Position at Rathgen Research Laboratory

Conservation Scientist
Rathgen Research Laboratory
National Museums Berlin

Job reference: RF 3-2008

Limited term 3 years
Available from September 1, 2008.

The Rathgen Research Laboratory, which forms part of the Berlin
State Museums, is currently seeking to fill the position of a
Conservation Scientist in the framework of the interdisciplinary
research project "ILKAR Band-Walze".

The position is graded at grade 13 TVoD (Collective Agreement for
the German public service). The grading is provisional, as the
grading agreement under the collective agreement has so far not been
finalised.

"ILKAR (Integrated solutions for conservation, archiving and
restoration of endangered magnetic tapes and wax cylinders)
Band-Walze" is a project funded by the Kulturstiftung des Bundes
(German Federal Cultural Foundation) as part of KUR-Programme to
Preserve and Restore Mobile Cultural Assets and will be implemented
in close collaboration between the Ethnological Museum and the
Rathgen Research Laboratory of the Berlin State Museums (Germany).

The Rathgen Research Laboratory is the leading institution for
conservation science, art technology and archaeometry at the Berlin
State Museums. It carries out investigations on a broad variety of
materials within the museum environment and focuses its research on
scientific issues concerning the care of monuments and
archaeological sites. It carries forward the tradition of the
world's oldest scientific museum laboratory, the Chemical Laboratory
of the Royal Museums in Berlin, which was founded on April 1, 1888
and bears the name of its first director, Friedrich Rathgen.

Main activities/Responsibilities: As a rule, audio-visual recordings
are stored on fragile media with a limited life expectancy.
Digitalization according to state-of-the-art procedures is hence
without alternative in long-term archiving. The project "ILKAR
Band-Walze" focuses on the development of criteria and methodologies
which allow a better use of the available time window for
preservation in accordance with the existing conditions in
scientific archives.

Key areas of research:

    Development of new scientific methodologies to identify and
    handle high-risk materials

    Development of methodologies to retard the decay process of
    audio-visual data media

    Efficient organization of the work flow by integrating the
    various approaches

The successful applicant will be able to apply his or her knowledge
of scientific research as it relates to the conservation of audio-
and video tapes in the project team. She/he will work closely with
conservators and curators across interdisciplinary lines in an
extremely diversified and intellectually stimulating environment.

She/he will perform tests, analyze and interpret results using the
specialized equipment of the laboratory and also develop and
implement new testing procedures. The position provides the
opportunity for a PhD in collaboration with the Federal Institute
for Materials Research and Testing, Department I Analytical
Chemistry, Reference Materials.

Person Specification: Graduation from a recognized college or
university with a Master in Chemistry or Conservation Science;
applicants who have worked in a museum conservation environment are
preferred. Specialisation in organic analytical chemistry, polymer
chemistry and physico-mechanical testing; Candidates must possess
good written and verbal communication skills, experience in teamwork
and be proficient in German and English.

The Stiftung Preussischer Kulturbesitz is an equal opportunities
employer as set out by

Bundesgleichstellungsgesetz (Federal Equal Opportunities Act).
Applications from female applicants are welcomed. Applicants with
disabilities will be considered with priority in cases of equal
qualification. Applicants must be prepared to adjust their working
times to work requirements.

Please send your application which must include the customary
documents to the following address, quoting job reference RF 3-2008
by 22 August 2008.

    Stiftung Preussischer Kulturbesitz
    Der Prasident
    Sachgebiet I 2 c
    Von-der-Heydt-Str. 16-18
    10785 Berlin

Please do not apply by email. If you would like the documents
submitted returned to you, please enclose a SAE. For further
information please contact

    Herr Mittag
    +49 30 25463 216
    mittag<-a t->hv< . >spkberlin< . >de

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                  Conservation DistList Instance 22:7
                   Distributed: Friday, July 25, 2008
                        Message Id: cdl-22-7-026
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