Andrew W. Mellon Advanced Training Fellowship in Objects Conservation

The Conservation Division within the National Gallery of Art is offering a fellowship in the objects conservation department funded by an endowment from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation. Working under the guidance of the Gallery’s conservators and scientists, the fellow will participate in the activities of the conservation department but will focus on treatment of the sculpture and objects collection and an approved 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.   

During the three-year fellowship (September 2023­ to September 2026) the fellow will receive a yearly stipend of $47,000, health benefits, and $3,000 each year for travel and research. For non-US citizens an additional $7,000 would be included in the yearly stipend (for a total of $54,000 per year). This supplementary funding would be disbursed with the stipend throughout each year of the fellowship, rather than as a lump sum payment.

The purpose would be to offset the cost of paying out of pocket for health insurance as well as medical evacuation and repatriation of remains coverage. All fellows, regardless of nationality, will have an opportunity to apply for transit benefits for their commuting costs to and from the Gallery.

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 be required to provide proof of health insurance coverage, that when applying for a J-1 visa through the Gallery’s liaison with the Smithsonian Institution, includes medical evacuation and repatriation of remains.

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 500 words)
• Offprints/reprints in PDF format of publications and lectures
• Two letters of recommendation from conservation professionals familiar with the candidate’s work (emailed directly from the recommender to the address below)
• One letter of personal reference (emailed directly to the address below). The personal reference, sometimes known as the character reference, is a brief assessment of you as an individual provided by someone who knows you outside of a professional setting.

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 January 6, 2023. Applicants will be notified of the decision by the end of February 2023.

The fellowship may begin on or after September 24, 2023 and will end September 19, 2026.

For inquiries, please contact:

Michelle LeBleu, Associate Administrator
[email protected]