Research Associate, Scientific Research [End Dated]

About the Metropolitan Museum of Art

The Met presents over 5,000 years of art from around the world for everyone to experience and enjoy. The Museum lives in two iconic sites in New York City—The Met Fifth Avenue and The Met Cloisters. Millions of people also take part in The Met experience online.

Since its founding in 1870, The Met has always aspired to be more than a treasury of rare and beautiful objects. We are committed to fostering a collaborative and respectful work environment with a staff as diverse as the audiences we engage. Our staff members are art lovers who are passionate about working toward a common goal: creating the most dynamic and inspiring art museum in the world.

At The Met, every staff member – from security officers to researchers to scientists and beyond – lives by our core values of respect, inclusivity, collaboration, excellence, and integrity. 

Respect: Engage one another with collegiality, empathy, and kindness, always.

Inclusivity: Ensure that all are and feel welcome and valued.

Collaboration: Reach across boundaries to exchange ideas and work together toward our shared mission.

Excellence: Lead the cultural world in quality and expertise—and inspire curiosity and creativity.

Integrity: Hold ourselves to the highest moral standards, admit when we fall short, and then evolve. 

GENERAL STATEMENT OF RESPONSIBILITIES & DUTIES:

As the Research Associate, you will conduct research using advanced analytical scientific instruments, techniques and literature to identify and quantify reactive volatile components in collections related materials. You will develop benchmarking material testing methods used in the cultural heritage field for the display, transport and storage of collections. Under the supervision of the Environmental Research Scientist, you will collaborate with internal and external colleagues in the documentation, research, and publication of the project.

This is a position with an established end-date or time frame. Time frames will begin upon hire: 1 Year

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES & DUTIES:

• Establish methods and protocols for identifying and quantifying the reactive volatile components of commercial products using analytical tools at the Met and, when necessary, local universities.

• Collaborate with Germany’s BAM institute to interpret BEMMA test results on materials.

• Determine the concentration of a subset of the reactive chemicals present in each product and subject those chemicals to Oddy or paper-testing.

• Establish the levels of corrosion or tarnish produced by the materials and relate the chemicals and their concentrations to the limits for the three levels of degradation commonly used in the Oddy test (permanent, temporary, or unsuitable).

• Utilize electrochemical stripping tools and methodologies to quantify the degree of metal corrosion on copper, silver, and lead coupons.  Correlate degree of corrosion with chemical concentration.

• Utilize surface analysis tools including x-ray diffraction, Raman and infrared spectroscopy, and scanning electron microscopy to identify the phase of corrosion observed on copper, silver, and lead coupons.  Correlate phase of corrosion with chemical reactants.

• Establish benchmarking chemical solutions and provide solutions to at least 10 other institutions or individuals that also conduct materials testing using the Oddy test.

• Coordinate a local materials testing conference focused on disseminating research results and advances in material testing for cultural heritage.

• Collaborate with PCSL staff, research assistant, and steering committee throughout project.

• Maintain analytical tools as needed throughout project.

• Document novel methods and operating procedures.

• Prepare manuscripts for publication in peer reviewed scientific journals.

• Prepare and present results at national and/or international conferences.

• Document and share results on the AIC’s Materials Testing wiki site, developing a benchmarking page for the site in collaboration with contracted web developer.

• Other duties as assigned

REQUIREMENTS & QUALIFICATIONS:

• Ph.D. in analytical chemistry, materials science, related disciplines, or equivalent experience.

• 1-3 years of experience in quantification of volatile unknowns, air quality testing, or chromatography-based testing and analysis.

• Demonstrated expertise in advanced liquid or gas chromatography and mass spectrometry techniques such as GC/MS, HPLC, or ion chromatography (required).

• Exper