Postdoctoral Research Assistant in digital heritage

AHRC Cultural Engagement Fund: A people-centred approach to understanding cultural social media activities through the case study of Tyne and Wear Archives and Museums

A self-directed, motivated Postdoctoral Research Assistant is required to work with the International Centre for Cultural and Heritage Studies in Newcastle University and Tyne and Wear Archives and Museums (TWAM) to evaluate user engagement through TWAM's social media platforms.

The project is funded by the Arts and Humanities Research Council's Cultural Engagement fund and aims to produce a focused piece of research on digital audience engagement through social media platforms with a view to inform TWAM's social media strategy.

The postdoctoral researcher will work with the project's academic supervisor and the institutional partner to:

- carry out a focused qualitative user-study of TWAM's social media applications, including workshops with users and interviews with stakeholders;

- inform the development of TWAM's social media strategy by providing a written report on the impact of the institution's social media activities for its audiences/stakeholders;

- disseminate the findings of the research in a training event for GLAM institutions in a regional and national context in Newcastle upon Tyne in spring 2013;

- contribute to professional and academic publications if appropriate; and, participate in training events indentified in collaboration with the academic supervisor and the institutional partner.

The project partners are looking for an early career researcher, with a recent PhD award (or a research student who has submitted his/her doctoral thesis and awaits viva) in Museum Studies, Heritage Studies, Gallery Studies, Digital Heritage or relevant discipline. You will also have knowledge and experience of digital engagement projects in the cultural sector and/or experience of evaluation methods with users. The project requires excellent communication, organizational and time management skills, and the availability and willingness to travel for training and fieldwork purposes.

Starting date: 14 February 2013.

Duration: full-time for 3 months.

Fee range: £7,256 - £7,924 (depending on qualifications, paid on a casual basis)

For more information and an informal conversation about this project you may contact Dr. Areti Galani onareti.galani@ncl.ac.uk and/or on 0191 222 3857.

For an expression of interest please e-mail a recent CV and covering letter to Dr. Areti Galani (areti.galani@ncl.ac.uk) no later than the 25th of January 2013.

Source: ECREA