Postdoctoral Curatorial Fellowship

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The Metropolitan Museum of Art – Andrew W. Mellon Postdoctoral Curatorial Fellowship

Application deadline: Thursday, October 15, 2026, 5 pm ET
Position type: Full-time, Temporary (2-year fellowship: September 1, 2027 – August 31, 2029)
Salary: $66,300 annual salary, plus $6,000 travel stipend (reimbursement-based)
Eligibility: PhD received within the last five years, with specialization in Islamic Art or European Sculpture and Decorative Arts
Work permit / citizenship: Non-US citizens are eligible if they can obtain valid work authorization. The Met may sponsor J-1 visas; F-1 holders may use CPT/OPT.

About the Fellowship

This two-year fellowship offers early-career postdoctoral scholars curatorial training and experience at The Met. Fellows work with a curatorial supervisor on a project related to the collection or an upcoming exhibition, while also pursuing an independent project. Two fellowships are available: one in Islamic Art and one in European Sculpture and Decorative Arts.

Islamic Art Fellowship

Focuses on The Met’s collection of Mughal and later Indian textiles and carpets, many of which will feature in the 2027 exhibition Jahangir: Emperor, Connoisseur, Naturalist of Mughal India, 1605–27. The fellow will conduct object-based research, contribute to cataloguing, assist with gallery installations, and participate in digital humanities projects.

Requirements: PhD in Mughal or Persian art history; knowledge of Indo-Persian textiles; Persian and Devanagari reading skills; experience with connoisseurship.

European Sculpture and Decorative Arts Fellowship

Focuses on original scholarly and provenance research across the department’s collection of over 60,000 objects. The fellow will receive training in provenance research under the Director of Provenance Research, documenting findings in TMS and investigating ownership histories, particularly from 1933–1945.

Requirements: PhD; demonstrated ability in original research and cataloguing of decorative arts and sculpture; excellent writing skills; familiarity with TMS preferred.

Key Responsibilities (both fellowships):

Conduct original object-based and/or provenance research
Document findings in The Met’s collections management system
Assist with exhibition planning, label writing, and gallery installations
Contribute to digital platforms and public-facing projects
Participate in the broader Fellowship Program and annual fellow presentations

What the Post Offers:

$66,300 annual salary plus $6,000 travel stipend
Health and dental benefits
Mentorship from Met curators and access to world-class collections and resources
Engagement with an international community of scholars

This call has been edited for formatting purposes. Please visit the link below to apply.