Research Associate, Managing Editor and Digital Data Specialist

University of Pittsburgh, Institute for Spatial History Innovation

Research Associate, Managing Editor and Digital Data Specialist

Institution Type: College / University

Location: Pennsylvania, United States

Position: Research Professional

The Institute for Spatial History Innovation at the University of Pittsburgh seeks a full-time Research Associate. The chosen applicant will serve as Managing Editor for the World Historical Gazetteer (whgazetteer.org), author, and support the development of publications and datasets in digital spatial history and communicate a vision for spatial history research initiatives. This is a three-year term with the possibility of renewal. The application deadline is July 11, 2025.

Duties and Responsibilities

As Managing Editor of the World Historical Gazetteer (WHG), the Digital Data Specialist will:

Recruit contributors of spatial data resources and guide contributors from their preliminary ideas through completion, review, documentation, and publication.

Develop and manage the editorial process, ensure the accuracy, reliability, and quality of data and publication workflows, and manage and refine metadata using relevant standards.

As Spatial Data Manager for the WHG and other ISHI initiatives, the Digital Data Specialist will:

Transform incoming structured historical data into needed JSON-based and delimited text versions using tools such as OpenRefine and custom scripts.

Implement and maintain data quality assurance procedures, including validation checks, consistency reviews, and error resolution for large-scale historical spatial datasets.

Develop and manage a systematic process for identifying, prioritizing, and assessing textual material for transformation into structured datasets. This may involve overseeing rights acquisition, digitization, OCR/HTR, named entity recognition, and text encoding.

Develop and expand orthography-to-IPA mappings for currently unsupported languages in Epitran, developing a volunteer network of linguistic experts as required to ensure accuracy and completeness. This is needed for improvement of phonetic toponym searches.

As Technical Developer for the WHG and other ISHI initiatives, the Digital Data Specialist will:

Provide technical support and training for institute initiatives.

Collaborate with the WHG Technical Director to identify and conceptualize software development priorities that enhance data access, visualization, and user experience.

Provide input on required software development based on data analysis, user feedback, and research needs.

Define clear technical requirements for development initiatives, ensuring alignment with project goals and data standards.

As a spatial history author and researcher, the Digital Data Specialist will maintain an active and independent research and publication agenda in the field of spatial history, including:

Authoring and publishing spatial history datasets and other research outputs, including articles, presentations, and reports.

Maintaining an active and independent research agenda relating to historical geography and the digital humanities.

Develop and deliver training sessions for researchers, students, and collaborators, creating training materials and resources and contributing to Open Educational Resources (OER) using WHG data.

Train and supervise student workers in data processing, digitization, and other project tasks.

Initiate and collaborate in writing grants for future research in the field of spatial history.

Qualifications

Required:

Strong background in information science, library science, digital humanities, or GIS.

Experience managing and transforming structured datasets and handling metadata.

Experience working with JSON-based data formats and linked data principles.

Familiarity with geospatial data, GIS tools, and spatial/vector databases.

Proficiency with regular expressions for text processing and data cleaning.

Experience with metadata standards and tools (e.g., Dublin Core, OpenRefine).

Minimum degree requirements are a Ph.D or the equivalent in the humanities, social sciences, geography, or library and information sciences.

Desirable:

Proficiency in Python for data processing and automation.

Experience with digitization workflows, OCR/HTR, and text encoding for historical sources.

Non-English language skills, with awareness of IETF BCP 47 language tags and IPA.

Interest in the history of place and toponyms, particularly regarding indigenous cultures and historical geography.

Familiarity with historical cartography and archival research methods.

Understanding of place-based storytelling and cultural heritage informatics.

Awareness of Critical GIS, decolonial mapping, responsible data science, and ethnographic mapping practices.

Interest in historical trade networks, migration patterns, and environmental history.

Familiarity with Vespa for search and indexing, including schema design and query optimization.

Awareness of deployment and management of applications in Kubernetes, including Helm chart development.

Experience with digital publication.

Experience with grant writing.

Required Documents: Cover Letter, Curriculum Vitae, Names of three references, Research Statement (up to 750 words) describing your vision for the development of linked spatial historical information by Friday, July 11, 2025.

Apply via Pitt Talent Center:cfopitt.taleo.net/careersection/pitt_faculty_external/jobdetail.ftljob=25002750&tz=GMT-04%3A00&tzname=America%2FNew_York