Research and Development Fellowship

Institution: Museum of Modern Art (MoMA)
Deadline: 16 January 2026 (5:00 pm EST)
Location: New York, NY, United States
Department: Research & Development (Curatorial)
Contract: Fellowship, fixed-term
Duration: 2 years (March 2026 – March 2028)
Working hours: Full-time
Salary: $54,000 per annum + benefits
Reports to: Director, Research & Development

The Research and Development Fellow supports the work of MoMA’s Research & Development (R&D) department, which connects the Museum’s mission with broader cultural and social issues. The department’s primary platform is the MoMA R&D Salons, a series of public programmes examining the Museum’s role as an R&D centre for society.

Working closely with the Director of R&D, the Fellow contributes to the development and implementation of departmental initiatives through research, content development, programme coordination, and cross-departmental collaboration. The role also supports the planning and delivery of public programmes and maintains the department’s digital presence.

Key Responsibilities

• Support the development of themes, research frameworks, and content for the MoMA R&D Salons and related initiatives
• Conduct research on relevant topics, individuals, organisations, and technologies, tracking trends across arts, culture, and technology
• Coordinate speaker and video maker engagement, including planning, execution, and follow-up
• Maintain databases of potential speakers and contributors
• Draft and edit programme materials, internal briefs, and digital content
• Coordinate scheduling, AV and technical needs, rehearsals, documentation, and on-site event flow
• Arrange travel, accommodation, and hospitality as required
• Act as liaison with curatorial departments and teams including IT, Marketing and Communications, External Affairs, and Membership
• Identify opportunities to integrate R&D content across exhibitions, programmes, and digital platforms
• Maintain and update the R&D website and publishing schedules
• Document programme activities and assist with reports and presentations
• Provide administrative coordination, including scheduling, budgeting, correspondence, and payment processing

Requirements

Applicants must have:

• A Master’s degree in communications, journalism, design criticism, arts administration, arts management, or a related field
• Strong research, writing, and editing skills
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
• Familiarity with contemporary media and digital publishing tools
• Experience with public programme production (AV and technical workflows preferred)
• Strong organisational and multitasking skills
• Proficiency in Google Workspace, Microsoft Office, Mac Keynote, and basic Adobe Creative Suite
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively across departments
• Availability to work occasional evenings and weekends