Utrecht University’s Economic and Social History group and the Centre for Digital Humanities are seeking to appoint a data scientist for the Historical Income Panel for the Netherlands (HIP-NL) project. This project will open new lines of research on social and economic inequality by creating a large-scale historical income panel for c. 200.000 individuals in the Netherlands between 1851 and 1922 from municipal tax records. Recent mass digitisation of vital records and population registers, combined with the development of new data integration tools, will allow us to link the income panel to many other historical datasets, and enable new research across multiple dimensions, over a long time frame, and over multiple generations.

We are looking for a data scientist to help build this dataset. Together with the project's PIs and Postdoc, you will apply the latest techniques to integrate the datasets created by the project with other individual-level datasets: the historical population registers and civil registries. To this end, you will set up a linkage pipeline on the basis of the new burgerLinker tool, implement it, and instruct the student assistants. Together with the rest of the team, you will help create new lines of research that would only be possible with such a dataset.

We are looking for someone who loves data, and who can apply the latest techniques to create the dataset. The ideal candidate has:

• the ability to work in a team and engage with partners outside the project;
• an interest in topics like inequality, social mobility, living standards;
• experience in working with large datasets in a systematic and reproducible way;
• familiarity with record linkage and machine learning techniques;
• knowledge of programming or scripting languages like R, Python, Julia, or another suitable language;
• knowledge or willingness to learn Linked Data and SPARQL;
• (optional) knowledge or willingness to learn Java;
• (optional) knowledge of GIS.

We offer a temporary position for a period of 1 year (1.0 FTE), starting November 2022. Upon a good performance and positive evaluation, the contract will be extended for the remaining project period of 1 year (24 months in total). The minimum gross salary is €2,960 and the maximum gross salary is €5,439 (scale 10/11 of the Collective Labour Agreement of Dutch Universities) per month, at a full-time employment.

Besides that, you will receive a holiday allowance of 8% and a year-end bonus of 8.3%. Utrecht University also has an appealing package of terms of employment, including the choice for a good balance between work and private (a good arrangement for leave, among other things), possibilities for development and an excellent pension scheme. For more information, please visit working at Utrecht University.

A better future for everyone. This ambition motivates our scientists in executing their leading research and inspiring teaching. At Utrecht University, the various disciplines collaborate intensively towards major societal themes. Our focus is on Dynamics of Youth, Institutions for Open Societies, Life Sciences and Sustainability.

The Faculty of Humanities has around 6.000 students and 1.100 staff members. It comprises four knowledge domains: Philosophy and Religious Studies, History and Art History, Media and Culture Studies, and Languages, Literature and Communication. With its research and education in these fields, the Faculty aims to contribute to a better understanding of the Netherlands and Europe in a rapidly changing social and cultural context. The enthusiastic and committed colleagues and the excellent amenities in the historical city center of Utrecht, where the Faculty is housed, contribute to an inspiring working environment. The core values of the faculty for Humanities are professionalism, transparency, responsibility, connectedness and safety. The core values apply to everyone and we uphold these values in our work and in our communication with each other and with others.