Studentship at Nottingham Trent University

PhD studentship
Nottingham Trent University
School of Biomedical and Natural Sciences.

Funded by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council
(EPSRC) and The National Gallery, London

A PhD studentship is available within a collaborative project
involving Physics at Nottingham Trent University and The National
Gallery in London to study how material properties of picture
varnishes affect their optical properties and hence the appearance
of varnished paintings.

Traditional natural resin varnishes such as mastic and dammar
degrade relatively fast, becoming yellow and sometimes hazy. A
routine conservation procedure, carried out to restore the original
appearance of a painting, is the removal of the degraded varnish
using a solvent followed by the application of a layer of new
varnish. Frequent repetition of this procedure is potentially
harmful to a painting, hence research has been carried out to find
synthetic varnishes which are more stable but at the same time have
a similar optical appearance to traditional varnishes. Currently, it
is not clear which properties of a varnish are most important in
determining the final optical appearance.

The student will be required to conduct experiments using a range of
instruments from optical interferometers, rheometers to MRI mouse to
study the wetting and drying of varnishes on different surfaces and
how the rheological properties of a varnish affect its optical
properties. This is a multidisciplinary project involving optics,
material science and art conservation.

The PhD studentship would suit a highly motivated person with
interest in material science, optics and art conservation. Entry
requirement: a first class or upper second class UK Honours degree
(or equivalent) in a physical science discipline.

The studentship offers a bursary of UKP12,300 (tax free) per annum
for three years and Home student fees.  Eligibility: Only UK
residents can receive the full award. Nationality or country of
origin is not a criterion for eligibility.  However, EU residents
are eligible for fees-only awards. The successful candidate can take
up the studentship immediately after the offer is accepted.

For informal enquiries, please contact

    Dr. Haida Liang
    Senior Lecturer in Physics:
    +44 115 848 8056
    haida.liang [at] ntu__ac__uk

Application forms can be downloaded from
<URL:http://www.ntu.ac.uk/research/graduate_school/index.html>

Alternatively, contact

    Mrs Doreen Corlett
    Research and Graduate Studies Office
    Nottingham Trent University
    Nottingham NG11 8NS
    UK
    +44 115 848 3269
    Fax: +44 115 848 6616
    sat.research [at] ntu__ac__uk

Candidates must send a completed application form, which should
include a statement about why they are applying for the post and how
they meet the essential qualifications, with copies of academic
certificates, to Doreen Corlett, by post, fax or email by Wednesday
28 February 2007.

Application by CV only will not be accepted

Marika Spring
National Gallery
London


                                  ***
                  Conservation DistList Instance 20:37
                 Distributed: Friday, February 2, 2007
                       Message Id: cdl-20-37-011
                                  ***