Inside Higher Ed
Mellon Curatorial Fellow on Oceania
Inside Higher Ed, Los Angeles, California, United States, 90079
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Mellon Curatorial Fellow on Oceania
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Inside Higher Ed
Position Summary The Fowler Museum at UCLA seeks a Mellon Curatorial Fellow to participate in a research project devoted to the museum's Oceanic art collections. Supported by a major grant from the Mellon Foundation, the project focuses on Oceanic objects from the Sir Henry Wellcome Collection donated to the Fowler between 1965-1967. The Fellow will work alongside key Fowler staff including the Director, Senior Curator of African Arts, Director of Collections Management, Head Conservator, and Curatorial Affairs Manager. The goal is to document and understand the full complexity of these objects from perspectives of role, meaning, materiality, provenance, and cultural affiliation. Over thirty-three months, the Fellow will conduct in‑depth research, robust cataloguing, travel, and community consultations, ultimately producing comprehensive biographies for each object and deepening understanding of cultural patrimony and source communities.
Responsibilities
Conduct in‑depth research on a selected group of Oceanic objects from the Wellcome Collection.
Catalog each object comprehensively, recording past attributions, cultural affiliations, collection history, and material analysis.
Coordinate and compile relevant sources on objects’ histories, both within the museum and in broader cultural tradition.
Perform research travel and community consultations as necessary.
Produce scholarly biographies and reports that contextualize objects within museum collections and source communities.
Work collaboratively with registrarial, conservation, and curatorial staff.
Report to the Senior Curator of African Arts and Manager of Curatorial Affairs.
Qualifications
At least one year of curatorial experience or equivalent academic accomplishment (Required).
Substantial knowledge of Oceanic Arts, especially historical arts in museum collections (Required).
Ability to work with registrarial, conservation, and curatorial staff at a museum (Required).
Ability to collaborate and work effectively with staff, interns, and stakeholder constituencies (Required).
Ability to work productively with international colleagues (Required).
Experience researching physical libraries, archives, and online sources (Preferred).
Knowledge of museum standards for collections security and management (Required).
Experience with collections management software (Preferred).
Familiarity with contemporary conservation techniques and practices (Preferred).
Excellent administrative, analytical, research, and communication skills (Preferred).
Ability to work independently with general supervision (Required).
Education & Credentials
PhD in the humanities, preferably art history, with a specialization in Oceanic studies (Preferred).
Salary & Compensation UCLA provides a full pay range based on experience, education, and other factors. Benefits start on day one and include comprehensive UC benefits and total compensation package estimates.
Special Conditions for Employment
Background Check: Successful completion is required for continued employment.
Live Scan Background Check must be completed prior to start.
CANRA: Mandatory reporter; employee must sign the “Statement Acknowledging Requirement to Report Child Abuse.”
Schedule 8:00 am – 5:00 pm
Union / Policy Covered RX‑Research Support Professionals
Complete Position Description: https://universityofcalifornia.marketpayjobs.com/ShowJob.aspx?EntityID=38&JDName=Museum%20Scientist%20Assistant%20(TBD_189585)
#J-18808-Ljbffr
Mellon Curatorial Fellow on Oceania
role at
Inside Higher Ed
Position Summary The Fowler Museum at UCLA seeks a Mellon Curatorial Fellow to participate in a research project devoted to the museum's Oceanic art collections. Supported by a major grant from the Mellon Foundation, the project focuses on Oceanic objects from the Sir Henry Wellcome Collection donated to the Fowler between 1965-1967. The Fellow will work alongside key Fowler staff including the Director, Senior Curator of African Arts, Director of Collections Management, Head Conservator, and Curatorial Affairs Manager. The goal is to document and understand the full complexity of these objects from perspectives of role, meaning, materiality, provenance, and cultural affiliation. Over thirty-three months, the Fellow will conduct in‑depth research, robust cataloguing, travel, and community consultations, ultimately producing comprehensive biographies for each object and deepening understanding of cultural patrimony and source communities.
Responsibilities
Conduct in‑depth research on a selected group of Oceanic objects from the Wellcome Collection.
Catalog each object comprehensively, recording past attributions, cultural affiliations, collection history, and material analysis.
Coordinate and compile relevant sources on objects’ histories, both within the museum and in broader cultural tradition.
Perform research travel and community consultations as necessary.
Produce scholarly biographies and reports that contextualize objects within museum collections and source communities.
Work collaboratively with registrarial, conservation, and curatorial staff.
Report to the Senior Curator of African Arts and Manager of Curatorial Affairs.
Qualifications
At least one year of curatorial experience or equivalent academic accomplishment (Required).
Substantial knowledge of Oceanic Arts, especially historical arts in museum collections (Required).
Ability to work with registrarial, conservation, and curatorial staff at a museum (Required).
Ability to collaborate and work effectively with staff, interns, and stakeholder constituencies (Required).
Ability to work productively with international colleagues (Required).
Experience researching physical libraries, archives, and online sources (Preferred).
Knowledge of museum standards for collections security and management (Required).
Experience with collections management software (Preferred).
Familiarity with contemporary conservation techniques and practices (Preferred).
Excellent administrative, analytical, research, and communication skills (Preferred).
Ability to work independently with general supervision (Required).
Education & Credentials
PhD in the humanities, preferably art history, with a specialization in Oceanic studies (Preferred).
Salary & Compensation UCLA provides a full pay range based on experience, education, and other factors. Benefits start on day one and include comprehensive UC benefits and total compensation package estimates.
Special Conditions for Employment
Background Check: Successful completion is required for continued employment.
Live Scan Background Check must be completed prior to start.
CANRA: Mandatory reporter; employee must sign the “Statement Acknowledging Requirement to Report Child Abuse.”
Schedule 8:00 am – 5:00 pm
Union / Policy Covered RX‑Research Support Professionals
Complete Position Description: https://universityofcalifornia.marketpayjobs.com/ShowJob.aspx?EntityID=38&JDName=Museum%20Scientist%20Assistant%20(TBD_189585)
#J-18808-Ljbffr