Ten-Week Winter Internships with the Conservation Department of the National Museum of the American Indian, Cultural Resources Center, Suitland, MD.
January 9, 2006 * March 17, 2006


The National Museum of the American Indian (NMAI) is offering up to three internships in ethnographic artifact and textile conservation funded by the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation.  The Conservation Laboratory at NMAI's Cultural Resource Center in Suitland, MD (Metro DC area) is the work site.  The internship projects will focus primarily on the survey and treatment of artifacts for exhibits at NMAI's facilities in Washington, D.C. and New York City, loans and other on-going projects.  The internships are intended to cultivate practical skills as well as to foster a solid understanding of the contexts of material culture, the philosophies of conservation at NMAI, and the ethics of the conservation profession.  Museum programming involves collaboration with Native Peoples in the development of appropriate methods of care for, and interpretation of their cultural materials.

Candidates who demonstrate a career interest in the conservation of material culture of indigenous peoples of North, South and Central American will be especially welcome.  Recent graduates from and students currently enrolled in a conservation graduate program are encouraged to apply.

Applications, postmarked no later than October 10, 2005, must include:  a cover letter explaining the candidate's interests and intent in applying for the internship; curriculum vitae including basic biographical information with current and permanent addresses and telephone numbers; three letters of recommendation, two from professional/academic sources and one from a personal referee; and transcripts of undergraduate and graduate work (cumulative GPA of 3.0 or better is expected).

Notifications will be sent by October 24, 2005.  The 10-week internship includes a generous stipend.  Dates for the projects are January 9, 2006 * March 17, 2006.

NMAI is an equal opportunity employer.  All applications should be sent to:

Marian A. Kaminitz
National Museum of the American Indian/Smithsonian Institution
Cultural Resources Center, MRC 538
4220 Silver Hill Road
Suitland, MD  20746.

For more information please email: [log in to unmask]