Position at Detroit Institute of Arts

Andrew W. Mellon Senior Conservation Scientist
Conservation Department
Detroit Institute of Arts

Full-time, Exempt

Salary, commensurate with experience

The Detroit Institute of Arts seeks applicants for the Andrew W.
Mellon Senior Conservation Scientist position.  The successful
candidate will head the Analytical Science Lab in the Conservation
Department and will be responsible for developing and implementing a
conservation science program in support of research and preservation
of DIA collections ranging from antiquity to the 21st century.
Significant previous experience in a museum conservation environment
is required.  The candidate will be expected to possess
research/analysis experience applicable to a wide range of artists'
materials both organic and inorganic.  The individual will join a
department that includes conservators of paintings, objects, and
paper; an imaging specialist; and a mount designer and fabricator.

This position reports to the Director of Conservation.

Essential Functions:

    Research and Analysis

        Works in collaboration with DIA conservators and curators in
        the examination and analysis of a broad range of artists'
        materials and degradation products, both organic and
        inorganic Interprets analytical data and communicates the
        results in a manner that fosters the understanding of
        artists' materials and techniques and the preservation of
        the DIA collections

        Conducts non-destructive analysis on works of art under
        consideration for purchase in support of the conservation
        condition assessments submitted to the DIA Collections
        Committee

        Develops and coordinates cooperative technical studies of
        DIA objects with academic colleagues and other museum
        scientists, and collaborates in the writing of papers for
        publication in art historical, conservation, or scientific
        journals

        Stays abreast of developments in the application of
        scientific techniques to the analysis of artist' materials
        through journal research and attendance at conferences and
        seminars

    Educational Outreach

        Communicates effectively the work of conservation science to
        both professional colleagues and non-technical audiences
        through tours, lectures, web content, and video

        Instructs and supervises fellows, interns, and students in
        the understanding and performance of materials analysis

        Participates in exhibition development and museum education
        initiatives

    General Duties

        Maintains the instrumentation in the lab--microscopes,
        micro-FTIR spectrometer, micro-Raman spectrometer, Artax XRF
        spectrometer, Bruker handheld XRF spectrometer,
        ultramicrotome, and analytical balances

        Maintains excellent records of conducted analyses

        Develops and administers the budget of the analytical
        laboratory

        Maintains communication with technicians and applications
        specialists at analytical instrumentation companies

        Maintains appropriate X-ray license registration with the
        State of Michigan

        Tracks dosimeter monitoring for X-ray users in the
        Conservation Department

        Analyzes proposed case and mount materials for gallery and
        special exhibition installations

Qualifications

    Ph.D. required in chemistry or other physical science

    Minimum of 5 years of experience in a museum conservation
    science laboratory

    Cross-cultural knowledge of art and art history

    Broad, in-depth knowledge of artists' materials and techniques
    relating to paintings, 3-D artworks, works on paper, and
    textiles

    Ability to operate and maintain scientific instrumentation,
    including:

            X-ray fluorescence spectrometers (Artax and Bruker
            hand-held)

            Micro-Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectrometer

            Micro-Raman spectrometer

            Ultramicrotome for cross-section preparation and other
            relevant sample preparation techniques

            Microscopes

            Analytical balances

    Working knowledge of scanning electron microscopy/
    energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM/EDX), polarized light
    microscopy (PLM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), gas
    chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), and high-performance
    liquid chromatography (HPLC)

    Experience in grant management and instrumentation evaluation

    Experience in developing and administering a budget

    Knowledge of radiation safety

    Ability to communicate and collaborate effectively with
    conservators, curators, collections management staff, museum
    educators, academic scientists, and scientists from other
    museums

    Ability to effectively communicate the work of conservation
    science to non-technical audiences

    Ability to analyze data and prepare technical reports

    A record of peer-reviewed research and publications

    Demonstrated ability to show initiative and resourcefulness in
    handling difficult and unusual analytical problems

Interested applicants for this position must submit a cover letter,
resume/curriculum vitae, and writing sample online at

    <URL:http://www.dia.org>

Applications will be accepted until the position is filled.

The Detroit Institute OF Arts is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

John Steele
Director of Conservation
Detroit Institute of Arts
313-833-1269


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                  Conservation DistList Instance 28:48
                   Distributed: Friday, May 15, 2015
                       Message Id: cdl-28-48-015
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