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Summer 2020 Conservation Internship,The Mariners' Museum and Park, Newport News, Virginia

By William Hoffman posted 11-21-2019 14:31

  
This internship will provide practical experience in conservation, building on and strengthening the intern's analytical, condition assessment, treatment research, and proposal writing skills acquired during their first/second year of graduate school.

1. The intern will conduct an in-depth analysis, write a condition report, and draft a preliminary treatment proposal for the Isabel, an early 20th century carvel planked Spanish fishing boat. The intern will work under the direct supervision of Chief Conservator William Hoffman, and will be assisted by Associate Research Scientist Dr. Molly McGath, Assistant Objects Conservator Paige Schmidt, and Material Culture Specialist Hannah Fleming. Over the course of 10 weeks, the intern will:

● Learn about maritime conservation and conservation of composite objects.
● Characterize paint, fibers, wood and other materials by taking samples or cross-sections and analyze these with light microscopy and other analytical techniques as necessary.
● Complete a comprehensive condition report.
● Conduct research on potential treatment options and formulate a preliminary treatment proposal. Emphasis will be on allowing the intern time to research treatment options     
    and to perform hands-on treatment testing.
● Assist with other treatments of collection objects.

2. The intern will have the following analytical tools at their disposal for assessment and analysis: portable X-ray fluorescence, attenuated total reflectance-Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy(ATR-FTIR), polarized light microscopy, dark field and bright field light microscopy, UV-fluorescence light microscopy, photogrammetric modeling, UV-visible fluorescence imaging, IR photography, microchemical testing, and ion chromatography.

3. Instruction and safety training will be provided on equipment within the lab.

4. The intern will gain an understanding of the different areas of the museum and how they work together (Collections management, Conservation, Facilities management, etc.).

5. The intern will be introduced to other conservation labs and conservators in the area (Colonial Williamsburg, Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, etc.).

6. Upon completion of the internship, the intern will present on their research and findings in a 20 minute presentation to museum staff and project donors.

Exact placement dates for the internship are flexible between the months of June and August 2020. 

Applying candidates should have a minimum of one year of conservation graduate school training.

Please email a letter of intent, Curriculum Vitae, and one letter of recommendation from a conservator or instructor familiar with the applicant's work to:  whoffman@marinersmuseum.org

Stipend Position: $5,000.00

Application Deadline: January 1, 2020

For additional information please contact:

Will Hoffman
Director of Conservation & Chief Conservator
Batten Conservation Complex
The Mariners' Museum and Park
Newport News, Virginia 23606
(757) 591-7768
#job
#internship

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