Research Associate
Location: Chicago, IL, USA
Contract type: Full-time (exempt)
Department: Painting and Sculpture of Europe
Salary: Dependent on experience
Date posted: March 11, 2026
Application Deadline: Not listed
Description
About the Art Institute of Chicago
The Art Institute of Chicago shares its singular collections with our city and the world. We collect, care for, and interpret works of art across time, cultures, geographies, and identities. We are a place of gathering and learning, committed to fostering an inclusive understanding of human creativity.
About the Department
The Department of Painting and Sculpture of Europe stewards a collection that comprises nearly 3,000 works of art dating from the 12th through the early 20th century, with a particular strength in Impressionism, which comprises some 600 paintings. The department strives to produce original scholarship and engage diverse audiences by contextualizing its collection within an expansive and evolving history of art.
Position Summary
Under the direction of the chair and curators, the research associate assists with research, writing, and content production for the departmental collections, exhibitions, gallery rotations, and reinstallations; conducts art historical and art market research; investigates ownership, publication, and exhibition histories for objects; prepares materials for advisory committee meetings; maintains and updates object database records; supports the departmental goals in publishing research about the collection online; and responds to research-related inquiries from scholars, peers, and the public.
Responsibilities
Research
Provides curatorial research support for the departmental collections, exhibitions, loans, acquisitions, and gifts; investigates ownership, publication, and exhibition histories for objects; produces labels and interpretive content, and exhibition-related materials; conducts art historical and art market research about and related to objects in the permanent collection, loans, and potential acquisitions; produces and ensures accuracy of information presented in the galleries, online, and in the departmental object files and records; and fields requests and inquiries from scholars, peers, and the public.
Curatorial support
Supports the curators in various capacities, both research and administrative. Updates museum database and object files with research findings; as needed, assists with metadata tagging in museum database; participates in the departmental efforts to publish all objects online with comprehensive information. Supports the research for and the preparation of materials for advisory committee meetings. Supports various aspects of developing and implementing exhibitions, rotations, reinstallations, and projects. Other duties as assigned.
Audience outreach
As needed, gives gallery tours and lectures on the departmental collections and exhibitions; and participates in scholarly symposia and conferences related to collection and exhibition research.
Qualifications
- Master’s degree or equivalent experience in art history or related subject required
- Minimum of two years of museum experience required
- Proficiency with Microsoft Office and Google suite required; ability to learn museum-specific collection database systems
- Knowledge of foreign languages as appropriate to areas of specialty preferred (Dutch, French, German, Italian, or Spanish)
- Familiarity with or specialization in departmental fields preferred
The successful candidate should:
- be highly detail-oriented and organized;
- demonstrate initiative;
- embrace the museum’s commitment to creating an inclusive and equitable institution;
- have an open-minded and collaborative approach to working and communicating with all colleagues across the museum;
- and have strong research, writing, communication, multitasking, project management, and organizational skills.
Physical Requirements
- Prolonged periods sitting at a desk and working on a computer; must be able to remain in a stationary position 90% of the time.
- Occasionally moves about inside the office to access file cabinets, office machinery, etc.
- Constantly operates a computer and other office productivity machinery, such as a copy machine and printer.
- Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, ability to adjust focus, and the ability to sustain prolonged visual concentration.
- Occasionally handles art.
Compensation & Benefits
Hiring Range
The expected hiring range is an estimated amount for positions based on the grade. Final offers are based on various factors, including skill set, experience, qualifications and other job-related reasons.
Benefits
PTO Overview
Job Classification: Full time exempt
Employment Category: Full time staff
Grade Level: 6
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Application Instructions
Please submit your resume and cover letter to be considered for this position.
Union
This position is part of a bargaining unit represented by AFSCME Council 31.
Accessibility
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