Postdoctoral Research Associate

University of Richmond

5d

About The Position

The Data Science and Statistics Program at the University of Richmond invites applications for a two-year postdoctoral research position in the Distant Viewing Lab, to begin in August 2026. This position is funded by the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation as part of a grant supporting the development and outreach of open-source technology for applying AI methods to the computational analysis of visual culture in the humanities. The postdoctoral researcher will work closely with the project PIs, Lauren Tilton and Taylor Arnold, to develop and implement educational resources that make computational approaches to visual materials more accessible. Primary responsibilities include creating multimedia Open Educational Resources (OERs), contributing to workshop preparation and facilitation, assisting in the curation of diverse visual collections for the DV Data platform, creating documentation for the Distant Viewing Toolkit, and helping organize the Distant Viewing Conference at the University of Richmond. The postdoctoral researcher will also have the opportunity to teach up to one course per semester in the Data Science and Statistics Program and to travel to international conferences. We welcome applicants from a wide range of disciplinary backgrounds, including but not limited to digital humanities, data science, computer science, information science, media studies, visual culture studies, or related fields. Ideal candidates will have experience or a strong interest in one or more of the following: computational approaches to visual or multimodal materials, open-source software development, educational resource creation, or community-engaged scholarship with libraries, archives, and museums. A Ph.D. in any field is required by the time of appointment. Applicants should apply online at https://jobs.richmond.edu and submit a curriculum vitae and cover letter describing their interest in the position and relevant experience. Candidates may be asked, at a later date, to provide the names and contact information for three references who will be asked to submit letters of recommendation. Review of applications will commence 1 April 2026 and continue until the position is filled. Please contact Taylor Arnold ([email protected]) with any questions. For more information on the Distant Viewing Lab, please visit https://distantviewing.org. The University of Richmond is a private university located just a short drive from downtown Richmond, Virginia. Through its five schools and wide array of campus programming, the University combines the best qualities of a small liberal arts college and a large university. With approximately 4,000 students, an 8:1 student-faculty ratio, and more than 90% of traditional undergraduate students living on campus, the University is remarkably student-centered. The mission of the University of Richmond is to educate in an academically challenging, intellectually vibrant, and collaborative community dedicated to the holistic development of students and the production of scholarly and creative work. A Richmond education prepares students for lives of purpose, thoughtful inquiry, and responsible leadership in a diverse world. The University of Richmond’s strategic priorities are academic excellence, belonging and community, access and affordability, well-being, and experiential learning and community engagement. The University seeks to model a relentlessly welcoming and inclusive campus community that values the expression of difference in ways that promote excellence in teaching, learning, personal development, and institutional success. Our academic community strongly encourages applications that are in keeping with this commitment. Located just minutes from downtown Richmond, Virginia, the University of Richmond blends the intimacy of a small college with exceptional academic, research, and cultural opportunities usually found only at large institutions. The mission of the University of Richmond is to educate in an academically challenging, intellectually vibrant, and collaborative community dedicated to the holistic development of students and the production of scholarly and creative work. A Richmond education prepares students for lives of purpose, thoughtful inquiry, and responsible leadership in a diverse world. Our strategic priorities are academic excellence, belonging and community, access and affordability, well-being, and experiential learning and community engagement. These priorities, coupled with strong benefits, makes the University of Richmond an employer of choice in the Richmond area. UR is a private, highly selective, liberal arts university with a welcoming spirit that prizes diversity of experience and thought. With more than 60 undergraduate majors and an average undergraduate class size of 15 students, the University provides a collaborative learning and research environment unlike any other in higher education, offering students an extraordinary combination of the liberal arts with law, business, leadership studies, and continuing education. The University of Richmond ranks number 30 among the nation’s best liberal arts colleges by US News and World Report, one of many accolades that showcases Richmond as a premiere place to grow professionally and personally.

Requirements

• A Ph.D. in any field is required by the time of appointment.
• Applicants should apply online at https://jobs.richmond.edu and submit a curriculum vitae and cover letter describing their interest in the position and relevant experience.

Nice To Haves

• experience or a strong interest in one or more of the following: computational approaches to visual or multimodal materials, open-source software development, educational resource creation, or community-engaged scholarship with libraries, archives, and museums.

Responsibilities

• creating multimedia Open Educational Resources (OERs)
• contributing to workshop preparation and facilitation
• assisting in the curation of diverse visual collections for the DV Data platform
• creating documentation for the Distant Viewing Toolkit
• helping organize the Distant Viewing Conference at the University of Richmond

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Education Level: Ph.D. or professional degree
• Number of Employees: 5,001-10,000 employees