Summary

Conservators and scientists work in close collaboration with curators to study, preserve, and conserve works of art across The Met collection. The Met is home to a world-renowned network of conservation facilities, designed to meet the complex needs of its holdings. The Museum welcomes fellowship applications from junior and senior conservators and scientists to pursue advanced training and independent research projects.

Fellows are paired with a supervisor or primary contact within their host department to guide them as they navigate our extensive resources. Fellows have access to The Met collection, staff, libraries, research facilities, labs, and the time and space needed to complete their manuscripts, doctoral dissertations, scholarly articles, conservation training, research experiments, and other pursuits.

Key Details

Compensation: $53,000 stipend (junior fellows); $63,000 (senior fellows); + $6,000 travel stipend

Term: September 1, 2027–August 31, 2028

Schedule: FT

Deadline: November 12, 2026 (5 PM ET)

Eligibility

• MA graduates, PhD candidates, postdoctoral scholars, and senior scientists and researchers are eligible to apply. Applicants for junior fellowships must have an MA in-hand by the start of the fellowship program (September 1, 2026), and will be asked to verify completion of their degree before beginning the fellowship.
• Junior fellows are those applicants who have recently completed graduate-level training, such as a master’s degree, or who are currently pursuing a PhD. Applicants who receive their PhD after the submission deadline are not eligible for the senior fellowship.
• Senior fellows are well-established professionals with at least eight years of experience in the field with a proven publication record, or those who already hold a PhD by the application deadline date.
• Individuals who are neither US citizens nor permanent residents are eligible to apply for The Met Fellowship Program, provided that they have or are able to obtain valid work authorization under applicable US visa regulations. If you are an international student, fellow, or worker currently in the US on a visa sponsored by another entity (e.g. a university, another museum, or employer), we strongly encourage you to speak to your university’s foreign student office or visa sponsor before applying. If you are currently in the US on an F-1 visa sponsored by a US college or university, you may request CPT or OPT from your school to participate in the Fellowship Program. Please contact your university’s foreign student office prior to applying.
• If you are not currently in the US, The Met may be able to sponsor successful applicants as part of the J-1 Exchange Visitor Program, if they are eligible. Please note that the J-1 Exchange Program has specific regulations about repeat participation in the program; if you currently hold or have held a J-1 visa in the past, we strongly encourage you to visit the BridgeUSA website (j1visa.state.gov) and your current sponsor’s visa office to determine your eligibility to apply for another J-1 visa. Please note that The Met does not reimburse or cover costs incurred during the visa application process.

About

The Met presents over 5,000 years of art from around the world for everyone to experience and enjoy. The Museum lives in two iconic sites in New York City—The Met Fifth Avenue and The Met Cloisters. Millions of people also take part in The Met experience online.

Since its founding in 1870, The Met has always aspired to be more than a treasury of rare and beautiful objects. We are committed to fostering a collaborative and respectful work environment with a staff as diverse as the audiences we engage. Our staff members are art lovers who are passionate about working toward a common goal: creating the most dynamic and inspiring art museum in the world.

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Tagged as: Conservation