Project Assistant for the Poison Book Project – University of Delaware and Winterthur Museum, Garden & Library
Listing Start Date: August 18, 2025Expires: September 8, 2025n
The Poison Book Project, an interdisciplinary research initiative with a strong public outreach focus led by the University of Delaware and Winterthur Museum, Garden & Library, seeks two part-time, hourly assistants to join the project team for the 2025-2026 academic year. This position is open to graduate students at the University of Delaware and will be based on site at Winterthur, with occasional remote work.
The Poison Book Project investigates potentially toxic pigments used in mass-produced, Victorian-era bookbindings and explores safer storage and handling guidelines for librarians, rare book dealers, and book collectors. The Poison Book Project maintains a website with an “Arsenical Books Database” that inventories Victorian-era bookbindings containing arsenic in the form of emerald green pigment. The website also discusses other heavy metals identified in bookbindings, such as chromium, lead, and mercury, and shares health and safety recommendations based on project-generated data. The website is a living document and important resource which is regularly refreshed and updated as new research unfolds. An emerald green color swatch bookmark, intended as a visual identification aid and public outreach tool, is available on request through the website. For the upcoming academic year, the project will partner with the University of Delaware’s Democratizing Access to Research Software Engineering (DARSE) initiative, leveraging computational tools to advance bibliotoxicological research and public outreach.
Winterthur/University of Delaware will provide all necessary training, personal protective equipment, and other resources required for the position. Project Assistants must provide their own transportation to/from Winterthur. This position is generously funded by the Nadia Sophie Seiler Fund.
Position details
- Time commitment is 9 hours per week on site at Winterthur (with occasional remote work possible)
- Schedule is flexible but requires primary availability Monday through Friday, between 8 am and 5 pm
- Compensation is $27.50/hour
- Position will begin in September 2025 and continue through May 2026
- Up to $2000 in professional development funding is available for each project assistant to attend regional or national conferences in conservation, archives, or library science
Primary responsibilities will be divided between the two assistants. These include:
- Supervise undergraduate bookmark mailing coordinator to ensure accurate records
- Manage and respond to requests for information and other email correspondence from colleagues and the public through the dedicated project email address
- Collect and report website metrics to support public engagement tracking
- Assist with scientific data collection and report writing for local partner institutions
- Maintain and regularly update the Poison Book Project website
- Draft and implement a data management plan to support ongoing research and data sharing
- Collaborate with the DARSE team to optimize data handling and digital outputs
- Support planning for a future University of Delaware course on Hazardous Heritage
- Research and document potential funding sources for long-term data-sharing initiatives
- Lead social media efforts for the project
- Write a blog post for the Department of Art Conservation website about participation in the project
Skills needed:
- Strong written and oral communication skills
- Strong time management skills
- Capacity to maintain focus when engaged in repetitive tasks
- Experience with WordPress preferred
- Preference will be given to candidates with a demonstrated interest in and commitment to libraries, material culture, and public outreach
To apply:
Submit a cover letter and CV to Dr. Melissa Tedone and Dr. Rosie Grayburn at poisonbookproject@udel.edu. Applications received by September 8, 2024, will receive first consideration.