SCHOLARSHIPS - GRANTS

Understanding Traditional Masonry Mortars - Ph.D. Studentship

A fully funded Ph.D. studentship is available to undertake the above project (c.£12,600 p.a. plus fees), based at the University of the West of Scotland. This project is a co-funded collaboration between the University of the West of Scotland, the British Geological Survey and Historic Scotland.

The identification of the composition of the binder used in mortars in older masonry buildings and the specification of a compatible and authentic repair and replacement is, at present, a semi-quantitative process. Practical conservation of historic masonry buildings can demand authenticity as well as compatibility, which implies using like-for-like replacement materials derived from the original source where possible. There is, however, a paucity of research into the identification of the provenance of the raw materials used to produce the binder in old mortars, and how its mineralogy and texture are related to the performance of mortars.

In this project we will examine the complexities of the recognition, characterization and influence of the original limestone raw material on the historic production process and the final properties of the lime. This will be done using petrographic methods in combination with other mineralogical and chemical analyses (XRD, SEM, ICPMS) applied to historic mortars. A particular focus will be on the characterization of particles of remnant limestones and variably burnt lime, that record the original provenance of the limestone processed for lime for mortars.

This project aims to:

improve methodologies for the characterization of lime mortar and the identification of the limestone used in its creation
improve the analysis of historic mortars relevant to the specification of repair and replacement materials and deliver a clear mortar-property baseline with which to monitor change and evaluate repair measures in the future
develop a model for production and control of properties of binders from well constrained historic sources
understand how this contributes to archaeological and architectural historical research
understand the implications of changing environmental impacts on the assessment of the compatibility of repairs to mortars in traditional buildings

Applications are welcome from candidates with at least an upper second class degree in earth science, mineralogy, soil science, archaeology or allied disciplines. Further information and application guidelines can be obtained from Loraine Lawson (Loraine.Lawson@uws.ac.uk) at the University of the West of Scotland. Applicants may informally contact Dr. John Hughes (john.hughes@uws.ac.uk) for additional details.

Mid-Career Grant Program 2008

The James Marston Fitch Charitable Foundation will award a research grant up to $25,000 to mid-career professionals who have an advanced or professional degree and at least 10 years experience in historic preservation or related fields, including architecture, landscape architecture, architectural conservation, urban design, environmental planning, archaeology, architectural history, and the decorative arts.
Additional smaller grants, up to $10,000, are made at the discretion of the Trustees.

The grants are intended to support projects of innovative original research or creative design that advance the practice of historic preservation in the U.S. These grants may be partially supported through the generosity of the Kress Foundation. Please see our web site at www.fitchfoundation.org for details contact Erin Tobin, Executive Director, at info@fitchfoundation.org.

The deadline is September 19, 2008 (postmarked).

Getty Conservation Institute Guest Scholar Program

The Conservation Guest Scholar Program at the Getty Conservation Institute supports new ideas and perspectives in the field of conservation, with an emphasis on the visual arts (including sites, buildings, and objects) and the theoretical underpinnings of the field. The program provides an opportunity for professionals to pursue scholarly research in an interdisciplinary manner across traditional boundaries in areas of wide general interest to the international conservation community. These grants are for established conservators, scientists, and professionals who have attained distinction in conservation and allied fields. Applications are welcome from researchers of all nationalities. Completed application materials for the 2009 - 2010 scholar year must received in the Getty Foundation office on or before November 1, 2008.

Application materials and full terms of the GCI scholar program can be found on the Getty Foundation website. Application deadline: November 1, 2008.
http://www.getty.edu/grants/research/scholars/researchGCI.html

Postdoctoral Fellowship in Conservation Science

The Getty Conservation Institute's Postdoctoral Fellowship in Conservation Science is a two-year program designed to provide recent PhDs in chemistry or the physical sciences experience in conservation science. The 2009-2011 fellowship will give particular emphasis to the application of science to some of the conservation issues being posed by modern and contemporary art.

The postdoctoral fellow will play an integral role in the GCI's expanding area of Contemporary Art Research that works in collaboration with several external partners to address some of the pressing issues in this field. Existing projects include: modern paints; outdoor painted sculpture, contemporary murals, and plastics, and for each of these areas methods are being developed to improve analysis, and to better understand the how these materials will change with age and/or conservation treatments. Depending on the experience and expertise of the fellow, he/she may propose to work on one of the existing areas of interest, or to initiate a new project that addresses other areas of concern with modern and contemporary art.

Application materials and full terms of the GCI postdoctoral program can be found on the Getty Foundation website. Application deadline: November 1, 2008.
http://www.getty.edu/grants/research/scholars/Research_GCIPostdoc.html

Graduate Internships at the Conservation Institute

Graduate Internships at the Getty support full-time positions for students who intend to pursue careers in fields related to the visual arts. The Getty Conservation Institute offers 12 month residences in Field Projects, Education and Science. Graduate internships at the Getty are open to applicants of all nationalities. Students must either be currently enrolled in a graduate program leading to an advanced degree in a field relevant to the internship(s) for which they are applying or have completed a relevant graduate degree in 2006 or later. Completed application materials for the 2009 -2010 Graduate internship program must be received in the Getty Foundation office on or before December 15, 2008.