Postdoctoral Researcher in Preservation Science

Rochester Institute of Technology

Rochester, NY

ID: 7112645
Posted: October 5, 2022
Application Deadline: Open Until Filled

Job Description

Job Summary

The Image Permanence Institute (IPI) in the College of Art and Design (CAD) at the Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) is pleased to announce its search for a Postdoctoral Researcher in Preservation Science. This 30-month postdoctoral position offers the opportunity to gain experience of applied materials characterization and data analytics within the cultural heritage field. The appointed researcher will conduct research using advanced thermo-mechanical analytical techniques and data analytics to quantify the impact of changing environments on the mechanical properties of plastic composites, with a view to identifying safe storage, display and handling conditions for historic plastics. This research forms the core of a three-year Institute of Museum and Library Services National Leadership Grant designed to interrogate the relationship between temperature, equilibrium relative humidity, equilibrium moisture content and the mechanical properties of a range of plastics commonly housed in museum collections. The results will inform guidelines for sustainable preservation environmental management for plastics and plastic composite artifacts.

We welcome applications from fields outside of cultural heritage, but will look favorably on candidates demonstrating a strong interest in the preservation of cultural heritage.

Job Responsibilities

Responsibilities:
Independently conducts research to include, but not limited to: constructing hypotheses, design and planning of research studies, data management, model development, conducting experiments or assessments, analysis and interpretation of research results, and evaluation of research techniques.
Collaborates with internal and external stakeholders.
Disseminates and publishes research results in peer-reviewed journals, reports, meetings, workshops, and conferences.
Contributes to the writing of grant proposals.
Undertakes research on aligned projects as required.
Maintains analytical tools as needed throughout the project.
Documents novel methods and operating procedures.
May assist in teaching classes.
May mentor and assist undergraduate and/or graduate students
May assist in managing research laboratories.
Other duties as assigned.
The ideal candidate will live our values, embrace diverse perspectives, and nurture the RIT community to remain a great place to work for all.

*Typical functions are intended to represent the type of tasks and levels of work difficulty required and should not be construed as a comprehensive list of the specific duties and responsibilities of any particular position. Supervisors retain discretion to assign or modify work tasks as needed based on specific job requirements.

Required Qualifications

Ph.D. or equivalent terminal degree in physical chemistry, material science, experimental mechanics, analytical chemistry, physics or related disciplines.
Demonstrates expertise in thermal and/or mechanical analysis of organic materials, such as dynamic mechanical analysis, differential scanning calorimetry, tensile and compression testing or digital image correlation.
Experience in computer programming using a high-level language such as MATLAB, Python etc.
Demonstrates the ability to plan and execute research.
Knowledge of applicable research methods and analytical procedures.
Knowledge of publishing/reporting requirements.
Excellent teamwork and communication skills.
Demonstrates potential for original or collaborative scholarship.
Scientific writing skills demonstrated through peer-reviewed publications.
Ability to acquire accurate, reproducible data.
Critical eye towards consistency, reproducibility, and the scientific method in general.
Excellent project and time management skills.
Strong interpersonal and mentoring skills.
Advocate for safety and ethics in the workplace.
Ability to communicate findings to varied audiences and work effectively within cross-disciplinary teams.

Preferred Qualifications

Experience of data and/or image processing
Experience of multivariate analysis