Conservation Research

The Conservation Office actively pursues research interests related to the collection, preservation, study, and exhibition of Native American objects. Conservators often collaborate with NMAI colleagues as well as conservation professionals from other museums and institutions. Ongoing research focuses on:

Testing and evaluating materials for storage, packing, exhibition casework, and mounts
Identifying hazardous materials in NMAI's collections and developing mitigation strategies
Providing material analysis on items related to NMAI's collections
Identifying new technologies for preservation and treatment of collections
Developing strategies for training conservation students that incorporate collaborative approaches to conservation.

Conservation fellows conduct or participate in a research project or serve as an assistant to the conservation staff liaison for an exhibition during their time at the museum.

Andrew W. Mellon Postgraduate Fellows

2019–2021
Morgan Burgess
Lauren Osmond

2018–2020
Lisa Imamura
Kathleen Martin

2017–2019
Leah Bright
Elizabeth Knight

2015–2017
Anna Keruzec
Diana Gabler

2014–2016
Caitlin Mahony
Kate Blair

2013–2015
Cathleen Zaret
Fran Ritchie

2012–2014
Rebecca Summerour
Robin O’Hern

2011–2013
Peter Mc Elhinney
Sarah Owens

2010–2012
Angela Duckwall
Lauren Horelick

2009–2011
Ainslie Harrison
Luba Dovgan-Nurse

2008–2010
Anne Gunnison
Yoonjo Lee

2007–2009
Catalina Hernandez
Sarah McNett

2006–2008
Daniel Cull
Anne Kingery

2005–2007
Kim Cullen Cobb
Anna Hodson

2004–2006
Megan Emery
Anne Murray

2003–2004
Lauren Chang
Nicole Grabow
Lara Kaplan
Renata Peters
Rebecca Snyder

2002–2003
Alyssa Becker
Hélène Delaunay
Farideh Fekrsanati
Hugh Shockey

2001–2002
Jenifer Bosworth
Lauren Chang
Esther Chao
Mika Takami

2000–2001
Dominique Cocuzza
Ellen Carrlee
Ulla Zenz

1999–2000
Joanne Boyer
Sara Caspi
Monika Harter