Third-Year Graduate Conservation Internship

The Carnegie Museum of Art Conservation Department is pleased to offer (2) year-long graduate internships to take place during the academic year of 2026-2027 in Objects and/or Preventive Conservation and Paintings Conservation. Interns will work under the supervision of the Senior Manager of Conservation and Paintings Conservator, respectively, and focus on research and treatment projects related to their area of specialization and professional interest. Along with treatments, the intern will participate in regular laboratory activities, written and photographic documentation and assessment of three-dimensional objects and paintings, and ongoing research activities.

Founded in 1895, Carnegie Museum of Art is the first museum in the United States dedicated to the collection and exhibition of contemporary art. The intern will work closely with their supervisor to tailor their internship experience to help achieve the intern's professional goals (for example, to fill in materials, technique, or knowledge gaps; to cultivate skills in research or publishing; or to develop comfort with presentation, social media, and public outreach). Given the interdisciplinary nature of modern and contemporary art conservation and research, the graduate intern will be encouraged to collaborate with colleagues at CMOA (registrars, curators, art handlers, and artists) and with conservation, science, collections, and research specialists within CMP's umbrella museums (Andy Warhol Museum, Carnegie Museum of Natural History, Kamin Science Center) and/or neighboring institutions. Internship start and end dates may be flexible depending on the applicant's academic program requirements. The museum will provide each intern with a stipend of $19,200. This opportunity requires US Work Authorization. 

Qualifications: Applicants must be currently enrolled in a recognized graduate art conservation training program and be eligible to work in the United States. Successful candidates must: have a strong understanding of conservation principles and practices; demonstrate the ability to examine, propose, and execute conservation treatments based on consideration of an object's aesthetic, historic, cultural, scientific and/or religious values; the ability to perform thorough written and photographic documentation of all examinations, analytical reports, and treatments with proficiency in English; and, preferably, possess a strong familiarity in digital-born documentation methods and database systems.

Position Title: Third-year Graduate Conservation Internship

Location: Carnegie Museum of Art,  Pittsburgh (Oakland), 4400 Forbes Ave, Pittsburgh PA, 15213 

Department: Conservation – Carnegie Museum of Art.  The department is currently seeking applications for (2) graduate student internships: one in Objects Conservation and one in Paintings Conservation

Internship Duration: September 2026 – August 2027

Internship Stipend: The Museum will provide a stipend to each intern in the amount of $19,200 USD.

Reports To: Senior Manager of Conservation and/or Painting Conservator

Application Deadline: Applications will close on Sunday, March 1, at 11:59 PM

To Apply: For more information, visit the Carnegie Museums Volunteer or Intern website

• Please complete an official Carnegie Museums application: https://form.jotform.com/250334385136151 
• Select Option #6: Third-year Graduate Conservation Internship - Objects, or Option #7: Graduate Conservation Internship - Paintings. Applicants may select up to two (2) options as first and second choices. 
• Attach a resume, cover letter, and optional letter of recommendation to your application before submitting the final version. 
• Interviews will begin in March, with offers intended to final candidates by April 2026.
• Handshake Job ID: 

Eligibility Requirements: 

• Must have US Work Authorization
• Candidates must be able to work onsite 37.5 hours per week
• The candidate must be enrolled in an accredited graduate conservation program specializing in objects, paintings, or preventive art conservation. 
• Candidates should demonstrate experience with conservation treatment, documentation, research, scientific analysis, housing, and handling of paintings and three-dimensional works of art. 
• During museum registration and onboarding, the final candidate must obtain Pennsylvania Act 153 clearances, including Pennsylvania Child Abuse History Clearance, Pennsylvania State Police criminal history report, and FBI fingerprinting clearance. 

Primary Functions:

The interns will be involved in all operations related to the examination, documentation, treatment, display, technical analysis, and conservation research of artwork at the CMOA. The intern will be a full member of the conservation team, participating in many other lab activities such as writing examination reports, assisting with exhibition installations and deinstallations, and maintenance of collections on display. One main conservation treatment will be chosen and tailored to the intern’s main areas of research. 

Skills to be Learned:

To wholly develop and implement a conservation treatment of a collection item while working in a cooperative art conservation laboratory.  The intern will also receive training on Axiell Emu collections management system and laboratory photo documentation software, and general gallery maintenance.  At the end of their internship, the intern will have the opportunity to deliver a presentation of their work to an invited audience of CMOA staff. 

Training Methods: 

Intern will work directly with Senior Manager of Conservation and/or Painting Conservator to develop treatment protocols and continued advisement during treatment. The intern will check in daily to their immediate supervisor each morning for direction or feedback.  

Internship Qualifications:

Candidates will be expected to have previous conservation-related experience either at a museum or in a private practice.  Candidates are required to have previous training in writing conservation conditions and treatment reports and object handling.  

Education and Experience:

Candidates should be presently enrolled in an Art Conservation Graduate program, with a discipline of painting, object, or preventive conservation.  

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

Candidates should be independent, intensely detail-oriented, and show a desire to learn and collaborate in a shared lab space.  Candidates should also be tidy and mindful of their workspace in relation to other members of the conservation lab and assist in the clean-up and maintenance of shared spaces. 

Physical Requirements:

Should be able to lift at least 25lbs. 

Principal Accountabilities:

• Getting familiar with the museum – 10% 
• Performing regular gallery maintenance and conducting examinations following guest interactions – 20%
• Performing and editing photographic and written documentation and research – 30%
• Performing Conservation treatment on collection items  under supervision of conservation staff – 40% 

Important Information: 

Carnegie Museums of Pittsburgh requires all incoming volunteers and interns to register with the Volunteer Office and complete the full suite of PA Act 153 clearances before starting a position with Carnegie Museums of Pittsburgh. This process will take place during official museum registration and onboarding facilitated by the Volunteer & Internship Office.