Senior researcher in interactive information retrieval (position is filled)

The PICCH project at The Department of Archivistics, Library and Information Science at Oslo Metropolitan University (OsloMet) invites applications to a position as senior researcher in interactive information retrieval (IIR) with emphasis on user studies.  The position is a 1-year research position with no teaching obligations.  The position requires an immediate start, or at earliest possible convenience, preferable medio May. The senior researcher is to join a local research team consisting of the professors Pia Borlund and Nils Pharo as part of an international EU research project with partners from England, France, Portugal, and the Netherlands, in addition to OsloMet, Norway.  The position is funded by the Research Council of Norway.

The research project aims to identify key instances of colonial audio-visual heritage across the three archives involved, draw a common map of shared representations connected with their respective imperial contexts, identify problematic visualisation and language and open up a dialogue between the archives and a variety of users, including archivists, researchers, filmmakers, and grassroots organisations. The digitised colonial audio-visual heritage is provided by three national archives: The Netherlands Institute for Sound and Vision, the French Institut national de l’audiovisuel and Pitt Rivers Museum in Oxford, UK.  The task of the senior researcher is to conduct user studies on information needs and information searching of the three archives in question.

Profile

We are looking for a person with a PhD and expertise in IIR and experience in test design and user studies of information searching.  The test designs and methodologies of the various studies will be designed in joint collaboration with the professors Borlund and Pharo, but the senior researcher will be the one to independently carry out the actual studies in the Netherlands, France or UK.  Further, the senior researcher is to code the data, prepare it for analysis and analyse the data before co-authoring reports and scientific publications for dissemination of findings.

Tasks and responsibilities

  • Design study methodologies for data collection in collaboration with local team
  • Independently conduct studies and carry out data collection abroad
  • Code and analyse collected data
  • Co-author results and findings with the local team

Qualification requirements

You must have:

  • PhD in Information Science, Computer Science or related area
  • Expertise in interactive information retrieval (IIR)
  • Experience with user studies of information searching
  • Knowledge about metadata, the concept of information need, the concept of relevance, user studies, test design, IIR methods and methodologies, data coding, and analysis of empirical user data

The ideal candidate has excellent skills in English and at least in one of the following languages: Dutch or French.

Contact information

If this sounds interesting, we are happy to meet on Zoom and talk about the project and the vacant position.  Please send us an email and we will arrange the meeting when suitable.

Period for Zoom meeting: March 8 – 12, 2021

Deadline for applications: March 22, 2021.

How to apply:

Please submit a two-pages application that introduces you, your research expertise, research experiences and your interest in this project.  In addition, supply the following documentation:

  • CV
  • Full list of publications
  • Copy of PhD diploma

The application is to be send by e-mail with subject heading “PICCH application” to nils.pharo@oslomet.no.

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