Fellowship at Art Institute of Chicago

Postdoctoral fellowship
The Art Institute of Chicago and Northwestern University

This is a one-year fellowship funded through a grant awarded by the
Andrew W. Mellon Foundation to the Art Institute of Chicago (AIC)
and Northwestern University (NU) to perform advanced materials
research on objects of art historical and cultural significance.

Focus of the postdoctoral fellowship will be the study of the
technology of manufacture of metallic artifacts in the ancient and
modern artistic production. In particular the research project will
involve multidisciplinary research into archaeological Chinese
bronzes and bronzes from AIC's modern art collection (especially
works by P. Picasso, C. Brancusi and H. Matisse).

The post-doctoral fellow will be a NU employee and will receive an
annual stipend of $33,000. Additional funding for instrumental and
facilities usage as well as training will also be provided. The
appointment will start upon filling of the position, but hopefully
no later than January 9th, 2006. It is expected that the results of
the work generated will be presented at professional meetings (for
which $2,000 is budgeted) and published in professional journals.

Duties and responsibilities: The postdoctoral fellow will directly
report to Professor David Dunand (James N. and Margie M. Krebs
Professor of Materials Science and Engineering, NU) and will be
co-supervised by Professor Joseph Lambert (Claire Hamilton Hall
Professor of Chemistry, NU), Dr. Francesca Casadio (A.W. Mellon
Conservation Scientist, AIC), and Dr. William Ellingson, senior
researcher at Argonne National Laboratory (ANL). The incumbent will
conduct X-ray computer assisted tomography (CAT)-scans of selected
ancient Chinese bronzes from the AIC collection at Argonne National
Laboratory.

The postdoctoral fellow will also be required to set up and
calibrate a quantitative method to analyze modern bronzes with AIC's
portable micro X-ray fluorescence spectrometer and develop a
database of elemental compositions for the investigated objects.
Chemical and mineralogical characterization of all the major and
minor components of the alloys of samples from internal areas of the
bronze sculptures will also be performed, using inductively coupled
plasma analysis (ICP) and standard metallographic analysis
techniques at NU. Exploratory work to develop a suitable methodology
for determination of methods and materials of patination will also
be pursued.

Required skills, education and experience: Ph. D. in Chemistry,
Material Science, Archaeological Science, Geological Sciences or
related disciplines.

Familiarity with, and proficiency in the application of current
methods of materials analysis and characterization, in particular
X-ray spectroscopy techniques, X-ray imaging and X-ray diffraction.
Previous knowledge of ICP desirable.

Proven ability to conduct independent academic research required.
English language skills and proven record of writing ability are
required. The incumbent should be experienced in managing large
numbers of data and performing data analysis and modeling.
Significant computer knowledge will be requested to successfully
carry out this project, in particular familiarity with both windows
and LINUX operating systems, as well as knowledge of Adobe Photoshop
or similar image processing software.

Previous experience in the Conservation field preferable, but a
strong interest for the visual arts and willingness to explore new
areas of applied research are the most important qualities sought.
In particular, an important pre-requisite is an interest in the
integrated approach to scientific studies of objects of
art-historical and cultural significance, involving synergistic
collaborations between scientists and Museum 's conservators and
curators.

Applications (including cover letter, resume', and name and contact
information of two references) and enquires should be directed by
e-mail to Dr. Francesca Casadio <fcasadio<-a t->artic< . >edu> Review of
applications will begin on Nov. 30, 2005 and continue until the
position is filled.

Francesca Casadio, PhD
Andrew W. Mellon Conservation Scientist
The Art Institute of Chicago
111 South Michigan Ave.
60603-6110 Chicago
312-857-7647
Fax: 312-541-1959


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                  Conservation DistList Instance 19:24
                Distributed: Thursday, November 3, 2005
                       Message Id: cdl-19-24-024
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