Conservation Scientist (M+ Museum)

M+ is a museum dedicated to collecting, exhibiting, and interpreting visual art, design and architecture, moving image, and Hong Kong visual culture of the twentieth and twenty-first centuries. Located in Hong Kong’s WestK, we are one of the leading museums of modern and contemporary visual culture in the world. The museum reflects our unique time and place, building on Hong Kong’s historic balance of the local and the international to define a distinctive and innovative voice for Asia’s twenty-first century.

Conservation Science at M+ plays a vital role in preserving and studying the museum’s collection, with a focus on twentieth- and twenty-first-century materials. The team supports conservation efforts through scientific analysis, materials research, and the development of conservation strategies that enhance the understanding, treatment, and long-term care of artworks and design objects.

Working closely with the Conservation, Curatorial, and Collections teams, Conservation Science contributes to technical studies, conservation treatments, and preventive care strategies. The team also plays a key role in evaluating and refining conservation methodologies, supporting the museum’s commitment to sustainable preservation practices.

M+ is seeking a Conservation Scientist to join the Conservation & Research team. T he successful candidate will conduct scientific analysis and materials research to support conservation treatments, technical studies, and preventive conservation efforts.

This role involves investigating the aging, deterioration, and stability of materials in the collection, collaborating with conservators to develop and assess conservation treatment methods, and contributing to sustainable conservation initiatives. The scientist will also maintain and operate analytical instruments, including Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray fluorescence (XRF), and Raman spectroscopy, while supporting research publications and exhibition-related projects.

This is a fixed-term contract position of 3-year with possibility for renewal subject to organisational needs and individual performance.)

You w ill b e r esponsible f or :

Developing and implementing scientific research priorities in collaboration with conservation and curatorial colleagues, focusing on the M+ collection ;

Conducting technical analysis and materials research to support conservation treatments, acquisitions, and preventive care ;

Ma intaining the operation and maintenance of the Conservation Science laboratory ;

Maintaining and operating scientific instrumentation, including FTIR, Raman, XRF, and other analytical tools ;

Ensuring X-ray license registration and regulatory compliance related to instrument use ;

Establishing policies and procedures for safe scientific analysis and sustainable conservation practices in coordination with preventive conservation ;

Supporting environmental monitoring of galleries and storage areas in collaboration with preventive conservation and museum operations ;

Managing the laboratory budget and coordinating service contracts for equipment maintenance ;

Leading and contributing to collaborative technical research projects with academic institutions and museum scientists ;

Publishing and presenting research findings in peer-reviewed journals, conferences, and museum programs ;

Communicating scientific findings to both professional and public audiences through reports, lectures, and digital content ;

Building and maintaining regional and international partnerships within the conservation science and museum communities ; and

Performing any other duties as directed by the Authority .

You should :

Possess a Ph.D. in chemistry, materials science, conservation science, or a related discipline. A Master’s degree in conservation with significant conservation science experience will also be considered ;

Have at least five years of experience in a museum, conservation science laboratory, or cultural heritage setting is preferred . Candidates with less experience may be considered for the position of Associate Conservation Scientist ;

Have e xperience with analytical techniques for identifying and characterizing cultural heritage materials, including microscopy, FTIR, Raman, and XRF spectroscopy ;

Have p roficienc y in operating and maintaining scientific instrumentation, such as XRF, FTIR, Raman, and microscopes. Experience with X-ray equipment and radiation safety is preferred ;

Have f amiliarity with modern and contemporary artists' materials and their degradation processes ;

Have strong organizational and project management skills, including laboratory management ;

A bility to communicate scientific findings effectively to conservators, curators, and non-technical audiences ;

Have e xperience in grant writing and budget management is a plus ; and

Be proficient in English (written and spoken); knowledge of Cantonese or Putonghua is an advantage.