to make volunteering accessible to everyone.
If you have particular access requirements or need reasonable adjustments, please let us know when you contact us — we will do our best to accommodate you.

6. Additional information

• Volunteer roles are unpaid and supervised by Griffith Institute staff
• Volunteers may need to complete short online training courses (e.g. data protection, health and safety)
• For roles involving personal data or unpublished materials, volunteers will be asked to sign a confidentiality agreement
• All placements follow the University of Oxford’s Volunteer Policy and safeguarding principles.