MUSEUM CONSERVATION INSTITUTE

Robert J. Koestler, Director

The Museum Conservation Institute (MCI) serves as the center for specialized technical collections research and conservation for all Smithsonian museums and collections. MCI staff collaborates with and serves as a resource for in-depth studies of art, anthropological, and historical objects using state-of-the-art, analytical techniques to elucidate their provenance, composition, and cultural context. Such technical studies require the latest instrumentation, analytical expertise, art historical knowledge and interpretive abilities, all of which are available through MCI.

MCI also provides specialized knowledge to assist the Smithsonian in assessing current storage practices and possible new storage solutions and in remediation of pesticide contamination, among other projects.

Priority areas include:

Collaborative technical studies. MCI emphasizes applied research on art, anthropological, and historical objects to provide context for curators, art historians, and conservators.

Collections conservation. MCI is a center for conservation, conservation research, and exhibition support for all SI collections.

MCI laboratories, located in the Museum Support Center in Suitland, Md., are equipped with advanced analytical instrumentation including: inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry, Fourier transform infrared spectrometry, Fourier transform Raman spectrometry, gas chromatography, gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive spectrometry, xeroradiography, micro-X-ray diffraction, X-ray fluorescence, X-ray radiography, ultraviolet-visible light spectrophotometry, and 3D color scanning documentation.

Internships may be available for conservation students at various levels of accomplishment, including recent graduates of the academic training institutions.

Postdoctoral fellowships are available for research in collaboration with MCI staff on projects of archaeological, anthropological, and art historical importance. For further details on these opportunities and application procedures, please see the introduction to this book.

RESEARCH STAFF

BALLARD, Mary W., Senior Textiles Conservator. B.A. (1971) Wellesley College; M.A. and Diploma in Conservation (1979) Institute of Fine Arts, New York University. Research specialties: Textile preservation and technical studies, particularly the light fading of dyes on fabrics; textile cleaning methods; and the biodeterioration of textiles.

BEAUBIEN, Harriet F. (Rae), Senior Objects Conservator. B.A. (1972) Beloit College; M.A. (1976) University of Chicago; Diploma in Conservation (1986) Institute of Fine Arts, New York University. Research specialties: Archaeological materials; field conservation issues.

DEPRIEST, Paula T., Deputy Director. B.A. (1978) Union University; M.S. (1983) University of Tennessee; Ph.D. (1992) Duke University. Research specialties: Systematics and evolution of lichens, coevolution of lichen-forming fungi and algae, lichen flora of northern Mongolia, traditional uses of lichens and plants by the reindeer herding Dukha.

GRISSOM, Carol A., Senior Objects Conservator. B.A. (1970) Wellesley College; M.A. (1974) Oberlin College. Research specialties: Sculpture in bronze, stone, zinc, plaster, and wood.

MECKLENBURG, Marion F., Senior Research Scientist. B.S.C.E. (1970); M.S. (1972), Ph.D. (1984) University of Maryland, College Park, MD. Research specialties: Mechanical properties of cultural materials and the effects of environmental factors such as temperature and moisture as they relate to collections preservation; computer modeling of museum objects under static and dynamic loadings.

SPEAKMAN, Robert (Jeff) J., Head of Technical Studies. A.A. (1995) Cochise College; B.A. (1996) Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff; M.A. (2002), Ph.D. Candidate (Current) University of Missouri, Columbia. Research specialties: Materials characterization studies of obsidian, pottery, and other cultural objects via neutron activation analysis, x-ray fluorescence and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry.

TSANG, Jia-Sun, Senior Paintings Conservator. M.S. (1974) Bowling Green State University; M.S. (1985) University of Delaware. Research specialties: Conservation of paintings on canvas, on wood, on metal, or on paper and including mixed media and murals.

WACHOWIAK JR., Melvin J., Senior Furniture Conservator. B.A. (1981) Springfield College; M.S. (1989) University of Delaware, Winterthur Museum, Art Conservation Program. Research specialties: Characterization and treatment of paint, varnish, and wooden objects including furniture; microscopy of coatings; wood technology.

WILLIAMS, Donald C., Senior Furniture Conservator. B.A. (1985) University of Delaware. Research specialties: Furniture finishes and colorants; preservation of materials used in the decorative arts.

AFFILIATED RESEARCH STAFF

BROSTOFF, Lynn, Analytical Chemist. Ph.D. (2003) University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands; M.S. (1994) University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH; Certificate in Conservation (1987) Institute of Fine Arts, New York University, NY, NY; M.A. (1986) Institute of Fine Arts, New York University, NY, NY; A.B. (1980) Vassar College, Poughkeepsie, NY. Research specialties: Conservation science; LA-ICP-MS; ICP-MS; XRD; XRF.

LITTLE, Nicole C., Physical Scientist. B.A. (2001), M.A. (2005) University of Missouri, Columbia. Research specialties: Chemical analysis of museum objects using inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry.

WATSON, Judy, Physical Scientist. BSc (2006) Bradford University, UK. Research specialties: Analysis of natural and anthropogenic glass by electron microprobe; WDS, EDS, SEM.

Introduction

Information for Applying to the Smithsonian Institution Fellowship Program, including the fields of research

Fellowship and Internship Opportunities

Research Assistance Programs

Smithsonian Research Staff and Affiliated Research Staff E-Mail Directory

Office of Research Training and Services Applications

• Smithsonian Institution Fellowship Program
• Smithsonian Institution Latino Studies Fellowship Program
• Smithsonian Institution Molecular Evolution Fellowship Program
• Minority Internship Program
• James E. Webb Internship Program
• Native American Awards Program