Short Description:
As a humanistic, sustainable and action-oriented university, Leuphana University of Lüneburg stands for innovation in education and science. Methodological diversity, interdisciplinary cooperation, transdisciplinary cooperation with practice and an overall dynamic development characterise its research profile in the core topics of education, culture, management/technology, sustainability and state. Its international study model with the Leuphana College, the Leuphana Graduate School and the Leuphana Professional School is unique in Germany and has won many awards.
As part of the Digital Provenance and Collection Research Science Space (Wissenschaftsraum-Initiative), funded by the state of Lower Saxony and the Volkswagen Foundation with approximately 3 million euros across multiple locations, 10 research associate positions will be advertised over a 4-year funding period. At Leuphana University of Lüneburg, the Lichtenberg Professorship for Provenance Studies (Prof. Dr. Lynn Rother) within the School of Culture and Society seeks to fill two positions as a Research Associate (m/f/d)
(EG 13 TV-L, 100%, limited until 31 October 2028)
Scheduled to start in fall 2025 the positions are part of sub-project PAESE 3.0, which focuses on object and provenance data generated through the joint project Provenance Research in Ethnographic Collections in Lower Saxony (PAESE) 2018-2022. This data has been supplemented by research from other collections within Lower Saxony institutions. The project’s goal is to further develop this data regarding its potential applications for users, research questions, existing data infrastructures, and repositories, including the CCC portal (Collections from Colonial Contexts) of the German Digital Library.
The sub-project is co-directed by Prof. Dr. Lynn Rother, Lichtenberg Professor for Provenance Studies and Director of the Provenance Lab at Leuphana University Lüneburg, and Dr. Claudia Andratschke, Coordinator of the Provenance Research Network in Lower Saxony, provenance researcher, and Head of the Collections and Research Department at Landesmuseum Hannover.
Within the Science Space, PAESE data development is conducted in collaboration with two PhD positions: one at the Professorship of Computer Science with a focus on data analysis at Jade University of Applied Sciences Oldenburg (Prof. Dr. Sascha Koch), and another at the Professorship of Cartography and Geoinformatics at Leibniz University of Hanover (Prof. Dr. Monika Sester).
The responsibilities of the two positions include:
Data Development & Research:
- Enrich and contextualize PAESE data, focusing on legacy information and implicit knowledge related to cultural attribution and geographic changes over time
- Conduct requirement analysis for PAESE data development (addressing needs of scientific community, communities of origin, and other potential users)
Project Coordination:
- Provide scientific coordination of the sub-project (in consultation with sub-project leaders)
- Coordinate collaborations with partners within and outside the Science Space
- Manage and coordinate student assistants
- Prepare schedules, budgets, reports, and other deliverables for the sub-project
Outreach & Networking:
Network with national and international initiatives on colonial context collections (e.g., Colonial Provenances Working Group, Digitization Working Group of Arbeitskreis Provenienzforschung, Network Colonial Contexts, NFDI4Culture)
Conduct project-related public outreach through presentations at conferences and scientific publications
Develop best practice guidelines and science policy texts
Plan and execute project workshops
Eligibility:
Applicants are welcome from both humanities and informatics backgrounds:
Option A – Humanities:
- PhD (preferred) or MA in History, Anthropology, Art History, Sociology, or similar
- Experience with colonial collections and metadata standards (e.g., CIDOC-CRM)
Option B – Informatics:
- PhD, MA, or BA with relevant professional experience in Computer Science, Library/Data Science, or Digital Humanities
- Familiarity with cultural heritage informatics and metadata structures
Additional Requirements
- Experience in interdisciplinary collaboration
- Excellent English (spoken and written); French or other languages are an asset
- Independent and responsible working style
Program Benefits or Awards:
- Participation in an ambitious, international research environment
- Flexible working hours and pension scheme (VBL)
- Remote work options within Germany
- Access to university sports, health initiatives, and training opportunities
Entry Fee: none
Location: Germany, Lüneburg
Deadline: 3 August 2025
Website link:
