The Department of Conservation & Science of the Rijksmuseum (RM), the Master degree Program of Conservation & Restoration of the University of Amsterdam (UvA), together with the Cultural Heritage Agency of the Netherlands (RCE), are housed in the Atelier Building in the center of Amsterdam. In this building many research activities take place regarding the conservation, preservation, art historical, and material-technical aspects of works of art. The Atelier building is also the central location of the new multidisciplinary institute named NICAS (Netherlands Institute for Conservation, Art and Science), which aims cooperation with researchers of the RM, UvA, RCE and TU-Delft with affiliated scientists from all over the world, working together in projects that combine science, art history and conservation. The laboratories of the Atelier Building are equipped with a large variety of analytical instrumentation in order to unravel the composition, build-up and condition of works of art.

Function

The successful candidate will closely cooperate with all sub-departments within the department of Conservation & Science of the RM. (S)he will carry out different organic and chemical analyses in order to solve material technical conservation and research questions. Results will be used in the decision making process for object treatments, or for understanding the buildup and condition of varnish and paint layers. Main technique is pyrolysis gas chromatography mass spectrometry ((py-)GC-MS). Fourier - Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) and Ion-chromatography (IC) will be used at a lower frequency.

The successful candidate will help maintaining the two GC-MS machines under supervision of the GC-MS laboratory specialist of the RCE, (s)he will be fully responsible for the IC equipment of the Rijksmuseum, and provides support with running the laboratories. (S)he will be asked to be creative, accurate and innovative, to improve procedures and adapt techniques for the application in conservation, in order to gain high standard results. This position will have a close involvement in the research of scientists, conservators, (PhD-)students, postdocs, and you will work closely with other analysts and specialists in the Atelier Building.

• Bachelor or Master degree in analytical or organic chemistry (hbo or wo)
• Few years’ experience with GC-MS, and preferably also with IC and FTIR
• Technical skills; natural feeling for equipment, for maintaining hardware. Software ‘proof’
• Experience with working in a laboratory, responsible for safety
• Capable to work up and interpret analytical data independently, and to produce straight forward reports
• Accurate, innovative and creative, with a helpful attitude, curious
• Good command of the English language in word and writing
• A true interest to apply science to the field of cultural heritage
• The ability to work in a multidisciplinary team

The appointment will be for 32 hours a week, on a temporary basis for a period of 4.5 years. Based on a full-time appointment (36 hours per week) the gross monthly salary will be minimum € 2710 and maximum € 3547. The collective labour agreement (cao) for independent national museums applies.

Applying from outside the EU and EEA

Please note: when you are having a non-EU/EEA nationality, and do not hold a Dutch permanent residence permit, or a Dutch permit that allows you to work without a work permit, we can only consider your application when you are exactly meeting the requirements for a residence permit as a knowledge migrant (below 30 years) or as an orientation year highly educated persons. The requirements for these permits are specified on https://ind.nl/en/work/pages/looking-for-a-job-after-study-promotion-or-research.aspx andhttps://ind.nl/en/pages/income.aspx.