Research project

3D scholarship has reached a tipping point. Three-dimensional modelling and reconstructions have been used in the last thirty years across many fields in the humanities and social sciences, however, we still lack an infrastructure to support this form of knowledge production. PURE3D will fill this gap.  

The resultant infrastructure will contain not only the 3D models (both virtual worlds and individual objects), but an array of multimodal contextual material (textual, audio, visual) to create a knowledge environment to communicate context and decision making, for an academic audience as well as the general public.

This is an exciting opportunity for a database developer to join a dynamic research team and collaborate with diverse stakeholders in the Netherlands and beyond to develop the first-ever infrastructure for 3D scholarship.

Are you fascinated and eager to learn more about this project? Visit the project website: https://pure3d.eu/

Job description

You will collaborate with diverse stakeholders in the Netherlands and beyond (including The Rembrandt House, the 4D Research Lab [Amsterdam], the Dutch Mining Museum) to lead the infrastructure’s repository/database development, building on an existing content management framework (e.g., Fedora, DSpace, Dataverse). You will be embedded in a collegial team at Maastricht University, working closely with the PIs, the 3D interface developer, and the PhD candidate. You will have a prominent role in co-designing the requirements, specifications, and standards for the repository of the infrastructure.

You will have opportunities to collaborate with pilot projects, as well as with CLARIAH and DANS, two major digital infrastructures in The Netherlands, taking an iterative design approach to project development. You will spend time with the CLARIAH team and will receive support and supervision from them. To work intensively with CLARIAH you will also spend time in Amsterdam throughout the project. for several periods of time. You will also have the opportunity to co-author and/or lead conference presentations and research papers.

You have:

• A master’s degree in computer science, information science, and/or relevant experience;
• Experience with both creating greenfield systems and maintaining legacy systems; 
• Full stack experience: i.e.

  ○ Docker and Kubernetes;

  ○ Languages such as Java, JavaScript, Python, HTML, CSS;

  ○ Git, Bash;

• Good debugging skills;
• Familiarity with handling metadata schemas (e.g., Dublin Core);
• An interest in working with standardisation groups in achieving interoperability across information systems;
• Good analytical and communication skills;
• Research-driven mindset;
• Excellent organisational skills, plus an open and effective working style;
• Excellent written and spoken command of English (level C1 or C2, oral and written);
• Experience in database and repository development.

Preferably, you may also have:

• Experience with semantic web technologies (e.g., LDP, RDF, SPARQL, SKOS);
• Experience with archival systems and related standards (e.g., FAIR data principles, OAI-PMH, SWORD);
• Experience in working with a diverse and inter/multi - disciplinary teams and stakeholders;
• Prior experience in working with 3D data or a willingness to learn the basics of 3D scholarship;
• Experience with defining software specifications by utilising user feedback and the state-of-the-art;
• Experience with social science and/or humanities data is a plus.

Fixed-term contract: 25 months.

We offer a dynamic and challenging job in an internationally-oriented organisation where young people receive an advanced education and scholars conduct exciting research. You will be part of an international network of top universities and renowned scholars within the field.

We offer a full-time appointment / 0.8 fte as Researcher - Database Developer for 25 months. Initially, you will be employed on a 1-year contract and agree to specific development goals. After a positive assessment, the position will be extended for the remaining 13 months.

Remuneration will be according to standard salary levels, depending on education and relevant work experience, in salary scale 10 (between € 2836,- and € 4474,- gross per month, based on a fulltime appointment) according to the collective labour agreement (CAO) of Dutch Universities (UFO-Profile Researcher level 4).

Each year the standard salary is supplemented with a holiday allowance of 8% and an end-of-year bonus of 8.3%.
Incoming employees could benefit from significant government tax relief (30% ruling) for a set number of years (certain conditions apply).

If you do not already live in Maastricht (or its direct surroundings) and you prefer to move to (the vicinity of) Maastricht, you will be eligible for an allowance for moving costs.
If you do not already live in Maastricht (or its direct surroundings), you might be eligible for an allowance for alternative housing.

Other secondary conditions include e.g. a pension scheme and partially paid parental leave.

Starting date: 1 January 2022

The terms of employment of Maastricht University are set out in the Collective Labour Agreement of Dutch Universities (CAO). Furthermore, local UM provisions also apply. For more information look at the website www.maastrichtuniversity.nl > About UM > Working at UM.

Maastricht University

Maastricht University is renowned for its unique, innovative, problem-based learning system, which is characterized by a small-scale and student-oriented approach. Research at UM is characterized by a multidisciplinary and thematic approach, and is concentrated in research institutes and schools. Maastricht University has around 20,000 students and 4,700 employees. Reflecting the university's strong international profile, a fair amount of both students and staff are from abroad. The university hosts 6 faculties: Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, Faculty of Law, School of Business and Economics, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, Faculty of Psychology and Neuroscience.

Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences

The Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences (FASoS) has about 250 staff members, and about 1,730 students. More than 77% of the students are non-Dutch (65 different nationalities). All programmes are offered in English and some are also offered in Dutch. FASoS offers four 3-year bachelor’s programmes: Arts and Culture, European Studies, Digital Society and Global Studies. It also offers eight different 1-year Master’s programmes and two 2-year research master’s programmes.

Research is organised around four programmes: Politics and Culture in Europe; Science, Technology and Society Studies; Arts, Media and Culture; and Globalisation, Transnationalism and Development. The Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences is housed in the historic city centre of Maastricht.