Florence B. Selden Fellow at Yale University Art Gallery

Job Title: Florence B. Selden Fellow

Location: New Haven, CT

Salary: $50,000 – $56,000

Description
Reporting to the Robert L. Solley Curator of Prints and Drawings at the Yale University Art Gallery, the Florence B. Selden Fellow will supervise the department’s active study room and act as the primary liaison between the department, Education, and faculty teaching from the collections of works on paper. They will also facilitate visits from community members and classes outside of Yale and work closely with fellows across the museum to access the paper collections. The Selden Fellow will conduct scholarly as well as provenance research to catalogue new acquisitions and the permanent collection, and interact with scholars, students, and the public on matters concerning the collection. The fellow will have the opportunity to propose acquisitions, conduct independent research, and assist with special exhibitions and rotations of the permanent collection. We welcome and encourage applications from individuals of all backgrounds and see this fellowship as hands-on preparation for potential curators of works on paper and related positions. 

Training: 

  • The fellow will work with both the curatorial and paper conservation teams and receive advanced training in the cataloguing of Western works on paper dating from the 15th century to the present. This training will include instruction on the use and identification of watermarks and collectors’ stamps.  
  • The fellow will receive training in the proper handling of works of art on paper and in connoisseurship.  
  • The fellow will receive extensive instruction in provenance research and in the proper compilation of an object’s bibliography.  
  • The fellow will work closely with classes and develop a teaching pedagogy for how to teach with objects.   
     

Mentoring: 

  • The fellow will receive instruction in the hosting of class and scholar visits to our active Duffy Study Room, which will be a principal part of the fellowship position.  
  • Intensive mentorship will be provided in the research, formation, and delivery of gallery talks and public presentations. 
  • Working closely with the department curators, the fellow will be introduced to all aspects of the preparation of exhibitions and rotations, from the selection of objects to the writing and editing of exhibition texts and wall labels. 
  • The fellow will receive encouragement and oversight on independent scholarly ventures, including the preparation of articles for publication.  
  • The fellow with assist in the management and training of the undergraduate interns.
  • The fellow will attend art fairs, meet with print publishers, and dealers, and be encouraged to propose acquisitions and learn about the market. 

This is a full-time one-year fellowship, with the possibility for renewal for a second year.

Salary range: $50,000-$56,000, commensurate with education and experience, and a competitive benefits package. For more information please see: https://postdocs.yale.edu/ 

How To Apply:
Interested and qualified candidates must include the following documents with their application: cover letter describing career goals and why this position is of particular interest; CV; graduate transcript; a writing sample done for an academic audience (maximum 2 pages), as well as one for the general audience (such as a label); names and contact information of three references (letters not necessary).  

Deadline for receipt of applications is March 15, 2025.

A copy of the application can be addressed directly to:  

Freyda Spira 

Robert L. Solley Curator of Prints and Drawings  

Yale University Art Gallery 

c/o Suzanne Greenawalt, Senior Museum Assistant: suzanne.greenawalt@yale.edu  

Yale University considers applicants for employment without regard to and does not discriminate based on an individual’s sex, race, color, religion, age, disability, status as a veteran, or national or ethnic origin; nor does Yale discriminate on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity or expression.

Apply via AAM

Requirements
Education and preferred experience: 

  • M.A. in Art History or related field.
  • Commitment to the field of graphic arts and to object-based teaching.
  • Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, and the ability to communicate with colleagues and the public in a knowledgeable and professional manner.
  • Museum and/or teaching experience.  
  • Familiarity with collections databases, preferably TMS (The Museum System), Teams, and Microsoft Office.
  • Ability to exercise discretion and to be a team player in an active office and museum environment.  
  • Working knowledge of at least one European language.
  • Well-developed research and written communication skills.  
  • Ability to lift 35 pounds.