Photographed up-close, from three-quarter view, a piece of silver scientific equipment shines a precise bulls-eye light on a painting of blue irises.

Scientific Research

The Department of Scientific Research comprises a team of scientists specialized in the study of works of art. Scientists collaborate with curators and conservators throughout the Museum to investigate the material aspects of works of art in The Met collection, and work with designers, registrars, collection managers, and other behind-the-scenes staff to guarantee the long-term safety of the collection. The Department also pursues innovative research in analytic techniques, preventive conservation, and treatment methodologies.

In addition to their collaborative work at the Museum, department staff have created a series of partnerships with academic researchers, including scientists at City College, University of Delaware, NYU, The University of Bordeaux, and Columbia, and scientists and conservators from other leading museums' research facilities.

With a staff of fifteen and laboratories equipped for electron microscopy, Raman and infrared spectroscopy, mass spectrometry, and imaging x-ray fluorescence spectroscopy, among other techniques, the Department of Scientific Research is one of the most advanced facilities in the world for cultural heritage science.

See a list of our equipment

Scientific Research Fellowships
If you’d like to become part of our community, join The Met’s Fellowship Program in Scientific Research and Conservation. We accept applications from recent master’s graduates, PhD candidates, postdoctoral scholars, and senior scientists and researchers. To learn more about the department’s primary areas of research interest, visit our Fellows page. Read more about The Met’s Fellowship Program or email academic.programs@metmuseum.org

Internships
Read more about The Met’s internships

Open Positions
Stay tuned for upcoming open positions.

Research Highlights

Our Work

Research Projects Detail of a paintings of iris flowers in a white ceramic pitcher against a white backdrop and mint green table-top. The overall image of the painting is composed of several different bands that image the painting through different scientific methods to reveal various qualities of the painting. The scientific imagery is black-and-white sometimes resembles an x-ray.

Detail of a paintings of iris flowers in a white ceramic pitcher against a white backdrop and mint green table-top. The overall image of the painting is composed of several different bands that image the painting through different scientific methods to reveal various qualities of the painting. The scientific imagery is black-and-white sometimes resembles an x-ray.

Research Projects

Explore the department's research activities through featured project abstracts.

Collaborations Research Groups A group of scientists gather around a painting laying flat on a table under a microscope. One person looks at the painting through the microscope lens while three others look out towards what's probably a computer monitor.