Anticipated Start Date: ASAP

Estimated Pay: $15.00 per hour

Schedule: Flexible. 20 hours per week. Position ends on  09/01/25.

Location: Newark Campus

Internship in Chemical Engineering: Hydrogel Applications for Artwork Conservation

Project mentors: Dr Benjamin Thompson, Prof. Norman Wagner & Adjunct Professor, Matthew Lynch (P&G), Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Delaware

This paid internship provides an exciting opportunity to work on the development of novel hydrogel formulations and their applications in art conservation. It involves formulation and characterization of hydrogels and optimizing their conservation capabilities on historical artwork such as paintings. The position offers collaboration opportunities with experienced conservators and scientists at UD, where they will build on prior research in the field to address real-world challenges in art conservation. The intern will gain hands on experience of formulation science, rheometry, mechanical property testing and will evaluate gel performance of contaminant removal. The research is a joint effort between UD and Winterthur and has industrial links with Proctor and Gamble.

Key Responsibilities:

• Build Upon Pre-existing Conservation Techniques: Assist in enhancing the application of gels in conservation by evaluating and optimizing gel formulations for various surfaces and conditions.

• Quantify Mechanical Properties: Measure and record the mechanical properties of different gels, such as elasticity, strength, and adaptability, to determine which gels perform best under varying conservation scenarios.

• Evaluate Gel Performance in Contaminant Removal: Conduct experiments to assess which gels are most effective at removing dirt, grime, and degraded varnishes, while leaving minimal residues on the artwork’s surface. This includes developing standardized tests to rank order performance.

• Link Effectiveness to Mechanical Properties: Investigate the relationship between a gel’s mechanical properties and its effectiveness in conservation. Unlike previous qualitative studies, this internship emphasizes quantitative data collection on how properties change when gels are rehydrated or re-applied.

This internship is ideal for students interested in art conservation, chemistry, and materials science, offering hands-on experience in both technical and artistic aspects of art conservation. Participants will contribute valuable insights that bridge scientific research with practical art conservation methods to develop new and novel hydrogels for art conservation. 

Applicants must be undergraduate students at the University of Delaware. Work study eligibility can be found here. Applicants who are not enrolled as undergraduate students at the University will not be considered for this position. Employment Limitations and Exceptions