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Andrew W. Mellon Advanced Training Fellowship in Paper Conservation

With an endowment from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, the National Gallery of Art is offering a fellowship in the paper conservation department. The three-year fellowship will commence in September 2022 and include a yearly stipend of $45,000, plus $3,000 each year for travel and research.

Working under the guidance of the Gallery’s conservators and scientists, the fellow will focus on two aspects: treatment of the collection and a self-selected research project that culminates in a publishable paper. The fellow will have the opportunity to collaborate with conservators, scientists, and curators, and will also have access to the Gallery’s collections and to advanced analytical instrumentation available in the scientific research department. Lectures, symposia, and informal discussions at the National Gallery of Art contribute to the fellowship program.

Eligibility

Candidates should be graduates from a recognized master’s program in conservation or have equivalent training. They should have no more than five years of work experience after graduation and a proven record of research and writing ability. Candidates must possess English-language skills. Applicants who are not United States citizens will need to provide proof of health insurance coverage, which includes repatriation of remains, when applying for a J-1 visa through the Gallery’s liaison with the Smithsonian Institution.

Application Procedure

Interested candidates must submit the following materials in English:

  • Transcripts of both undergraduate and graduate courses of academic study (unofficial copies are acceptable)
  • A curriculum vitae including basic biographical information and current and permanent addresses, telephone number, and a description of previous conservation experience and internships
  • A statement of interest and intent (no more than two single-spaced pages) in applying for the fellowship
  • Offprints/reprints in PDF format of publications and lectures
  • Two letters of recommendation from conservation professionals familiar with the candidate’s work and one letter of personal reference (emailed directly to the address below)

File naming convention for submissions:

Last Name_First Name_Document type (e.g., Transcripts) _Date (Year-Month-Day)

Formal applications and supporting materials must be submitted in PDF format by email to [email protected] and arrive at the National Gallery no later than December 31, 2021. Applicants will be notified of the decision by the end of February 2022.

The fellowship may begin on or after September 25, 2022 and will end September 20, 2025.

For inquiries, please contact:

Michelle LeBleu, Associate Administrator
[email protected]

Michelle LeBleu, Associate Administrator
[email protected]