Research Scientist, Organic Materials

The Metropolitan Museum of Art•The Met Fifth Avenue, NY

2d•$120,000 - $165,000•Onsite

About The Position

As the Research Scientist (Organic Materials), you will perform analyses and conduct research on organic materials such as natural and synthetic polymers as found in the Museum’s collection, with particular attention to three-dimensional works of art, ranging from antiquity to contemporary. You have an established reputation as an authority within the scientific field related to art and art conservation research.

Requirements

Ph.D. in chemistry or related field, or equivalent experience and training (required).
5 years’ experience working in museum environments conducting research on art objects (required) with a focus on organic materials, including natural and synthetic polymers.
Expertise in liquid and pyrolysis gas chromatography (required) along with experience in a range of mass spectrometry techniques and mass analyzers, including: Quadrupole mass spectrometry (required)
Proficiency in micro- and non-invasive (portable) Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy (required)
Strong command of both written and spoken English (required)

Nice To Haves

High-resolution mass spectrometry (Q-TOF, Orbitrap) (preferred)
MALDI, DART, DESI, APCI, or other techniques (preferred)
Experience with Raman spectroscopy (preferred)
Familiarity with advanced statistical analysis methods applied to scientific data (preferred).

Responsibilities

Analyze works of art in collaboration with conservators, curators, and colleagues in the Department of Scientific Research, with a particular focus on three-dimensional collections.
Conduct research on organic materials found in artworks—including their composition, historical context, provenance, degradation mechanisms, and preservation issues—in collaboration with internal and external stakeholders.
Prepare analysis reports and standard operating procedures; file documentation and data records; maintain scientific instruments and operating logs.
Disseminate significant findings through peer-reviewed scientific literature.
Supervise and mentor interns and fellows, fostering collaborative research and professional development.
Serve as an advocate for the museum both internally and within the wider field.
Participate in museum fundraising, grant writing and department budgets
Perform other duties as assigned

Benefits

Medical, dental, vision and life insurance
403(b) basic retirement plan and optional matching retirement plan with an outstanding employer match
Considerable paid time off, including annual leave, sick leave, and 13 Museum holidays
Long-term disability coverage
Flexible Spending Accounts & Health Savings Account (pre-tax income for eligible health care expenses)
Commuter benefits (pre-tax income for parking or mass transit expenses)
Free financial-planning services
Financial assistance for relevant coursework, seminars, and training programs
25% discount for staff in Museum shops
A subsidized staff cafeteria
Access to the Museums Council pass, which grants free admission to various museums and cultural institutions