With an endowment from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, the National Gallery of Art is offering a fellowship in the paper conservation department. The three-year fellowship will commence in September of 2025 and include a yearly stipend of $53,000 plus health benefits and $3,000 each year for travel and research. Fellows will receive transit benefits towards their commuting costs to and from the Gallery.

Working under the guidance of the Gallery’s conservators and scientists, the fellow will focus on two aspects:  treatment of the collection and a self-selected research project that culminates in a publishable paper. The fellow will have the opportunity to collaborate with conservators, scientists and curators. They will also have access to the Gallery’s collections and to advanced analytical instrumentation available in the scientific research department. Lectures, symposia, and informal discussions at the National Gallery of Art contribute to the fellowship program.    

Eligibility

Candidates should be graduates from a recognized master’s program in conservation or have equivalent training. They should have no more than five years of work experience after graduation and a proven record of research and writing ability. Candidates must possess English language skills.

Application Procedure:

Interested candidates must submit the following materials in English:

• Transcripts of both undergraduate and graduate courses of academic study (unofficial copies are acceptable)

• A curriculum vitae including basic biographical information and current and permanent addresses, telephone number, and a description of previous conservation experience and internships

• A statement of interest and intent (no more than two single-spaced pages) of the candidate’s in applying for the fellowship

• Offprints/Reprints in PDF format of publications and lectures

• Two letters of recommendation from conservation professionals familiar with the candidate’s work and one letter of personal reference (emailed directly to the address below)

File naming convention for submissions:

Last Name_First Name_Document type (e.g., Transcripts)_Date (Year-Month-Day)

Formal applications and supporting materials must be submitted in PDF format by email to cl@nga.gov and arrive at the National Gallery no later than January 17, 2025. Applicants will be notified of the decision by the end of February 2025.

The fellowship may begin on or after September 22, 2025 and will end September 29, 2028.