Position at Museum of Fine Arts, Houston

Mellon Foundation Research Scientist
Museum of Fine Arts, Houston (MFAH)

Reports to Director of Conservation

Date Needed: August 2014

Full-Time, Regular, Exempt, 35 hours/week
Monday-Friday, 9am-5pm

Salary: Stipend

Benefits: Group medical and dental insurance, life and long term
disability insurance, pension plan, credit union, flexible
compensation plan, paid time off, reserved time off, and holiday pay

Work Location: Rosine Building, a non-smoking facility

Responsibilities:

    The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston (MFAH), through the support of
    the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, is offering a five-year
    appointment for a Research Scientist.  The appointment is shared
    with the Menil Collection, Houston and it is intended that the
    Scientist will lead research programs that illuminate the
    wide-ranging, world-class collections of both institutions.
    He/she will report to the Director of Conservation for the MFAH
    and will be based at the MFAH, with additional access to the
    facilities and staff of the participating institutions

    The MFAH is in the process of designing and building a new
    Center for Conservation on the museum campus, which will open
    during the term of this appointment.  The Scientist will play a
    central role in planning state-of-the-art scientific and
    analytical resources in the new building and, as a result, will
    help to shape the whole future of conservation science in
    Houston

    The basic duties of the job are to provide analytical support to
    conservation and curatorial staff of the MFAH and The Menil
    Collection: but, in consultation with senior colleagues at both
    institutions, the Scientist will also be able establish new
    research priorities in both the investigation of traditional and
    new conservation materials and processes, and in the
    ever-expanding field of technical art history.  The collections
    in Houston provide outstanding opportunities for new avenues of
    technical research.  It is expected that the Scientist will
    publish results in appropriate journals, will speak at national
    and international conferences, and will play a leading role in
    disseminating information to the Houston community through
    lectures, publications and museum websites

    The Scientist will serve as Adjunct Professor in the Department
    of Chemistry at Rice University and will have access to
    analytical equipment at Rice as required until the MFAH Center
    for Conservation is fully equipped.  The Scientist will also
    co-teach courses in the Chemistry and Art History departments at
    Rice

Skills, Knowledge and Abilities:

    The scientist will have up-to-date knowledge of the structure,
    properties, and behavior of the materials used in the creation
    and conservation of works of art.  He/she will have experience
    with various methods used in their analysis and identification,
    including, but not limited to: FTIR, GC-MS, RP-HPLC, XRD, XRF,
    and SEM w/EDS

    Excellent communication, interpersonal, organizational and
    research skills will be required and the ability to work both
    independently and as part of a team.  An interest in and a
    demonstrable knowledge of the range of the collections in
    Houston would be an advantage

Education and Experience:

    The Scientist will have a Ph.D. in a physical science, and
    experience and ability in research and teaching at the graduate
    level, including a substantial record of publication.  He/she
    will have experience in studying art and artifacts of an
    encyclopedic museum collection, and in analyzing their
    constituent materials.  The Scientist will have worked alongside
    practicing conservators in a museum or university department,
    understand the range of conservation materials and techniques
    currently in use, and contribute to technical advances in the
    field

To apply send cv and letter of interest to

    Human Resources
    Job 14-112CON
    PO Box 6826
    Houston TX 77265-6826
    Fax: 713-639-7508
    jobs<-a t->mfah< . >org

Please Note: Deadline for accepting application is June 21, 2014

The MFAH is an Equal Opportunity Employer dedicated to a policy of
non-discrimination in employment on any basis including race, creed,
color, age, sex, religion, national origin, genetic information,
handicap or status as a disabled and/or Vietnam Era Veteran.  For
more information, visit

    <URL:http://mfah.org/about/careers/>

David Bomford
Director of Conservation
The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston


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                  Conservation DistList Instance 27:46
                   Distributed: Tuesday, May 27, 2014
                       Message Id: cdl-27-46-028
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