Studentship at Victoria and Albert Museum and Imperial College

Studentship at Victoria and Albert Museum and Imperial College PhD
studentship in the conservation of polymeric materials in museum
collections using advanced surface science and surface analysis
techniques

Supervisors: Dr David McPhail and Dr Brenda Keneghan (V&A)

Duration: 36 months

Applications are invited for a fully funded PhD studentship for
three years offered as an Arts and Humanities Research Council
(AHRC) funded Collaborative Doctoral Award between Imperial College
London (Imperial) and the Victoria and Albert Museum (V&A).
(The award is subject to the final approval of the Arts and
Humanities Research Council.)

 This is an exciting opportunity for a science graduate with an
interest in the arts to apply the principles of surface science and
surface analysis to the conservation of polymeric materials in
museum collections.  This joint studentship between the Department
of Materials, Imperial, and the Conservation Science Section, V&A,
will commence in October 2013.  The doctorate will be jointly
supervised by Dr David McPhail (Imperial) and Dr Brenda Keneghan
(V&A).

We are seeking applications from enthusiastic graduates for a PhD
studentship to study the surface topography and surface chemistry of
polymeric materials following exposure to selected chemical agents.
The ultimate goal of the project will be to understand the immediate
effects of selected solvents and other potential cleaning methods
(e.g. solid CO2) on various polymeric materials found in the
extensive collections of the V&A.

The studentship will be based in Imperial College, with regular
interaction with conservation scientists at the V&A. You will work
within a team of dynamic PhD Students and Research Associates, in
newly refurbished laboratories on the South Kensington Campus.  You
will have access to advanced characterization facilities within the
department (including SIMS, LEIS, FIB SIMS, Titan 80/300 TEM/STEM
and the recently funded ambient pressure photoelectron spectroscopy
(APPES)).

You will have an upper second or first class degree or equivalent in
materials, chemistry, physics or a related discipline.  This 3-year
studentship will begin in October 2013.  For those meeting the
criterion of having been ordinarily resident in the UK for three
years the studentship will cover fees at the home/EU rate plus the
standard maintenance stipend of UKP15,590 per annum.  The V&A will
cover up to UKP3,000 towards appropriate travel and research expenses
over the studentship.  Both partners will provide opportunities for
training and career development, including a new joint training
programme for all Collaborative Doctoral Award students supported by
London-based National Museums, the British Library and the National
Archives.  The successful student must also meet residency
eligibility requirements for the Arts and Humanities Research
Council Postgraduate Studentships (see

    <URL:http://www.ahrc.ac.uk/Funding-Opportunities/Documents/Guide%20to%20Student%20Eligibility.pdf>

How to apply: The prospectus, entry requirements and application
form (under 'how to apply') are available at:

    <URL:http://www.imperial.ac.uk/pgprospectus>

This project will be supervised by Dr David McPhail
<d.mcphail<-at->imperial<.>ac<.>uk>.  For questions regarding the admissions
process, please contact Fiona Thomson
<fiona.thomson<-at->imperial<.>ac<.>uk>.

Formal applications can be completed online (only after informal
enquiries):

    <URL:http://www3.imperial.ac.uk/materials/research/phdopportunities>

while information about the Department can be found at

    <URL:http://www3.imperial.ac.uk/materials>

Closing date: 31 July 2013

Brenda Keneghan PhD FRSC
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 27:4
                   Distributed: Tuesday, July 2, 2013
                        Message Id: cdl-27-4-011
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