Subject: Position at British Museum and Courtauld Institute of Art
Postdoctoral Research Assistant Department of Conservation and Scientific Research British Museum and Courtauld Institute of Art, London Fixed Term Contract: 3 years in duration (Full Time) Salary: GBP 26,820 per annum The Department of Conservation and Scientific Research is seeking an outstanding Postdoctoral Research Assistant to deliver a research programme for the 3 year Leverhulme Trust funded project "Photoluminescence Imaging and Spectroscopy of Painting and Conservation Material" (LuminArt) which represents a collaboration between the British Museum, the Courtauld Institute of Art, London, and the Centro Nazionale delle Ricerche, Italy. The main purpose of this role is to investigate the photoluminescence properties of a variety of painting and conservation materials and to produce imaging tools and interpretation guidelines to allow their presence to be mapped using low-tech, affordable but accurate imaging and spectroscopic equipment. You will be responsible for carrying out a systematic investigation and creating a database of the photoluminescence properties of a range of painting materials typically used on heritage objects, such a pigments, colorants, binders and conservation materials. You will be required to use these properties to establish which are the most suitable luminescence imaging techniques for the study of artworks and to develop these into imaging guidelines and interpretation tools suitable for use by a wide range of conservators, heritage professionals and scientists. You will also be responsible for applying imaging guidelines and interpretation tools to real case studies and to disseminate the results to the heritage communities. You will be educated to degree level or equivalent in a relevant science-based subject and also hold a PhD. With good research skills and experience in the design of research projects and the ability to analyse and write up data, you will also have experience in the application of techniques including photo-induced luminescence spectroscopy and imaging, UV/VIS/IR reflectance spectroscopy and imaging, FTIR and Raman spectroscopy. Knowledge of painting techniques as well as painting and conservation materials and of the analysis of archaeological and art objects are also essential to this role. For further information or to apply for this role, please go to <URL:http://www.britishmuseum.org/about_us/jobs.aspx> Closing date: 12 noon, Monday 2 December 2013 Dr Catherine Higgitt Head of Science, Department of Conservation and Scientific Research The British Museum Great Russell Street London, WC1B 3DG +44 20 7323 8679 Fax: +44 20 7323 8276 Mobile: +44 781 4472 586 BB: +44 7812 677 091 *** Conservation DistList Instance 27:21 Distributed: Friday, November 8, 2013 Message Id: cdl-27-21-028 ***Received on Friday, 8 November, 2013