The V&A is looking for a Conservation Scientist to join its vibrant Conservation team

The V&A is the world’s leading museum of art, design and performance, housing a collection of over 2.8 million objects that document 5,000 years of human creativity from across six continents. The Museum holds many of UK’s designated National Collections, including sculpture, ceramics, metalwork, textiles and furniture, and including extensive collections of prints, drawings, posters, photographs and portrait miniatures. It is also home to the National Art Library, which holds the UK’s most comprehensive public reference library for the fine and decorative arts, as well as special collections of the art of the book ranging from the Middle Ages to the present day. The V&A’s Archive Collections hold extensive archives of over 1,000 individuals, associations and companies involved in the fields of art, design and performance, documenting process and practice.

As Conservation Scientist you will have the exciting opportunity to work in our newly-refurbished laboratory, where a AHRC £2.3 million grant has enabled the purchase and upgrade of a wide range of microscopes, spectrometers and X-radiography equipment. With experience in the analysis of materials from cultural heritage contexts, as Conservation Scientist you will undertake the analysis of organic, polymeric and modern materials as well as other traditional materials in museum objects, using FTIR, X-ray fluorescence, SEM-EDX, UV-vis-nIR, optical and digital microscopy, Raman microscopy and other appropriate techniques. You will undertake and support research enabling the delivery of the museum’s Public Programme and strategic objectives in care of collections and research. You will be active in publications, presentations, contribute to the V&A’s blog and public events.

We will consider international applications and sponsorship opportunities for this post.

The closing date for applications is Wednesday 1 March 2023 at 23.59.