Research Assistant (m/f/d) Provenance Studies
2025-03-06
As a humanistic, sustainable, and action-oriented university, Leuphana University Lüneburg stands for innovation in education and science. The collaborative search for knowledge and sustainable solutions in the fields of education, culture, sustainability, management, and entrepreneurship are hallmarks of the award-winning university model with a college, a graduate school, and a professional school. Methodological diversity and interdisciplinary cooperation characterize Leuphana's understanding of science.
At the Institute of Philosophy and Art History (IPK) at Leuphana University Lüneburg, the Professorship for Provenance Studies in the Department of Art History, led by Prof. Dr. Lynn Rother, is looking to hire a
Research Assistant (m/f/d)
for an immediate start date, with a maximum of 86h per month, and for a fixed term of 6 months, with the possibility of an extension.
The Lichtenberg Professorship for Provenance Studies at Leuphana University Lüneburg is funded by the Volkswagen Foundation (VolkswagenStiftung). Our aim is to develop new, data-based methods for researching provenance. Provenances show when and how the ownership of an object changed. Writing such a history of ownership requires research in archives and libraries, as well as the study of catalogues and catalogues raisonnés. We are looking for scientific support for the evaluation of such data.
The research assistant will primarily support the project "Modern Migrants: Paintings from Europe in US Museum Collections," which analyzes a large amount of provenance data as empirical evidence for cultural network phenomena. The assistant will gain insights into transatlantic art market research, the history of collecting, and museum studies.
Your duties:
- Independent research on collectors, as well as artists, museums, and objects
- Supplement existing provenance data in tables and a specially developed web-based interface
- Support the analysis of the collection of provenance data of European artworks in American museums.
- Collaboration in the development of a bibliography for the project
We offer the opportunity of flexible working hours and remote work.
Your profile:
- MA degree with an art-related focus
- Experience with provenance research is desirable
- Experience with scholarly research in art historical libraries, as well as the creation of bibliographies (Zotero experience an advantage)
- Experience with working on (museum) objects
- Very good language skills in English
- Enjoy working with data
- Reliability and an independent and meticulous work ethic
- Very good knowledge of Office programs (MS Office, Google Docs)
We offer:
- Salary of 18,78 Euros per hour (for MA degree holders)
- Flexible and family-friendly working hours
- An interdisciplinary, English-language team with experience in international universities and museums
- Insights and research experience in the field of digital art history and digital provenance research
- Insights into the research activities of the Institute for Philosophy and Art History
- Experience with experimental work on object-related provenance data
- Access to original research data to develop independent research questions
Your application:
For questions about the work this position entails, please contact Dr. Max Koss (max.koss@leuphana.de)
Leuphana University Lüneburg promotes gender equality in the workplace and diversity among its members. Applications from people with severe disabilities will be given preferential consideration if they have the same qualifications. We look forward to receiving your application. Please note our privacy notice for applicants.
Interviews are currently planned to be held via Zoom on May 5th, 2025.
Please send your application with the usual documents (no photos) at the latest by 21.04.2025 via email (as one single pdf file) or via post to:
Leuphana Universität Lüneburg
Personal und Recht / Bewerbungsmanagement
Kennwort: WHK Provenienzstudien
Universitätsallee 1
21335 Lüneburg