Assistant Scientist (Built Heritage Research Initiative) at The J. Paul Getty Trust – Los Angeles, California

Assistant Scientist (Built Heritage Research Initiative)

US-CA-Los Angeles

Job ID: 2025-4680
Type: LT Full-Time
# of Openings: 1
Category: Scientific and Conservation
Getty

Overview

We are looking for an Assistant Scientist to fill a two-year, limited-term position, providing research and analytical support in the Getty Conservation Institute’s Science Department. Your work will be part of the Built Heritage Research Initiative, a multi-project initiative aiming at improving the understanding of built heritage materials and their response to weathering and developing novel approaches for their preservation. You will be an integral member of the team, helping us broaden our expertise on traditional and innovative methods for investigating critical material properties, assessing the efficacy and durability of conservation treatments, and monitoring changes due to natural and accelerated weathering, integrating laboratory and field-based techniques.

This job will be based in our laboratories and offices at the Getty Center in Los Angeles. It will begin on-site full-time, and the opportunity to request a telework schedule may be available after an initial period of training and orientation, which will be discussed and approved by your supervisor. Typically, staff with approved telework schedules at the Getty Conservation Institute are in the office more than half of the time.

Mission

The Getty Conservation Institute (GCI) works internationally to advance conservation practice in the visual arts—objects, collections, architecture, and sites. The Institute serves the conservation community through scientific research, education and training, field projects, and disseminating information. In all our endeavors, we create and deliver knowledge that contributes to the conservation of the world's cultural heritage.

Responsibilities

You will contribute to the Stone Conservation and Learning from Nature projects, improving current methods and developing innovative strategies for damage assessment and monitoring as part of our work on accelerated aging of porous substrates (stone, plasters) via salt crystallization, and field exposure trials to investigate the durability of earthen materials and conservation treatments. Conduct research and provide analytical support to the Built Heritage Research Initiative team’s efforts to:

• Explore multi-scale methods for damage assessment due to accelerated and natural weathering of built heritage materials (stone, plasters, earthen substrates).
• Improving existing methodologies based on photographic and photogrammetric approaches for detecting damage onset and monitoring damage evolution in laboratory and field conditions.
• Investigate laboratory approaches based on 3D microscopy for early-stage detection of deterioration patterns and the integration with other non-destructive or minimally invasive methods (including, but not limited to, ultrasonic testing, DRMS).
• Develop simplified, practice-oriented protocols for effective transfer of damage assessment and monitoring methods to the conservation community.
• Prioritize workload, prepare samples, identify and apply appropriate instrumental techniques available at the GCI, collect/organize/manage/interpret data, create reports, and perform literature reviews.
• Contribute to setting up and conducting laboratory accelerated aging protocols and field exposure programs, applying and adapting standard protocols, and developing new ones.
• Assist with developing characterization and monitoring strategies for the long-term assessment of conservation treatments of built heritage surfaces in real-world conditions.
• Present research findings at professional conferences and contribute to publishing papers in peer-reviewed journals.
• As part of the Built Heritage Research Initiative team, you will develop short- and medium-term project goals and contribute to establishing strategic priorities.
• Additionally, professional development is encouraged and supported through on-the-job training, attendance at specialized training courses, and participation in professional meetings and workshops.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in material science, geology, or other natural science, architecture, engineering, or conservation is required; Master’s degree preferred.
• 1-3 years of experience in scientific research, preferably in the field of cultural heritage conservation.