Historical Data Specialist for research infrastructure position: Chains of the Past

1. Introduction

Help as a historical data scientist and researcher to reconstruct the life histories of enslaved and free people in the former Dutch colonies. In the Chains of the Past project, we build a large-scale data infrastructure that connects historical sources to transform our understanding of the colonial past and enable new scientific and genealogical research. Preferably as a postdoc, but due to the specialized nature of this position, we also invite qualified candidates without a PhD to apply.

2. Job description

‘Chains of the Past’ sits at the frontier of digital historical research. By processing thousands of historical handwritten documents, this project builds a data infrastructure that will support future research into the lives of enslaved and free people in the former Dutch colonies. As a data specialist, you will help lay the foundations for this new and innovative research landscape. Applying already existing technical data extraction methods to colonial archives requires creativity and critical thinking.

Historical sources are fragmented, shaped by colonial power relations, and often difficult to interpret computationally. Your role is to bridge the worlds of programming and historical interpretation: developing robust entity recognition methods while remaining attentive to the historical context that gives meaning to the data. We therefore seek someone who is eager to learn and likes working in interdisciplinary teams and settings. If desired, we are happy to support you to develop your own research ideas.

Using and further developing existing data extraction models in R and/or Python, you will help connect individual observations from different sources, enabling the reconstruction of life histories of both enslaved and free people in the colonial context. Together with key stakeholders such as the Dutch Digital Heritage Network (NDE) and the National Archives of the Netherlands, Suriname and Curaçao, you will also develop a strategy to generate sustainable and persistent identifiers (PIDs) for historical person reconstructions. These identifiers will make it possible to easily follow people across multiple archival sources and colonial contexts. To support this work, you will develop and publish Linked Open Data (LOD) that ensures the data can be reused and connected within the wider digital heritage ecosystem.

3. Profile

• You hold a Master’s degree in Data Science, History, Demography, or a related discipline.
• You are able to read Dutch historical sources or are willing to obtain this skill.
• You are familiar with Handwritten Text Recognition (HTR) programmes (e.g. Transkribus, Loghi) or are willing to obtain this skill. 
• You are familiar with the generation of persistent identifiers (PIDs) and Linked Open Data (LOD) or are willing to obtain this skill. 
• You are familiar with programming languages such as R or Python or are willing to obtain this skill. 
• You are curious and eager to increase your skill set.
• You thrive in a collaborative and interdisciplinary academic environment. You can work both independently and together with your project colleagues.
• You have a good command of both Dutch and English. 

4. We are

‘Chains of the Past’ is a collaboration between the Historical Database of Suriname and the Caribbean (HDSC) at Radboud University, Exploring Slave Trade in Asia (ESTA) at the International Institute for Social History (IISH) and the Royal Netherlands Institute of Southeast Asian and Caribbean Studies (KITLV). Approximately ten historians and data specialists are going to be involved in ‘Chains of the Past’, working for Radboud University and IISH.

In Nijmegen, you will closely collaborate with four HDSC colleagues specialised in social history, historical demography, historical microdata and citizen science. The HDSC team members are supportive, thrive through cooperation and are driven by the ambition to create truly connected digital heritage. HDSC is embedded in the Radboud Group for Historical Demography and Family History, which consists of sixteen junior and senior members whose research focuses on historical demography and colonial social history.

A typical workday might begin with applying an algorithm to extract names from nineteenth-century governmental journals by refining models in R or Python, followed by lunch at the campus restaurant with your colleagues. The afternoon may be spent on applying the PiCo framework to create Linked Open Data or participating in an online meeting with archival partners and fellow researchers to align on data strategies. Throughout the day, collaboration is key: we regularly exchange ideas, solve problems together and reflect on the direction of the project as a team.

Project coordinator Dr Matthias Rosenbaum-Feldbrügge and Associate Professor Coen van Galen will be your daily supervisors.

5. We offer

• We will give you a temporary employment contract of 3 years.
• Your salary within salary scale 11 depends on your previous education and number of years of (relevant) work experience. A preliminary salary scale 10 may apply. The amounts in the scale are based on a 38-hour working week.
• You will receive an 8% holiday allowance and an 8,3% end-of-year bonus. 
• You will receive extra days off. With full-time employment, you can choose between 30 or 41 days of annual leave instead of the statutory 20. 

6. Practical information and applying

You can apply only via the button below. Address your letter of application to Matthias Rosenbaum-Feldbrügge. In the application form, you will find which documents you need to include with your application. We look forward to receiving your application.

The first interviews will take place on Monday 29 June. Any second interview will take place on Monday 6 July. You will preferably start your employment on 1 October 2026.

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