Assistant Professor (Tenure-Track)
Art Conservation Department
University of Delaware
Beginning September 1, 2016
The Department of Art Conservation at the University of Delaware invites applications for a tenure-track position in art conservation at the assistant professor level beginning September 1, 2016. The department prefers scholars focusing on the History and Technology of Art Materials, whose work speaks to historical as well as contemporary art. In addition to pursuing a research agenda, the appointee will be expected to enhance the department’s course offerings in the history and technology of art methods, and documentation and examination of artifacts, and play an active role in advising both undergraduate and graduate students. The successful candidate will join a department of five full-time UD faculty members with extensive records of scholarship and public outreach in addition to 15 teaching conservators and scientists at Winterthur Museum.
This position is crucial to advancing the Department’s and College’s long-term commitment to excellence for education and training of undergraduates, Master’s-level, and doctoral students in conservation and preservation. The candidate must demonstrate an especially strong commitment to undergraduate teaching and mentoring. We especially want to encourage individuals to apply who are willing to contribute to the interdisciplinary dialogue between conservators, scientists, art historians, and living artists and other disciplines found on campus. Active research projects with the potential for involving undergraduate students would be crucial to this position. The successful candidate will ideally contribute to the current need to provide artists with a resource that can provide accessible, accurate, and current information about available artist’s materials, their composition, appropriate uses, aging properties, and safety in use. The campus is especially interested in candidates who can contribute to the diversity and excellence of the academic community through their research, teaching and/or service.
Founded in 1743, the University of Delaware is one of the nation’s oldest institutions of higher education and combines tradition and innovation. Our long-standing partnership with the Winterthur Museum allows for unparalleled opportunities for our faculty and students. Also, the Winterthur Program in American Material Culture and the University of Delaware’s Center for Material Culture Studies, Department of Art, and Department of Art History also enhance the opportunities for interdisciplinary teaching and research.
Responsibilities will include:
- Regularly teach undergraduate courses on the history and technology of art materials and technical art history.
- Teach non-destructive examination techniques, alone or as part of a team, for the first- year, master’s- level courses, Conservation Principles 1 & 2
- Conduct research on artists’ techniques (this could include living artists or Old Master techniques and materials), or other related topics. Publications online or in print are to be encouraged.
- Provide guidance in research and independent study projects to undergraduate and graduate students.
- Advise undergraduate students on degree completion and professional practice and help to arrange practical internships.
- Serve on departmental, college, and university committees.
- Collaborate with faculty and staff across campus, including in the departments of Art History, Art, and Chemistry, and Biochemistry, as well as within regional/national cultural institutions.
- Provide consultation to contemporary artists on their choices in materials and techniques in order to maximize long-term preservation of their works;
- Represent the department in professional organizations, both local and national, and other responsibilities as assigned by the Department Chair.
The successful candidate will have a Master’s degree in Art Conservation, and teaching experience at the college level is required. The candidate should demonstrate a strong interest in teaching and research in addition to excellent communication and collaborative skills. The ideal applicant will be a generalist in historical art materials and techniques and be able to work with materials across disciplines and historical artifact categories. The successful candidate should possess experience conducting research on historical artist’s materials and a demonstrated record of scholarship and publication.
Please visit our website at www.udel.edu and the Art Conservation department website at http://www.artcons.udel.edu/. The University of Delaware is an Equal Opportunity Employer and encourages applications from minority group members and women.
The appointment will begin on September 1, 2016. Applicants should visit www.udel.edu/udjobs and read “Applicant Instructions” under the “Resources for Applicants” tab before submitting their applications. Applicants are asked to create and upload a single document that includes a cover letter and a c.v. Please also arrange for each of your three recommenders to be upload their letters to the online application system . Review of applications will begin upon receipt, with a deadline of October 30, 2015.