Associate Research Scholar at NYU’s Hidden Legacies Research Initiative

Hidden Legacies: Slavery, Race, and the Making of 21st Century America, a research initiative of the Arthur L. Carter Journalism Institute at NYU, is seeking a part-time Associate Research Scholar to contribute to the growth of our project. Hidden Legacies examines the connections between slavery and contemporary institutions and brings journalists, scholars, students and communities together to promote and produce archival research and reporting that illuminates the experiences of people of color in the United States. At the core of this initiative is the Hidden Legacies Student Research Lab at NYU, which works with students and historians to uncover original documents that connect institutions and slaveholding, and conducts archival and contemporary research to unearth and examine lynching cases in Northern and Western states in the United States. Hidden Legacies currently receives support from NYU and is seeking foundation funding to expand its operations.

The Associate Research Scholar position is a part-time contract position – 10 to 20 hours a week – with NYU. It is grant-funded for one year from the start of the job, with the possibility of an extension based on performance and additional foundation funding.

The Associate Research Scholar of Hidden Legacies will have the following major responsibilities:

• Manage the day-to-day operations of the Hidden Legacies Research Lab, including creating and providing research training materials for student researchers.

• Supervise the research of research lab participants, including undergraduate and graduate students and consultants. This would involve reviewing assignments and holding weekly and/or biweekly meetings with team members on Zoom and/or in person.

• Conduct and oversee research on slavery and institutions as well as on lynching cases in Northern and Western states, utilizing primary and secondary source material, including historical records that document slave sales, mortgages, insurance polices and racial violences. Supervise students and other team members doing similar research.

• Research, write, edit and post material to the Lynchings in the North website, which is currently up and running, and the digital slavery archive, which is currently in development.

• Conduct research into digital archive best practices and support software (AI, transcription, etc)

• Plan research related events, including panel discussions and conferences.

• Initiate contacts with relevant researchers, collections and other groups in the field and develop collaborations for document sharing and other research activities.

• Spearhead fundraising efforts, including contacts with potential donors, writing funding proposals, and coordinating with NYU’s development office.

• Write and file required reports with funders.

• Manage budget in collaboration with the Carter Journalism Institute’s administrative officers, ensuring accurate tracking and projection of expenditures.

• Represent Hidden Legacies at university and professional events.

• Occasional travel to conferences and events required.

In compliance with NYC’s Pay Transparency Act, the annual base salary range for this position is $50/hr - $60/hr. New York University considers factors such as (but not limited to) the specific grant funding and the terms of the research grant when extending an offer.

Excellent research and writing skills and analytical ability are required, as is hands-on experience with WordPress and Omeka S software and experience working with or creating metadata standards for complex data sets. A Master’s degree and experience with archival research are an advantage but not required.

Please submit your resume, cover letter, and references here.