Research

Graduate Research Scholar – Conservation and Science, Academic Research

The Art Institute of Chicago’s Conservation and Science team is excited to recruit a graduate research scholar to work alongside the museum’s conservation scientist and Andrew W. Mellon Director of Scientific Research.

The Scholar is responsible for the treatment, research, and long-term preservation of over 300,000 works of art in the Art Institute’s collections, the department of Conservation and Science is integral to the museum’s mission to safeguard the world’s artistic and cultural legacy for future generations.

Conservators, scientists, and conservation technicians work collaboratively to study and care for a diverse range of objects representing centuries of artistic creation. Their wide-ranging responsibilities include documenting condition, ensuring best practices for the safe storage, handling, shipping, and display of the collection, analyzing materials, studying mechanisms of deterioration, and carrying out conservation treatments.

The department is also actively involved in scholarly research and works closely with the Art Institute’s curators, colleagues at other institutions, and sometimes artists themselves to enrich our understanding of works of art in the collection and expand our knowledge of materials and techniques.

Project:

Within Scientific Research, the Graduate Research Scholar will study the materials and techniques of a set of five Nepalese thangkas in the collection of Arts of Asia at the Art Institute of Chicago. During the course of eight weeks, the Scholar will capture technical images (including ultraviolet- and infrared-reflected, ultraviolet- and visible-induced luminescence) for the characterization of preparations, preparatory drawings, color notations, pentimenti, pigments/colorants and finishes. Based on the results of the imaging, one of the five paintings will be studied in more detail using non-invasive investigative techniques, such as hyperspectral imaging and X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy. The Scholar will also investigate a set of reference standards of materials used in Nepalese contexts with the Art Institute’s equipment. As part of the scholarship, a report will be created for each painting, providing a detailed account of the results of the investigations.

The Graduate Research Scholar will join a museum-wide intern and fellow cohort and have access to a range of programs to support their development in addition to their placement in Conservation and Science. Mentorship is provided throughout the experience and connections with an emerging professional alumni network will be established.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Utilize conservation and scientific technology, collection management systems, and other museum resources to enhance our understanding of specific artworks;

• Produce reports detailing the results of the investigations;

• Regularly meet with and be mentored by field practitioners, including members of the Conservation and Science team as well as the museum’s curatorial staff.

Qualifications

• Currently in pursuit of a PhD in Conservation and Science, Art History, or a related field required with an understanding of technical imaging and scientific investigations of works of art;

• Open to working independently, with supervision, or as part of a team;

• Willingness to connect with others; Strong interpersonal, written, and verbal communication skills;

• Detail-oriented mindset and demonstrated organizational skills; ability to multitask and flexibly prioritize when appropriate;

• Curiosity about art museum culture and current events in the field.

Term: The Graduate Research Scholar will work full-time for 8 weeks from March 9, 2026–April 26, 2026, working 32 hours per week.

Funding: This position is funded by the PNRR Next Generation EU - Università degli Studi di Roma.

How to apply: Please submit a pdf of your CV with relevant experience and one reference through our career portal. Please label your materials using the following format: LASTNAME_GRS_Spring 2026.pdf.

The Art Institute of Chicago is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We fully comply with applicable federal and state disability laws and provide reasonable accommodations for applicants and employees with disabilities. We recruit, hire, and promote qualified individuals solely on the basis of their skills, qualifications, and experience. If you require reasonable accommodation to participate in the application or interview process, please contact Human Resources at [email protected].

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