1–2 Research engineers/developers with application towards digital humanities and social science.

Published: 2023-05-10

Uppsala University is a comprehensive research-intensive university with a strong international standing. Our ultimate goal is to conduct education and research of the highest quality and relevance to make a long-term difference in society. Our most important assets are all the individuals whose curiosity and dedication make Uppsala University one of Sweden’s most exciting workplaces. Uppsala University has over 54,000 students, more than 7,500 employees and a turnover of around SEK 8 billion.

In recent years the ongoing digitalization of society has increasingly affected the methodologies, approaches and critical perspectives of the humanities and social sciences.

Digital Humanities (DH) is an area of scholarly activity at the intersection of computing or digital technologies and disciplines of the arts, humanities and social sciences. It includes the systematic use of digital resources in the humanities, as well as the analysis of their application. DH is based on interdisciplinary collaboration and a willingness to work across disciplinary, institutional as well as national boundaries.

The Centre for Digital Humanities and Social Science at Uppsala University (CDHU) leads and curates the digital transformation of the humanities and social sciences at the university. CDHU's assignments are threefold:

research-initiating activities (seminars, workshops and major events) as well as support for individual projects and applications

pedagogy and knowledge exchange, including initiating, developing and supporting education in Digital Humanities and social science from master's level to doctoral researchers; and

the development of a technical infrastructure to support research in the field of DH.

CDHU is currently governed by a director and supported by a deputy director and a research coordinator. The operation is supported by a steering board that spans distinguished professors across the disciplinary domains of Humanities and Social Sciences

For more information about CDHU

Tasks and responsibilities
As a research engineer/developer you will be responsible for supporting researchers and research projects in the humanities and social sciences that are connected to CDHU. You will be working in close collaboration with other employees at CDHU but also together with the CDHU partners at SNIC/Uppmax and the University Central IT unit. The core tasks are to help initiate and technically support research projects located at CDHU, and to participate in the long-term development of the Centre’s digital research infrastructure for the humanities and social sciences. This includes:

• Working with and developing the Centre’s technical infrastructure for data analysis, curation and processing;
• Developing back-end systems for supporting research and research projects at the centre;
• Developing frontend-solutions and prototypes that can be used by researchers and research groups affiliated with the Centre;
• Tailoring code and creating and modifying existing applications for specific research and pedagogical purposes.
• Participating in the planning and teaching of course modules and workshops that are given by the Centre.

Qualification requirements
We are looking for a candidate with an MSc in computer/systems science, data science, IT or equivalent. You have the ability to understand and navigate the problems and needs of researchers and to deliver technical solutions in terms of code, configurations and adaptations of existing tools and tool-chains. You have a genuine interest and curiosity in analyzing data and implementing technologies and methods relevant to humanities research and in participating CDHU’s activities. You also have:

• Documented experience/knowledge of programming and programming languages, especially Python and common web technologies (HTML, Javascript, CSS).
• Documented experience/knowledge of building front-end solutions using web technologies and frameworks (e.g., React, Node, etc).
• Documented experience/knowledge of backend-solutions, including using databases (e.g. SQL, NoSQL/MongoDB) and tailored API:s (e.g. FastAPI, OpenAPI).
• Documented experience/knowledge of working with Linux-systems, servers, Open Source code and repositories for code.
• Ability to work across disciplines and in collaboration with others.
• The ability to quickly adapt and familiarize yourself with new technical solutions, as well as being able to develop and supplement your own skills.

Other qualification requirements

• Fluency in the English language.
• Great emphasis is placed upon good communication skills as well as commitment to inclusion, equality and diversity.
• Great emphasis will also be placed on personal qualities such as initiative, problem-solving ability, flexibility and the ability to work together.

Desirable/meritorious in other respects

• Interest in and/or experience with design and UX (web, interactive UIs, etc).
• Interest in and/or experience with the humanities and social sciences.
• Previous experience of working with digital research infrastructure, especially for the humanities and social sciences.
• Documented ability of teaching and other pedagogical work concerning IT/programming.
• Experience of programming/data analysis platforms of particular relevance to researchers (e.g. Project Jupyter, R, MatLab).
• Good knowledge of Swedish.

About the employment
1-2 positions. Permanent employment of 50–100% with access on August 15th or as agreed upon.  6 months probationary employment may be applied. The employment is linked to CDHU, with a formal placement at the Department of ALM (Archival Studies, Information Studies, Museum and Cultural Heritage Studies). Placement: Uppsala.

For further information about the position, please contact: Deputy Director of CDHU, Matts Lindström, [email protected], or Director of CDHU, Anna Foka, [email protected] or head of department Åse Hedemark, [email protected].

Please submit your application by 1st of June 2023, UFV-PA 2023/1596.

Are you considering moving to Sweden to work at Uppsala University? Find out more about what it´s like to work and live in Sweden.  

Please do not send offers of recruitment or advertising services.

Submit your application through Uppsala University's recruitment system.

Placement: Department of ALM

Type of employment: Full time , Permanent position

Pay: Individual salary

Number of positions: 1

Working hours: 50-100

Town: Uppsala

County: Uppsala län

Country: Sweden

Union representative: Seko Universitetsklubben [email protected]
ST/TCO [email protected]
Saco-rådet [email protected]

Number of reference: UFV-PA 2023/1596

Last application date: 2023-06-01

Apply for position