Research Associate (m/f/d) PAESE 3.0

19.06.2025

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:

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
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)

Your profile:

We encourage applications from candidates with either a humanities background, an informatics background, or expertise in both areas. You will bring to the position:

Option A: Ph.D. (preferred) or M.A. in history, anthropology/ethnology, art history, sociology, or related fields; demonstrated experience working with collections from colonial contexts; experience or willingness to work with cultural heritage informatics and metadata standards, such as CIDOC-CRM and authority files;

Option B: Ph.D., M.A., or B.A. (with multi-year relevant professional experience) in computer science, library science, data science, or other fields relevant to digital humanities research; experience in cultural heritage informatics and familiarity with metadata standards, such as CIDOC-CRM and authority files;

Additional requirements:

Commitment to transdisciplinary collaboration
Independent and responsible work approach
Excellent written and spoken English skills
Knowledge of French and other languages is an asset

What we offer:

Transdisciplinary & cooperative project work with an international focus
Ambitious scope of tasks in an open-minded team with opportunities to contribute your own ideas and visions
Flexible working arrangements: 6:00 AM - 9:00 PM with remote work options within Germany
Additional company pension through Versorgungsanstalt des Bundes und der Länder (VBL)
Professional development: Internal and external training opportunities
Work-life balance: University sports and health-promoting measures
Academic environment characterized by innovative teaching and strong research focus

Your application:

If you have any questions about the position, please contact Professor Rother (lynn.rother@leuphana.de).

Leuphana University of Lüneburg promotes professional gender equality and heterogeneity among its members. Applications from people with severe disabilities will be given preferential consideration if they have the same qualifications. Please also note our data protection information for applicants.

Please send your application, including documentation (cover letter, CV, list of publications, certificates, exam grades, and a writing or project sample, e.g., an article, a PhD chapter or blog entry) without a photo by August 3^rd, 2025 electronically (as a single PDF file) or by post to

Leuphana Universität Lüneburg
Human Resources and Legal Affairs / Application Management
Keywort: PAESE 3.0
Universitätsallee 1
21335 Lüneburg
jobs@leuphana.de