posted to the list at the request of Yau Min Chong Project Co-ordinator InterPARES Project
POSTDOCTORAL FELLOW
THE UNIVERSITY OF BRITISH COLUMBIA
The InterPARES (International Research on Permanent Authentic Records in Electronic Systems) Project invites applications for a Postdoctoral Fellow position.
The InterPARES Project aims at developing the theoretical and methodological knowledge essential to the long-term preservation of authentic records created and/or maintained in digital form. This knowledge should provide the basis from which to formulate model policies, strategies and standards capable of ensuring the longevity of such material and the ability of its users to trust its authenticity. InterPARES has developed in two phases. The first phase focused on the preservation of the authenticity of records created and/or maintained in databases and document management systems in the course of administrative activities. The second phase, or InterPARES 2, aims at developing a theoretical understanding of the records generated by interactive, dynamic, and experiential systems, of their process of creation, and of their present and potential use in the artistic, scientific and government sectors. On the basis of this understanding, the project will formulate methodologies for ensuring that the records created using these systems can be trusted as to their content (i.e., are reliable and accurate) and as records (i.e., are authentic) while used by the creator; for selecting those that have to be kept for legal, administrative, social or cultural reasons after they are no longer needed by the creator; for preserving them in authentic form over the long term; and for analyzing and evaluating advanced technologies for the implementation of these methodologies in a way that respects cultural diversity and pluralism.
The Project is an international collaboration, which draws on knowledge from a wide range of disciplines and on the expertise of private and public organizations and academic institutions from countries around the world. For more information, please go to http://www.interpares.org.
Candidates for this position must have a doctorate in archival science or any other discipline related to the research. Due to the highly interdisciplinary nature of the project, the successful candidate will be expected to demonstrate an aptitude for working across different disciplines and cultural traditions.
The appointment is for one year, starting August 1, 2004, with the possibility of renewal until the end of the project, which is scheduled for December 31, 2006, pending confirmation of funding by our granting agency, the Social Science and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC) in December, 2004.
The successful candidate will work under the supervision of the Project Director and will be expected to conduct research in one or more of the following areas:
reliability and authenticity requirements for electronic records;
creation and maintenance of digital records in the course of artistic (e.g., visual and performing arts), scientific, or e-government endeavours;
appraisal, preservation, description and accessibility of records generated in dynamic, experiential and interactive systems;
policies relating to their creation, maintenance and preservation;
or any other area of inquiry covered by the Project.
The successful candidate will also fulfill the following responsibilities:-
work in collaboration with the Project Co-ordinator to supervise InterPARES Graduate Research Assistants; -
attend all InterPARES research workshops which are held every three months in Vancouver, Los Angeles, and several cities in Europe and Asia;-
represent the Project at national and international conferences, symposia and other events; and-teach a one term course for the Master of Archival Studies (MAS) program at the School of Library, Archival and Information studies each year.
The choice of the course will be based on the successful candidate’s education, experience and inclination, and on the needs of the program. It may be either an existing course or a new course developed by the candidate. For information on the MAS program, please go to http://www.slais.ubc.ca.
Salary will be commensurate with qualifications and responsibilities. Applicants should send
1) a letter indicating their research interests and identifying specific contributions that they can make to one or more of the research areas identified above;
2) a current c.v; and
3) three letters of reference.
The application should be addressed to Dr. Luciana Duranti, Project Director, InterPARES Project, School of Library, Archival, and Information Studies, The University of British Columbia, 301-6190 Agronomy Road, Vancouver, British Columbia, V6T 1Z3.
It can be sent by e-mail to [log in to unmask] or by fax at (604) 822-6006. Applications must be received by May 17, 2004.
This position is funded through a grant from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC).
UBC hires on the basis of merit and is committed to employment equity. We encourage all qualified persons to apply.
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Yau Min Chong
Project Co-ordinator
InterPARES Project
School of Library, Archival and Information Studies
The University of British Columbia
Suite 301-6190 Agronomy Road
Vancouver BC V6T 1Z3
Ph: (604)822-2694
Fx: (604)822-1200
