Opportunities

Adopting Transkribus in the National Library of Scotland

Understanding how handwritten text recognition will change management and use of digitised manuscripts

The National Library of Scotland, the University of Edinburgh and the University of Glasgow, in conjunction with the READ-COOP are seeking a doctoral student for an AHRC-funded Collaborative Doctoral Award.

The project has been awarded funding by the Scottish Graduate School for Arts and Humanities (SGSAH) and will be supervised by Professor Melissa Terras (College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences, University of Edinburgh), Dr Paul Gooding (Lecturer in Information Studies, University of Glasgow), Dr Sarah Ames (Digital Scholarship Librarian, National Library of Scotland) and Stephen Rigden (Digital Archivist, National Library of Scotland).

Transkribus is the machine learning platform for generating transcripts of historical manuscripts via handwritten text recognition.

This is an extraordinary opportunity for a strong PhD student to explore their own research interests, while working closely with a major cultural heritage organisation, two world-leading universities, and the team behind Transkribus.

The studentship will begin on 14 September 2020. The successful candidate will be based in the School of Literature, Languages and Cultures, at the George Square campus of the University of Edinburgh. They will also spend considerable time at the National Library of Scotland, and will liase with the Transkribus team (based at the University of Innsbruck). Much of the research can be undertaken offsite.

The student stipend is approximately £15,285 per annum with additional tuition fees for three and a half years. The award will include a number of training opportunities offered by SGSAH, including their Core Leadership Programme and additional funding to cover travel between partner organisations and related events. This studentship will also benefit from training, support, and networking via the Edinburgh Centre for Data, Culture and Society, and the Edinburgh Futures Institute. The successful candidate will be also invited to join National Library PhD cohort activities.

Further details about the project and eligibility criteria are available from the Jobs.ac.uk website and the University of Edinburgh School of Literatures, Languages and Cultures website. Informal enquiries relating to the Collaborative Doctoral Award project can be made to Professor Melissa Terras, College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences at the University of Edinburgh by emailing: m.terras@ed.ac.uk.

Applications should consist of a single Word file or PDF including the following:

• A brief cover note that includes your full contact details together with the names and contact details of two referees (one page)
• A letter explaining your interest in the studentship and outlining your qualifications for it, as well as an indication of the specific areas of the project you would like to develop (two pages)
• A curriculum vitae (two pages)
• A sample of your writing — this might be an academic essay or another example of your writing style and ability.

Applications should be emailed to pgawards@ed.ac.uk.

The deadline for applications is Monday 22 June 2020 at 17.00.

Applicants will be notified if they have been invited to interview by Thursday 2 July. Interviews will take place on Thursday 16 July via an online video meeting platform.

Queries about the application process can be made by emailing: pgawards@ed.ac.uk.