Heritage scientist

We are currently looking to hire heritage scientists for the continued development of the Swedish National Heritage Board's Heritage Laboratory

The Heritage Laboratory is part of the Unit for Heritage Science. This unit is responsible for supporting research and knowledge building in the field of cultural heritage and for coordinating and propelling the interdisciplinary research area of ​​heritage science in Sweden. The unit compromises approximately 10 employees, and is divided into activities related to the Heritage Laboratory, a research environment for runes and runic inscriptions, and work with international and national standardization in cultural conservation. 

The Heritage Laboratory is an open research infrastructure and resource for scientific analyses in heritage science. Our field is interdisciplinary and often requires collaboration both nationally and internationally. To generate knowledge that leads to developed practices for the sustainable use and preservation of cultural heritage, we drive and participate in various R&D collaborations. Our infrastructure is also open to collaborations that aim to uncover new cultural-historical knowledge. Our partners come from universities, museums, other cultural heritage institutions and laboratories. The instrument park includes SEM-EDS, XRF, X-ray, multiband imaging, FTIR and Raman. The heritage laboratory is equipped with portable instruments and analyses are also carried out on site at museums or other locations.

We run the Heritage Science Sweden network and represent Sweden in the European infrastructure initiative E-RIHS.

Your tasks

In the role of heritage scientist, you will:

• lead and participate in interdisciplinary research and development projects, where you will be responsible for scientific/technical competence.
• communicate results and work to ensure that experiences and methods are implemented by different target groups
• be responsible for tasks in the joint work to run and develop the Cultural Heritage Laboratory as a node for Heritage Science. This may include being responsible for the operation and procurement of instruments. It may also involve strategic work to promote national and international R&D collaborations, monitor and communicate relevant calls for R&D funds, or to highlight existing national resources within heritage science in the form of competences, laboratory resources, facilities and research environments.

Working in the Heritage Laboratory is a fun and varied job where we encounter many scientific issues and new collaboration partners. We are looking for someone who likes diverse tasks and has a curious attitude towards new methods and subject areas. You are interested in working with our cultural heritage so that it can be preserved, used and developed. The staff group has a mix of backgrounds and expertice where your unique combination of experiences and knowledge contribute to a broad overall competence.

Your Competence

You have a PhD in a field relevant to heritage science, such as chemistry, physics, engineering, conservation science, or archaeology. You have experience participating in research and development projects in collaboration with others. You are experienced in disseminating and communicating results and methods, both through scientific publishing and in popular science contexts.

You must be proficient in both Swedish and English, in both spoken and written form. If you have an international background, you need to be willing to learn Swedish to carry out the work.

It is advantageous if you have experience in one or more of the following areas:

• Knowledge of different materials' components, degradation processes, and preservation
• Experience with advanced documentation methods such as X-ray, IR, and UV photography
• Experience with spectroscopic analysis methods such as SEM-EDS, XRF, Raman, and FTIR
• Experience in identifying, applying for, and working with funding from various research financiers
• Experience with research infrastructures
• Documented experience in pedagogical and communicative work related to R&D
• Education or experience in cultural studies, such as conservation, art history or museums.

As a person, you are structured and capable of working independently. You are goal- and results-oriented and have strong collaboration skills. You willingly share your knowledge and take an interest in the expertise of others.

Other Information

The position is full-time and permanent, with a six-month probationary period. The location is Visby. The work is based at the Heritage Laboratory in Visby and requires a high degree of physical presence at the workplace.