Job offer

Philosophische Fakultät - Institut für Geschichtswissenschaften

Research Associate (Wissenschaftlicher Mitarbeiterin) for Research Software Engineering (f/m/d), full time, E 13 TV-L HU compensation scheme (grant-funded, limited-term contract until 29 February 2028). Deadline for applications is 25 October 2023.

NFDI 4Memory is one of 27 interdisciplinary German consortia that jointly manage the creation of a long-term and sustainable national research-data infrastructure (Nationale Forschungsdateninfrastruktur, or “NFDI”) for the digital age. Our shared goal is to make research data systematically accessible, linked, interoperable, and, ultimately, (re-)usable in a sustainable and qualitative manner for scientific and scholarly communities in Germany and beyond. 4Memory brings together more than 80 partners from universities and research institutes to cultural heritage and memory institutions and infrastructure facilities, united by a common set of interests, needs, and aims related to the distinct challenges faced by disciplines employing historical methods or relying on data that require historical contextualization.

Within the framework of 4Memory, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin and the Verband der Historiker und Historikerinnen Deutschlands (VHD) jointly lead Task Area 5 “Data Culture”. This Task Area aims at advancing the discourse on digital research data and computational methods in the field of history and, more broadly, the historically inclined humanities. We also explore the significance of datafication for our contemporary societies’ history-making, such as, for example, the current developments in the fields of machine learning and generative AI. Ultimately, we will contribute to the establishment of a strong data culture in our scholarly domain.

We are looking for someone to join our team as a Research Software Engineer for TA5’s Methods Innovation Lab and Clio-online, who wants to be actively and collaboratively involved in shaping the processes of datafication in the historical humanities at this exciting time.

The position is limited until 29 February 2028.

Your tasks

• Development of prototypical software solutions in the field of historically working digital humanities in close collaboration with domain experts involved in the project
• Participation in the publication of our results and methods for scholarly audiences with innovative formats, such as data stories or Jupyter notebooks
• Participation in the development of the publication platforms of Clio-online / H-Soz-Kult

Our expectations

We are looking for a dedicated personality with an independent, solution-oriented work style, very good conceptual skills, and a strong team-working ethos. You will also have good communicative skills and fit the following profile:

• University degree (graduate degree, such as MSc, MA, etc.) and potentially a doctorate in computer science, history, computational linguistics or related subjects
• Solid knowledge of current web technologies
• Solid knowledge of Python
• Willingness to engage in interdisciplinary exchange and work environments (e.g. between computer science and the humanities and social sciences)
• Very good command of either German or English, both written and spoken, and at least basic knowledge of the other language (Level B1), or the willingness to acquire such knowledge within two years of taking up the position

Experience and knowledge in the following fields is not strictly required but would be considered a boon (and can be acquired on the job):

• modern research software engineering (RSE), including modularity, reproducibility and reusability
• implementing collaborative software development with external contractors
• current methods and technologies in at least one of the following areas: automatic text analysis/NLP, computer vision, machine learning
• other high-level programming languages, such as Java

Our offer

• Innovative work with the opportunity to contribute and implement your own ideas
• A friendly and open team with a modern working culture
• Very dynamic and innovative environment for the Digital Humanities
• Opportunity for your own academic advancement (doctoral or postdoctoral research)
• Possibility of part time (min. 50 per cent) or full time work
• Flexible working hours
• Possibility of remote work (individually tailored solutions are possible but not fully remote work)
• An excellent and internationally well-recognised university in the heart of Berlin as an employer
• Advantages of working in the public sector, such as an attractive company pension scheme (VBL), and a subsidized job ticket / Deutschlandticket for public transport.

Please send your application in German or in English (including cover letter, a complete curriculum vitae and copies of relevant certificates and documents) together with a short outline of relevant projects in the field of research software engineering that you may have already supervised or participated in (1-2 pages) quoting the reference number DR/087/23 to Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Philosophische Fakultät, Institut für Geschichtswissenschaften, Prof. Dr. Torsten Hiltmann, Unter den Linden 6, 10099 Berlin or in electronic form as a single PDF file to [email protected] until 25 October 2023.

The Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin is seeking to increase the proportion of women in research and teaching, and specifically encourages qualified female scholars to apply. Severely disabled applicants with equivalent qualifications will be given preferential consideration. People with an immigration background are specifically encouraged to apply. Since we will not return your documents, please submit copies in the application only.

Data protection information on the processing of your personal data within the

framework of the advertisement and selection procedure can be found on our Website: https://hu.berlin/DSGVO.

Please visit our website www.hu-berlin.de/stellenangebote, which gives you access to the legally binding German version.