JULIA CAVANAUGH
Greenville,NC
Summary
Driven undergraduate student with field, lab, and museum experience in artifact conservation, collections care, and cultural heritage preservation. Strong background in laboratory practices, archaeological field methods, curatorial research, and public engagement. Seeking graduate study in art conservation to further develop skills in preservation, restoration, and scientific analysis of cultural materials.
Overview
3
3
years of professional experience
Work History
Ancient Art Curatorial Intern
North Carolina Museum of Art
Raleigh, USA
05.2025 - Current
- Conduct provenance research and cataloged objects in the Ancient Art collection.
- Assist in curating exhibitions by researching and selecting artworks.
- Collaborate with curators and registrars to assess acquisition documentation, exhibition history, and legal ownership of key artifacts.
- Support departmental initiatives in ethical collecting, repatriation research, and long-term collection care.
Intern
Queen Anne's Revenge Conservation Lab
Greenville, USA
01.2025 - Current
- Support the conservation of shipwreck artifacts through hands-on cleaning, stabilization, and documentation.
- Record data for long-term storage and archival purposes using digital cataloging tools.
- Participate in public outreach events and educational programming focused on maritime heritage and conservation.
Independent Researcher
East Carolina University
Greenville, USA
01.2025 - Current
- Conduct original research under faculty mentorship on the authenticity of Early Bronze Age Cycladic harp figurines.
- Investigate the ethics of museum acquisition practices and provenance gaps in Cycladic artifacts held by major institutions.
- Analyze stylistic and technical features to evaluate claims of forgery.
- Prepare research for presentation at an academic conference in Fall 2025.
Historical Archaeology Field School
East Carolina University
Bath, USA
06.2024 - 07.2024
- Conducted site mapping, excavation, and artifact analysis at a colonial site.
- Used GPS, total station, and traditional field methods to record archaeological features.
- Processed finds for laboratory analysis and contributed to excavation reports.
Research Assistant, Department of Anthropology
East Carolina University
Greenville, USA
09.2022 - 05.2024
- Supported archival and field research on the historical African American cemetery in Ayden, NC.
- Conducted historical research using public records and genealogical data to help identify individuals buried at the site.
- Contributed to heritage preservation efforts and community outreach related to African American history in Eastern North Carolina.
Education
Bachelor of Arts - Anthropology
East Carolina University
Greenville, NC05.2026
Bachelor of Arts - Psychology
East Carolina University
Greenville, NC05.2026
Skills
- Artifact handling, preservation, and documentation
- Digital cataloging
- Provenance research
- Academic Writing
- Collaborative research
- Museum curation
- Excavation
- Site mapping
- R programming
- Imaging tools
- Public outreach
Accomplishments
- Undergraduate Research and Creative Activity Award
- Brinkley-Lane Scholar – ECU’s top undergraduate scholarship recognizing leadership, research, and academic excellence
Languages
Spanish
Professional
References
References available upon request.
Timeline
Ancient Art Curatorial Intern
North Carolina Museum of Art
05.2025 - Current
Intern
Queen Anne's Revenge Conservation Lab
01.2025 - Current
Independent Researcher
East Carolina University
01.2025 - Current
Historical Archaeology Field School
East Carolina University
06.2024 - 07.2024
Research Assistant, Department of Anthropology
East Carolina University
09.2022 - 05.2024
Bachelor of Arts - Anthropology
East Carolina University
Bachelor of Arts - Psychology
East Carolina University
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