Sarah M James PhD student Telephone : +41 32 718 24 75 sarah.james[at]unine.ch

Education

2019-2022: PhD student at the University of Neuchâtel, Switzerland

2015-2017: Master in Conservation Practice (Awarded Merit overall), Cardiff University, Cardiff, Wales, UK

2009-2013: Bachelor in Art History with a Museum Studies Concentration Minors in Archaeology and Classical Studies, Millsaps College, Jackson, MS USA

Professional Experience

2019-2022: PhD thesis at "Laboratoire des Technologies pour les Matériaux du Patrimoine" (LATHEMA), Université de Neuchâtel (Switzerland) – Prof. Edith Joseph; “The development and optimization of biotechnological approach to cultural iron stabilization”

2019: Assistant Objects Conservator, Irmo, SC USA; Primary role is the assessment, handling, and treatment of three-dimensional art objects, artifacts, ephemera and other objects covering a wide range of material compositions with a specific focus on damages caused by fire, flood or other disasters. Secondary role is to assist in the handling and treatment of paintings, frames, and works of art on paper as deemed necessary by the lead conservator.

2018: Conservator, Winston Salem, NC USA; Conservation and research of a pair of Charles Lannuier side chairs originally owned by James Bosley of Baltimore, currently part of a private collection. Work conducted in collaboration with Martin O’Brien, cabinetmaker and furniture conservator.

2017: Conservation Technician, Llandaff, Wales UK; Subcontract conservation work with Coe Stone Ltd. of cathedral wall interiors (Medieval and Victorian) composed primarily of a bath stone, mortar, and lime plaster mixtures. This scaffold-based conservation work dealt with primarily stone cleaning, polticing, mortar repair, and pinning of damaged or deteriorating cathedral architecture.

2017: Conservation Assistant, Brecon, Wales UK; Subcontract conservation work with Cath Lloyd Conservation, treating social history collection including furniture and agricultural tools of various material compositions, such as wood, leather, various metal alloys, and poster pieces. Additionally, the Welsh Funded Special project included the continued conservation and stabilization of a medieval door within the collection involving the removal of past damaging coatings and treatment of corroding iron facets.