Approximate hours per week: Up to 40 hours per week during Summer 2026; 20-24 hours per week during academic year ***This position is located on GW's Virginia Science and Technology Campus in Ashburn, VA, at the museums' Avenir Foundation Conservationand Collections Resource Center, with occasional work at the George Washington University Museum and Textile Museum in Foggy Bottom.
Position Information
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Position Title - Student Museum Assistant II Non-FWS
Level of Support - Student Support II
Position Type - Non-FWS
Number of Openings - 1
Work Hours - During Standard Business Hours (M-F 8am-5pm)
Wage Per Hour - 18.80
Division/School - GW Museums
Department Name - 100372 TEXTILE MUSEUM-COLLECTIONS MGMT
Department Bio - Located on GW's campus in downtown D.C., The George Washington University Museum and The Textile Museum celebrates art, history and world cultures. Public programs and exhibitions are inspired by diverse collections of global textiles and local history. Resources for students and scholars include the peer-reviewed The Textile Museum Journal, the Cotsen Textile Traces Study Center and the Albert H. Small Center for National Capital Area Studies.
Position Specific Summary - The Collections Photography Assistant will serve 2 primary functions: You will assist the collections management team with the physical object handling during active photography shoots. This will involve helping to position objects prior to photography, and removing objects from the photography space when photography is complete. This is very physical work that will require bending and squatting, and requires the ability to climb ladders and lift up to 40 lbs. The Collections Photography Assistant will be responsible for keeping track of which objects have been photographed by updating the Museum database and multiple spreadsheets. During the summer only: Outside of active photo shoots and pulling/putting away objects, you will work on ingesting the museum's collection photography files into its new digital asset management system, Terentia, following established guidelines and workflows. The student will work with staff to pull the objects before the shoots, assist in placing objects for photography for active shoot days, and then work in the DAMSon digital file management. Tasks will include: climbing ladders to retrieve and put away objects in storage, place objects on tables or easels for photography, safely handling objects, rehousing objects after they are photographed, updating the database and spreadsheets to denote what has been photographed, processing collection photography files, ingesting collection photography images into the digital asset management system, and performing quality control tests on photography files. Special projects or other
Standard Position Description - The student will assist with curatorial and exhibit-related operations in a Museum or Gallery. Tasks may include: preparation of exhibit installations and pieces, assisting with creation and planning of exhibitions, construction and design of exhibition spaces; handling, maintaining, and preserving art and other artifacts; and assisting in editing and formatting documents. Special projects or other duties may be assigned related to specific departmental needs.
Professional Outcomes - Critical Thinking, Teamwork, Professionalism, Technology and Data, Career Development
Required Qualifications - Some applicable educational, technical, or professional experience required, some training will be provided.
Preferred Qualifications - Current graduate student of museum studies or equivalent program Experience handling museum collections; experience handling textile collections or large museum objects is a plus Experience in collections databases and/or digital asset management systems is a plus Interest in photography is preferred
Required Documents