Studio Assistant/Archivist for Michal Ronnen Safdie, Safdie Architects (Cambridge, MA)
Posted January 6, 2026
The Studio Assistant/Archivist for Mrs. Safdie will assist in organizing, cataloging, and maintaining her personal and professional photographic collection. The collection includes both digital and physical photography assets including slides, negatives, contact sheets, printed photographs, catalogs, and publications. The Studio Assistant/Archivist will provide support to Mrs. Safdie on a part-time basis, averaging 15 hours per week.
Summary of duties & responsibilities
- Work with Mrs. Safdie to create and implement an organized system for her physical and digital photographic archives with the goal of gaining both physical and intellectual control over the collection.
- Perform an initial collection assessment and create a comprehensive inventory.
- Apply consistent metadata, naming conventions, and taxonomy standards to ensure assets are discoverable and searchable.
- Assist with weeding, de-duplication, and light preservation.
- Monitor external and cloud-based storage devices and provide direction on data transfer to updated devices.
- Maintain an inventory of exhibition materials, photographs, and publications.
- Manage the digitization of VHS and cassette tapes, slides, and contact sheet creation.
- Assist Mrs. Safdie in creating special projects such as digital albums, specialized collections, physical albums and photo compilations.
Required skills and qualifications
- Strong understanding of metadata, taxonomy, and archival best practices. Experience with collection organization and/or a MSLS with a concentration in archives and records management preferred.
- Experience working with a range of photographic materials, including knowledge of careful handling and light preservation.
- Proficiency in photography software such as Lightroom and Photoshop and digital asset management platforms, i.e. Apple Photos, and visual literacy and a creative sensibility for photo composition and editing.
- Excellent organizational, communication, and project management skills
- Can work independently and proactively, with the ability to prioritize multiple concurrent initiatives and with an acute sense of detail.
Salary
$22-25/hour
How to Apply
Qualified candidates should submit a cover letter outlining their interest in the position and resume to [email protected], subject line should read “Studio Assistant/Archivist”. Applications due by January 22, 2026
Location:
In-person, Cambridge, Massachusetts