Candidate Chemistry for Conservation and Art

Are you a creative chemistry researcher who enjoys working in a very interdisciplinary environment to support the conservation of oil paintings? The Chemistry for Conservation and Art team at the Van ‘t Hoff Institute for Molecular Sciences has a vacant PhD position in the PREPARE project. The aim is to develop physical model systems to monitor the effects of indoor climate conditions on the stability of paintings.

The goal of preventive conservation

Oil paintings slowly change as a consequence of internal chemical processes and interactions with their environment. Sometimes, these changes have undesirable effects, like mechanical damage or an altered appearance. The goal of preventive conservation is to minimize the undesirable material changes in cultural heritage objects like paintings, for instance by carefully controlling the temperature, humidity, and pollutants in the environment. In this project, you will work on a new approach to evaluate the effects of indoor climate conditions by using highly responsive physical models of the materials in a painting as a type of dosimeter.

This PhD project was funded by the Dutch Research Council (NWO) in the call ‘An Integrated Approach to the Scientific Study and Conservation of Art – Tracing change’, in the context of the Netherlands Institute for Conservation, Art, Science (NICAS). The project team also includes experts from the Rijkmuseum, the Cultural Heritage Agency of the Netherlands (RCE), and Stichting Restauratie Atelier Limburg (SRAL).

What are you going to do

You will develop physical models of the materials in a typical Dutch oil painting (canvas, ground layers, paint layers, and conservation materials like wax-resin linings), designed and chemically altered to be highly responsive to indoor climate conditions. The aging behavior of these models will be validated in the lab using artificial aging, spectroscopy, and mechanical testing, and they will be monitored in-situ in real uncontrolled indoor climates in historical buildings.

Tasks and responsibilities:

• design, prepare, test and modify physical material models for oil paintings;
• characterize the chemical and mechanical properties of the model materials as a function of aging;
• support the development of on-site low-tech monitoring tools for both model materials and real paintings;
• communicate and coordinate with fellow project team members;
• present your research in scientific publications and at (inter)national conferences;
• complete a PhD thesis within the official appointment duration of four years.

To support you throughout your PhD, you will meet regularly with your supervisor, both individually and with other group members. You will take courses on how to successfully navigate a PhD, and additional optional courses for personal development are available (see benefits).

What do you have to offer?

You are a strongly motivated researcher, taking the lead to organize experiments and set up collaborations with other experts. You can work independently but know when to ask for help. You have the ability to find creative solutions for experimental problems and evaluate your results with a large dose of scrutiny. You have, or have the ability to gain, a deep knowledge of the chemistry of materials in painted artworks. You are able to communicate with clarity to people with various levels of understanding of your work.

Your experience and profile:

• a recent MSc degree in chemistry, chemical engineering or related field. Candidates with a degree in conservation science will also be considered if they can demonstrate a solid foundation in chemistry and spectroscopy;
• excellent written and oral communication skills in English;
• practical experience with one or more chemical analytical techniques;
• a desire to work on applied research questions with societal impact.

Our offer

We offer a temporary contract for 38 hours per week for the duration of 4 years (the initial contract will be for a period of 18 months and after satisfactory evaluation it will be extended for a total duration of 4 years). The preferred starting date is as soon as possible. This should lead to a dissertation (PhD thesis). We will draft an educational plan that includes attendance of courses and (international) meetings. We also expect you to assist in teaching undergraduates and master students.

Besides the salary and a vibrant and challenging environment at Science Park we offer you multiple fringe benefits:

• 232 holiday hours per year (based on fulltime) and extra holidays between Christmas and 1 January;
• multiple courses to follow from our Teaching and Learning Centre;
• a complete educational program for PhD students;
• multiple courses on topics such as time management, handling stress and an online learning platform with 100+ different courses;
• 7 weeks birth leave (partner leave) with 100% salary;
• partly paid parental leave;
• the possibility to set up a workplace at home;
• a pension at ABP for which UvA pays two-thirds part of the contribution;
• the possibility to follow courses to learn Dutch;
• help with housing for a studio or small apartment when you’re moving from abroad.

Where you will work

The Chemistry for Conservation and Art team at HIMS spans the four research themes. They focus on the investigation of change mechanisms, kinetics and transport processes in cultural heritage materials using various types of spectroscopy, chemical analysis, and tailored design of model systems. The PREPARE project is led by principal investigator dr Joen Hermans, and will be executed in collaboration with experts from the Rijkmuseum, the Cultural Heritage Agency of the Netherlands (RCE), and Stichting Restauratie Atelier Limburg (SRAL).

The Van ‘t Hoff Institute for Molecular Sciences (HIMS) is one of eight institutes of the University of Amsterdam (UvA) Faculty of Science. HIMS performs internationally recognized chemistry and molecular research, curiosity-driven as well as application-driven. This is done in close cooperation with the chemical, flavor & food, medical and high-tech industries. Research is organized into four themes: Analytical Chemistry, Computational Chemistry, Synthesis & Catalysis and Molecular Photonics.

The Faculty of Science has a student body of around 8,000, as well as 1,800 members of staff working in education, research or support services. Researchers and students at the Faculty of Science are fascinated by every aspect of how the world works, be it elementary particles, the birth of the universe or the functioning of the brain.

Do you recognize yourself in the job profile? Then we look forward to receiving your application by 1 January 2025.

Applications in a single .pdf file should include:

• a cover letter of at most 1 page that explains your motivation to apply for this position and highlights the parts of your CV that make you suited for the position;
• a detailed CV including a grade list of university courses taken;
• a selection of approximately three pages of scientific writing in English, such as your master’s thesis or a project report.

We will invite potential candidates for interviews within 3 weeks after the closing date.

A knowledge security check can be part of the selection procedure (for details: national knowledge security guidelines).

Do you have any questions or do you require additional information? Please contact:

• Dr. Joen Hermans, Assistant Professor Conservation Science
• j.j.hermans@uva.nl