Job Announcement: Center for Cultural Landscapes at the University of Virginia
The University of Virginia School of Architecture seeks a Project Manager for the first phase of the UVA Landscape Studies Initiative. This is a three-year appointment to begin in August 2017. The position is funded by the Mellon Foundation grant with additional support from Jefferson Trust and the UVA Provost.
The Landscape Studies Initiative will catalyze the research of scholars, teachers, students, writers, and practitioners in the areas of anthropology, archaeology, architecture, art history, cultural history, engineering, environmental planning, geography, landscape architecture, and several disciplines in the social and natural sciences. Landscape Architecture faculty members Elizabeth Meyer and Michael Lee will lead the collaborative design and development of a new interface for texts, maps, narratives and experience of significant cultural landscapes that builds on the thematic structure of Elizabeth Barlow Roger’s 2001 publication Landscape Design: A Cultural and Architectural History. This initiative’s pilot project will simultaneously study Central Park, New York and Park Muskau, Germany as test beds for an interdisciplinary pedagogical model that both utilizes and creates advanced digital humanities resources related to landscape studies within the classroom. The Initiative will eventually grow to include digital humanities projects and research initiatives, curricular programs, field studies, professional development programs, annual book prizes, and occasional book reprints in conjunction with partner organizations. It will establish the University of Virginia as a pre-eminent university for landscape studies through access to rare archival materials in a library setting, as well as the development of advanced digital resources that enable enhanced interpretation of word, image, and design.
The Project Manager will lead the first phase of the UVA Landscape Studies Initiative under the direction of the Faculty Directors. The position works closely with faculty and staff across the School of Architecture, UVA Libraries, and the College of Arts & Sciences to set a research and implementation agenda for an innovative digital resource in landscape design history. Under the direction of the Project Manager, the interdisciplinary Landscape Studies Initiative research group will create a database of landscape places, terms, and types that are geo-spatially referenced on a global scale. The digital resource will make use of a suite of visualization tools to support new creative interpretations and critical cartographies of historic landscapes. The digital resource will function as both a research platform and pedagogic tool. Digital humanities and technical experts on the team will create metadata terms, catalogue images and texts, and design a database interface and search engine.
The ideal candidate will have a terminal degree in Landscape Architecture, Architectural History, Cultural Geography, or a related field. A master's degree is required, with preference for a PhD, MLA, MArch, or comparable terminal degree in the field. The candidate will have subject matter expertise in landscape history and interpretation, a facility with digital media, project management experience, and an interest in intellectual endeavors that involve digital scholarship. 1-4 years of professional experience are required.
For more information and to apply, visit: https://jobs.virginia.edu and search on Posting Number 0620834.