Research Associate (PDRA), Heritage (Fixed Term)

The Fitzwilliam Museum: Opening up the past to transform our futures.

As the principal museum of the University of Cambridge and the largest cultural venue in the region, The Fitzwilliam Museum acts as a crucial bridge between the University, the City and the rest of the world, and has an international reputation for extraordinary research, world class exhibitions, award-winning public programmes and significant collections spanning many cultures and centuries. The Hamilton Kerr Institute (HKI) is one of the world's leading centres for teaching and research in conservation and heritage science.

We invite applications for a Postdoctoral Research Associate position to work on the research project project MakingAI: AI-Driven Integration of 'Messy' Data in Technical Art History,  , an interdisciplinary collaboration between the Hamilton Kerr Institute (HKI), Fitzwilliam Museum, the Department of Applied Mathematics and Theoretical Physics (DAMPT), and the McDonald Institute for Archaeology. The project is funded by Schmidt Sciences, https://www.schmidtsciences.org/havi-2025-announcement/

Technical Art History unites humanities scholarship with Heritage Science from molecular structures to documentary evidence capturing heterogeneous, incomplete, and uncertain multimodal datasets (scientific imaging, spectroscopy, archival sources, etc.) that diverge in both format and interpretive logic. MakingAI confronts the challenge of synthesizing these hybrid 'messy' data, by integrating artificial intelligence, particularly multimodal learning and machine reasoning, with Technical Art History methodology. Drawing on Cambridge University's collections, advanced scientific equipment infrastructure, and the research team's interdisciplinary expertise, MakingAI explores how AI, guided by human knowledge, can transform such fragmented hybrid data into coherent narratives of artistic and artisanal production across culture, places and time.

The successful applicant will work on scientific data capture and processing of legacy data for cultural heritage objects at the Fitzwilliam Museum and the McDonald Institute for Archaeology. Applicants should have, or be close to completing, a PhD in Heritage Science, Technical Art History, or a closely related discipline.  The applicant will work in a highly interdisciplinary research environment with close interaction among museum scientists, conservators, art historians, and archaeologists at the Fitzwilliam Museum and McDonald Institute, scientists at DAMPT within the Cambridge Image Analysis group, as well as opportunities to engage more broadly with researchers across the University of Cambridge and international partners.

In return, we offer a supportive and inclusive workplace, a generous pension scheme, substantial holiday allowance, and a range of employee benefits, including retail discounts.

Fixed-term: The funds for this post are available for 1 years in the first instance.

Once an offer of employment has been accepted, the successful candidate will be required to undergo a basic disclosure (criminal records check) check and a security check.

To apply online for this vacancy and to view further information about the role, please visit click the 'Apply' button aove.

Closing date for applications: 25th January 2026

Interviews for the role will be held: week commencing 26th January 2026

Please quote reference DA48314 on your application and in any correspondence about this vacancy. 

The University actively supports equality, diversity and inclusion and encourages applications from all sections of society.

The University has a responsibility to ensure that all employees are eligible to live and work in the UK.

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