Studentship at University of Southampton and Victoria and Albert Museum

Studentship:Conservation Science: Non-destructive analysis of
cultural heritage

Applications are invited for a joint PhD studentship with the
Textile Conservation Centre, University of Southampton, and the
Science Section, Victoria and Albert Museum, to begin in October
2005.

The collaborative studentship is funded by the Arts and Humanities
Research Council. It carries an additional payment of UKP1500 per
annum to the student and some travel expenses on top of the standard
research council stipend. The funding conditions restrict the full
award to resident UK nationals.

The TCC, based in Winchester, hosts the AHRC Research Centre for
Textile Conservation and Textile Studies. It has an international
reputation for applied research and conservation education. The
Victoria and Albert Museum is the national museum of art, craft and
design. It offers an encyclopaedic resource in its collections of
the visual arts from Europe and Asia, both of historical and
contemporary importance. The research will take advantage of the
range of expertise and first class facilities available at each of
the partner institutions.

Textiles are a vital element of our material legacy. The medieval
Devonshire Tapestries, the 16th century Persian Ardabil carpet and
Mary Quant's swinging 60s dresses, are all part of the V&A's diverse
collection. Inevitably, such materials age even under the ambient
museum environment. To guarantee their best future as items of
accessible heritage for our enjoyment and future generations'
enlightenment, the optimum conservation policy must be adopted. The
strategy should be based on a good understanding of the artefacts,
what they are made of, their current condition and how this will
change over time. The broad aim of the project is to develop and
demonstrate a set of assessment tools, based on scientific
instrumental analytical techniques, which can be applied on site
within the Museum, ensuring conservators and curators can make well
informed decisions for the benefit of their collections. The scope
is extensive and the research is likely to focus on just one or two
principal techniques, such as near-infrared spectroscopy.

The particular objectives will be to define the appropriate
protocols with which to probe the identity and character of organic
heritage artefacts, as exemplified by textiles, to revise the
methodologies for direct application within the Museum, and to
demonstrate their value as collections management tools.
Developmental work, supervised by Dr Paul Wyeth, is expected to take
place mainly at the Textile Conservation Centre, application within
the Museum environment, directed by Professor Graham Martin, being
scheduled for the final year. The project will provide ideal
training for a prospective museum professional with conservation
science specialisation

Applicants should have a good first degree and a masters degree,
obtained by formal postgraduate study in analytical or conservation
science, or conservation. For further information or to apply please
contact Dr Paul Wyeth <pw<-a t->soton< . >ac< . >uk>. Candidates should send their
CV with the names of two referees, together with a short personal
statement outlining their enthusiasm for cultural heritage and their
career goals, by 1st June 2005.

Dr Brenda Keneghan
Polymer Scientist
Conservation Department
Victoria and Albert Museum
South Kensington
London SW7 2RL
+44 20 7942 2119
Fax: +44 20 7942 2092


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                  Conservation DistList Instance 18:51
                  Distributed: Tuesday, April 26, 2005
                       Message Id: cdl-18-51-044
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