Researcher Colonial Standards

Location: History of Science Museum, Broad Street, Oxford, OX1 3AZ

About the role

The History of Science Museum (HSM) at the University of Oxford is seeking a dedicated researcher to join the Colonial Standards Project.  The project titled ‘Colonial Standards: using scientific instrument collections in India and the UK to investigate mechanisms of control’ explores the social history of mathematical practices in India from the 9th to 16th centuries, focusing on vernacular sources and extending into the late 18th and early 19th centuries. 

This role will specifically investigate the standardisation of weights and measures in South India during the British East India Company period, utilizing collections from both Indian and UK institutions. 

This is a full-time, fixed-term post for one year, working 37.5 hours per week. 

Due to the nature of this post, the successful candidate will be required to undertake a satisfactory Basic Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) due to access to museum collections. 

Don’t miss out on the chance to contribute to this collaborative project! 

About You

You will have experience in conducting high-quality research using varied historical sources. 

You will have excellent communication skills to engage effectively with both academic and non-specialist audiences. 

You will be proficient in IT and digital media production. 

Ability to work independently and manage multiple tasks effectively is also essential. 

What We Offer

As an employer, we genuinely care about our employees’ wellbeing and this is reflected in the range of benefits that we offer including:

• An excellent contributory pension scheme
• 38 days of annual leave
• A comprehensive range of childcare services
• Family leave schemes
• Cycle loan scheme
• Discounted bus travel and Season Ticket travel loans 

More information is available at https://hr.admin.ox.ac.uk/staff-benefits 

Diversity

Our staff and students come from all over the world, and we proudly promote a friendly and inclusive culture. Diversity is positively encouraged, through diverse groups and champions, as well as a number of family-friendly policies, such as the right to apply for flexible working and support for staff returning from periods of extended absence, for example, shared parental leave. 

How to apply

You will be required to upload your CV and a supporting statement as part of your online application. Your supporting statement should list each of the essential and desirable selection criteria, as listed in the job description, and explain how you meet each one. CVs alone will not be considered. 

We aim to provide a supportive working environment and are happy to discuss training and professional development opportunities. The Chair of this recruitment panel will be Dr JC Niala – Head of Research, Teaching and Collections, who can be contacted with enquiries relating to the role (jc.niala@hsm.ox.ac.uk). General queries about the recruitment and application process should be directed to the Recruitment team within our Human Resources department (recruitment@glam.ox.ac.uk). 

Only applications received online by 12.00 midday (BST) on Friday 11 April 2025 can be considered. Interviews are expected to take place on Wednesday 23 and Thursday 24 April 2025.

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