Postdoctoral Research Associate (Digital Cultural Heritage Data Ethics & Software Ecosystems)

Full Time: 35 hours per week
Fixed Term: 1st January 2026 – 30th June 2029 (42 months)

We are looking for a Postdoctoral Research Associate in Digital Cultural Heritage Data Ethics & Software Ecosystems to join the Institute for Design Informatics, Edinburgh College of Art.

The Opportunity:

This is an exciting opportunity to contribute to a major European Commission-funded project focused on data ethics and software design within digital cultural heritage. You will collaborate with leading European partners, contributing to innovative solutions that influence the future of digital cultural heritage. The position involves designing research on ethical guidelines and evaluating open-source tools to ensure legal and ethical compliance in AI-driven processes for Digital Cultural Heritage Objects (DCHOs). You will play a lead role in creating a Rulebook for developers and establishing validation requirements for ethical and legally sound software ecosystems. 

This post is funded by the European Union’s Horizon scheme and is part of a pan-European research project. Regular European travel will be expected as part of this role. 

Starting salary for this role will be up to a maximum of £46,049 per annum.

Your skills and attributes for success:

• A PhD in digital humanities, digital ethics, or a related field such as digital sociology, law, or information sciences.
• Demonstrated expertise in data and AI ethics, particularly in digital cultural heritage contexts.
• Experience in evaluating and implementing digital tools with a focus on usability and documentation.
• Strong organisational skills and ability to work both independently and collaboratively.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, capable of translating complex concepts for diverse audiences.
• Proven ability to collaborate across interdisciplinary and international teams.

This post is associated with the Institute for Design Informatics (IDI, https://www.designinformatics.org) a long-standing joint research initiative between the Schools of Design and Informatics at the University of Edinburgh. The successful candidate will join IDI’s dynamic team of 50+ academics, researchers, software research engineers and professional services staff, contributing to the Institute’s diverse research and entrepreneurship activities. DI is an exciting, positive, creative, challenging and rewarding place to work. We give you support, nurture your talent and reward success.

Apply Before: 24/10/2025, 23:59

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