Research Center Website
Sanchita Balachandran, Director
The Museum Conservation Institute (MCI) serves as the center for specialized technical collections research and conservation for all Smithsonian museums and collections. MCI combines knowledge of materials and the history of technology with state-of-the-art instrumentation and scientific techniques to provide technical research studies and interpretation of artistic, anthropological, biological, and historical objects and collections. MCI responds to the threats of environmental instabilities to cultural heritage in multiple and complex ways, including researching material degradation mechanisms, setting scientifically-based storage and display conditions, and developing and using less-invasive and less-damaging materials, instrumentation, and procedures for collection conservation.
Priority research areas include:
Proteomics— gathering more information on the origin and condition of collections, cultural objects, and biological specimens from their protein materials
Modern museum and industrial materials—understanding the sustainability of modern materials to improve their preservation and conservation
Imaging and nanotechnology—bringing new spectroscopic imaging and nanotechnologies to bear on collections to further understanding of composition, deterioration, and preservation
Historical technical studies—protecting cultural heritage threatened or impacted by disasters and to help U.S. and international communities preserve their identities and history.
MCI laboratories, located in the Museum Support Center in Suitland, MD., are equipped with advanced analytical instrumentation including: a variety of mass spectrometers to analyze protein structure and function, stable isotope mass spectrometry, inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry, Fourier-transform infrared spectrometry, Fourier-transform Raman spectrometry, dispersive Raman spectrometry, gas chromatography, gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive spectrometry, X-ray fluorescence, X-radiography, ultraviolet-visible light spectrophotometry, 3-D microscopy, and 3-D color scanning documentation (Science Research & Technical Studies | Museum Conservation Institute (si.edu).
Internships may be available for conservation or science students at various levels of accomplishment, including recent graduates of academic training institutions. Postdoctoral fellowships may become available for research in collaboration with MCI staff on projects in our priority research areas. For further details on these opportunities and application procedures, please see the introduction to this book.
Research Staff
Ballard, Mary W., Senior Textiles Conservator. B.A. (1971) Wellesley College; M.A. and Diploma in Conservation (1979) Institute of Fine Arts, New York University. Research specialties: Textile preservation and technical studies, particularly the light fading of dyes on fabrics; textile cleaning methods; and the biodeterioration of textiles. Contact: BallardM@si.edu
Brogdon-Grantham, Shannon A., Photograph and Paper Conservator. B.A. (2009) Spelman College, M.S. (2015) University of Delaware. Research specialties: Preservation and conservation of photographs and paper-based collections materials. Contact: brogdon-granthams@si.edu
Cleland, Timothy P., Research Physical Scientist. B.S. (2007) Colorado State University; Ph.D. (2012) North Carolina State University. Research specialties: Proteomics of extant, historical, and fossil bone and tissue; characterization and quantification of proteinaceous material in museum collections; characterization of intact proteins by mass spectrometry; proteomic sample preparation. Contact: clelandtp@si.edu
France, Christine A., Physical Scientist. B.S. (2001) University of Maryland; M.S. (2004) North Carolina State University; Ph.D. (2008) University of Maryland. Research specialties: stable isotopic applications to paleontology, archeology, and ancient environments; diagenesis of fossil remains. Contact: FranceC@si.edu
Hanson, Katharyn, Head of Research at the Smithsonian's Cultural Rescue Initiative and Smithsonian Secretary Scholar. Ph.D. (2012) University of Chicago. Research specialties: Combining archaeology, remote sensing technologies, and cultural heritage protection methodology and policy with on-the-ground action to protect culture. Contact: HansonK@si.edu.
Johnson, Jessica S., Head of Conservation. B.A. (1978) University of Kansas; M.A. (1986) University of Arizona; B.Sc. (1990) University College London, Institute of Archaeology. Research specialties: Archaeological and ethnographic conservation; conservation and development. Contact: JohnsonJS@si.edu
Kavich, Gwenaelle, Conservation Scientist. BSc. Chemistry (2002) Nottingham Trent University, U.K.; Ph.D. (2006) University of Pisa, Italy. Research specialties: Technical studies and scientific multidisciplinary characterization of materials and their degradation products from painting and other artifacts of the cultural heritage. Contact: KavichGM@si.edu
Lam, Thomas, Physical Scientist. B.S. (2004) Alfred University; M.S. (2007) Alfred University; Ph.D. (2011) Alfred University. Research specialties: Materials characterization on cultural heritage materials: scanning electron microscopy energy dispersive spectroscopy (SEM-EDS), cathodoluminescence (CL), X-ray fluorescence (XRF), and microfadeometry (MFT). Contact: LamT@si.edu
Newsome, G. Asher, Research Physical Scientist. B.S. (2005) University of Georgia; M.S. (2007) University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill; Ph.D. (2009) University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. Research specialties: Biomolecular mass spectrometry; ambient mass spectrometry (direct analysis in real time and desorption electrospray ionization; applications for surfaces, coatings, residues, ink, paint, metabolites, and chemical adulterants. Contact: newsomeg@si.edu
Rogala, Dawn V., Paintings Conservator. B.F.A. (1989) Boston University; M.A./C.A.S. (2006) Buffalo State College/State University of New York; Ph.D. (2014) University of Delaware. Research specialties: Technical study of paintings and paint materials from all periods, with a particular interest in modern and contemporary artworks. The analysis, documentation, and study of modern artists’ materials. Artist materials archives. Contact: RogalaD@si.edu
Vicenzi, Edward P., Research Scientist. B.Sc. (1982) McGill University; M.S. (1985) University of Oregon; Ph.D. (1991) Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. Research specialties: Advanced chemical microanalysis of museum specimens. Contact: VicenziE@si.edu
Webb, E. Keats, Digital Imaging Specialist B.F.A. (2007), University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill; MRes (2015) University College London. Research specialties: Scientific and computational imaging to support conservation and research of cultural heritage materials. Techniques include spectral imaging (IR, UV, multispectral and hyperspectral), reflectance transformation imaging (RTI), 3D imaging (white light scanning and photogrammetry), and digital s-radiography. Contact: WebbEKeats@si.edu