As part of the Science Space “Provenance and Collection Research Digital” (ProSaDi) in which researchers at universities and museums in Oldenburg, Hanover, Lüneburg, Göttingen and Bremerhaven cooperate, 10 research assistant positions will be advertised over the funding period of a total of 4 years. The project, which is funded by the State of Lower Saxony and the Volkswagen Foundation with around 3 million euros, is under the direction of the University of Oldenburg.

The University of Oldenburg, the Faculty IV Humanities and Social Sciences, the Institute of History, Dep. of Early Modern History, is seeking to fill a position from 1 November 2024 in the Science Space "Provenance and Collection Research Digital" as a

Research assistant (m/f/d)
(pay grade 13 TV-L)

with 75% of regular working hours (currently 29.85 hours/week)

for a limited period of 4 years. The possibility to write a PhD thesis is given.

The Science Space combines provenance and collection research with epistemological and applied research in order, firstly, to develop IT and AI-supported methods that museums and other institutions can use to digitally process and visualise information about their collections; and, secondly, to research the production of knowledge about collection items in the societies of origin, in German museums, but also in the digital space, together with international partners. One of the central questions is how to deal with uncertain data and knowledge. The research area is made up of several coordinated sub-projects.

The position to be filled here is concerned with the historical and cultural analysis of kauri objects and their variety of meanings, changes and contexts of use (e.g. as a means of payment, jewellery, grave goods or bride price) across space and time between approx. 1700 and 1900. The project is embedded in the transdisciplinary research contexts of the Science Space and will be in close exchange with scientists from the so-called societies of origin. The sub-project is headed by Professor Dr Dagmar Freist, director of the academy project Prize Papers, spokesperson of the joint project DiViAS and spokesperson of the joint Science Space ProSaDi.

The post holder will work with the Kauri collection at the Landesmuseum Natur und Mensch in Oldenburg and the collection data at the Niedersächsisches Landesarchiv in Oldenburg, supplemented by relevant European and non-European sources on attributions of meaning and contexts of use. The source base meets the requirements for AI-supported contextualising analyses, which are being developed in cooperation with the Chair of Computer Science with a focus on data analysis at the Jade University of Applied Sciences Oldenburg (Prof. Dr. Sascha Koch) and the Chair of Cartography and Geoinformatics at the Leibniz University of Hanover (Prof. Dr. Monika Sester). The position offers the opportunity for further scientific qualification.

Recruitment requirements:

• Completed academic university degree (Master's) in history, or the humanities, social sciences, cultural studies or museum studies, ideally with a specialisation in the history of European expansion and colonialism
• Palaeographic skills (manuscripts of the 18th century), or the willingness to acquire these
• Willingness to collaborate across disciplines
• Strong communication and teamwork skills
• Ability to work independently
• Good knowledge of written and spoken English

Desirable are:

• Knowledge of historical collections and archives and their digital provision
• Knowledge of quantitative and qualitative methods of historical research
• Good knowledge of other modern foreign languages

You will work in a transdisciplinary team of scientists who combine museum, historical and cultural studies with artificial intelligence (AI), geoinformatics and three-dimensional measurement technology to develop digitally supported methods for recording and analysing collection items. The place of employment and the place of work is Oldenburg. There will be the possibility of up to 30% mobile work.

The University of Oldenburg is dedicated to increase the percentage of female employees in the field of science. Therefore, female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply. In accordance to § 21 Section 3 NHG, female candidates with equal qualifications will be preferentially considered.

Applicants with disabilities will be given preference in case of equal qualification.

Please send a letter of application together with all supporting documents (CV, copies of relevant qualifications related to the above-mentioned tasks and recruitment requirements, and a list of publications/academic achievements under the keyword: "Provenance and Collection Research Digital," by 31 August 2024 by email geschichte@uol.de (please send a PDF) Carl von Ossietzky University Oldenburg, Institute of History, Prof. Dr. Dagmar Freist, 26111 Oldenburg.