Science Lab Scholars

Newfields Careers•Indianapolis, IN

21h•Onsite

About The Position

The Indianapolis Museum of Art at Newfields seeks candidates for a full-time, onsite summer internship in the Conservation Science Lab. The internship supports early career learning in cultural heritage chemistry through routine laboratory analyses and participation on projects involving Arts-based scientific research and/or technical studies of collection objects. The Conservation Science Lab Internship is a 10-week summer position intended to provide a supportive learning environment for undergraduate or graduate students with an interest in cultural heritage chemistry. The Intern will be embedded in the daily work of a busy conservation science facility that serves a diverse clientele of internal and external museum professionals including curators, conservators, designers, and educators. Working alongside the Senior Conservation Scientist, visiting sabbatical faculty, and lab volunteers, the intern will assist with routine scientific service work, help in the maintenance of the lab facility, prepare reports to record lab findings and activities, and engage with the public through outreach opportunities. The intern will participate in ongoing research projects as needed, but they will also spend time performing routine tasks like custodial and maintenance duties, chemical inventory management, spectral library generation, and data curation. The opportunity involves becoming immersed in the busy daily life of the Conservation Science Laboratory while serving the scientific research, curatorial, and/or conservation needs of the museum. Interns will investigate artworks using state-of-the-art scientific instrumentation and prepare analytical reports to share with museum staff. They will connect to the collections analyzed by gaining a deeper understanding of the history of art through collaborations with curators and conservators. Interns will use online and library research skills to support analytical tasks and present findings within the wider field of artists’ materials. They will prepare mock-ups and simulacrums using the laboratory’s extensive collection of reference materials, become experienced in proper art handling techniques to work directly with collection objects and take samples, and develop writing and speaking skills to present complicated scientific information to diverse audiences including non-scientists and the public.

Requirements

General familiarity with chemistry, the scientific method, scientific ethics, lab record keeping, standard laboratory techniques like weighing and pipetting, and analytical instrumentation
Commitment to academic rigor though report writing, publications, data curation, and presentations
Good oral and written communication skills
In progress toward an undergraduate (BS or BA) or graduate (MS or PhD) degree in chemistry, biochemistry, physics, geology, or another scientific discipline
Intern must be either a resident or citizen of the United States
Must be legally authorized to work in the United States

Responsibilities

Demonstrate appropriate laboratory technique and safety practices
Ensure a neat and safe work area that protects artwork in the lab
Maintain an accurate and thorough laboratory notebook
Assist with routine scientific service work
Help in the maintenance of the lab facility
Prepare reports to record lab findings and activities
Engage with the public through outreach opportunities
Participate in ongoing research projects as needed
Perform routine tasks like custodial and maintenance duties
Perform chemical inventory management
Perform spectral library generation
Perform data curation
Investigate artworks using state-of-the-art scientific instrumentation
Prepare analytical reports to share with museum staff
Connect to the collections you analyze by gaining a deeper understanding of the history of art through collaborations with curators and conservators
Use online and library research skills to support your analytical tasks and present your findings within the wider field of artists’ materials
Prepare mock-ups and simulacrums using the laboratory’s extensive collection of reference materials
Become experienced in proper art handling techniques in order to work directly with collection objects and to take samples from artworks for analysis
Develop your writing and speaking skills to present complicated scientific information to diverse audiences including non-scientists and the public