Postdoctoral Research Fellow in African Art
About The Position
The Postdoctoral Research Fellow will conduct in-depth research on 135 African objects within the Barnes collection. This role involves collaborating with the Director of Research and Interpretation and Barnes conservators to reconnect these objects with knowledge from their source communities, place them in their cultural and historical context, trace their provenance, and integrate new technical/conservation studies into the understanding of the objects' history. The Fellow will produce internal and public-facing materials and disseminate this research to academic, community-based, and general audiences through organizing scholars' days, presenting lectures, teaching classes, developing tours, and creating website content. This is a two-year position.
Requirements
- Ph.D. in Art History with a specialization in African art; or comparable experience.
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
- Experience using archival collections and working with objects.
- Ability to occasionally transport up to 25 lbs. of files, equipment or supplies.
- Ability to move to access files, equipment or supplies.
- Clearly communicate in person, by phone, and by video conference.
- Communicate with others in conversational and written English.
Nice To Haves
- Experience with collections management databases preferred, especially TMS
- Museum experience preferred
Responsibilities
- Conducts in-depth research on the 135 African objects in the Barnes collection.
- Reconnects objects to knowledge from their source communities.
- Places objects in their cultural and historical context.
- Traces the provenance of objects.
- Integrates new technical/conservation study into the understanding of the life of the object.
- Delivers new research in the form of internal and public-facing materials.
- Disseminates knowledge to academic, community-based, and general audiences.
- Organizes scholars’ days.
- Presents lectures to public and Barnes staff and volunteers.
- Teaches Barnes classes.
- Develops a tour.
- Produces text and other materials for the website.
- Works collaboratively with the conservation department to study each object’s technical and material qualities.
- Facilitates engagement and communication with Africa based researchers.
- Builds digital spaces of research and knowledge sharing with partners in source communities.
- Travels to area museums and libraries to consult primary and secondary sources.
- Meets quarterly with the Director of Research and Interpretation to analyze findings and review progress.
- Produces accessible interpretive materials for the website based on research gathered.
- Trains volunteers and staff about objects in the collection through gallery talks and lectures.
- Regularly updates database (TMS) with new documentation and findings.
- Works collaboratively with Collections; Archives and Library; Conservation; and Education.
- Communicates with colleagues in the field.
- Performs other duties as requested.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Entry Level
Education Level
Ph.D. or professional degree
