King's College London

About us

The Department of Digital Humanities is a global leader in researching digital culture and society, and in exploring the use of advanced technology-related methods in humanities research.

Since our  founding in 1992, we have spearheaded new intellectual possibilities among computing, the humanities and the social sciences.

The Department offers an undergraduate degree in Digital Culture, which looks at how technological innovations are bringing about new challenges and opportunities in our societies. Postgraduate students can choose from a number of different MA programmes, including in Big Data in Culture & Society, Digital Culture & Society  and  Digital Asset & Media Management, as well as our MA/PhD research degrees in Digital Humanities.

We are the largest and most prestigious department of our kind worldwide,ranked first in the UK (along with the  Department of Culture, Media & Creative Industries) in the latest Research Excellence Framework. Our current work includes topics such as big and open data, cultural curation and preservation, digital labour, global infrastructures, networked identities, and democracy.

King's College London has a long tradition of research in the digital humanities, going back to the early 1970s. The Department for Digital Humanities started as the 'Centre for Computing in the Humanities' in 1992. The Department has been highly influential in areas of digital information management and digital research methods, and today its expertise in digital archives and libraries is still in high demand.

About the role

As we continue to grow and strengthen our department, we are seeking to appoint a Lecturer in Computational Humanities. We understand this area broadly, as relating to all aspects of the use of computational methods and research for exploring the human social and cultural record. This appointment is made on the College’s Academic Education Pathway (AEP), meaning that its focus is on education, pedagogy and the delivery of our student experience in the Department.  This post is an opportunity for a qualified individual to play a role in shaping our vision of a diverse and innovative Department of Digital Humanities at one of the most prestigious universities in the UK.

For this role, we are looking for an expert in digital humanities with a particular focus on computational aspects, including (but not limited to): data science; social and cultural data analytics; AI and the humanities; computationally-intensive or data-intensive approaches; social and cultural approaches to data; data visualisation; computational research on social media; natural language processing; computational history.

Candidates should have experience of at least one programming language, preferably Python, and the ability to teach coding to DH students at beginner and intermediate levels. A knowledge of web technologies would be an asset.

We would also appreciate an interest in linking practice with theoretical approaches to computational analysis, and we particularly welcome candidates who focus on global/non-Western settings and  approaches.

We are also interested in candidates who can contribute to our teaching and training programmes in areas of critical digital practice related to these areas, and we particularly welcome applications from candidates with relevant professional experience outside academia.

Key responsibilities of the role are to deliver high-quality education, to contribute to the future development of the department, and to participate in a supportive, collegiate culture. There will be opportunities to be responsible for aspects of departmental administration. Mentorship will be provided to enable the postholder to gain experience and develop professionally.

The role holder will enhance the education and experiences of our students, both for our fast-expanding MA/MSc programmes and the BA in Digital Media and Culture, as well as our new online MA programmes, teaching engaging, up-to-date courses and contributing to the development of our curricula and teaching methods. They will also be required to supervise student dissertations at both undergraduate and postgraduate level. We welcome candidates who can bring global/non-UK perspectives to our curricula.

This is a full time post (35 Hours per week), and you will be offered an indefinite contract.

About you

To be successful in this role, we are looking for candidates to have the following skills and experience:

Essential criteria

1. PhD qualified in relevant subject area (completed or submitted by the time of application), or an equivalent qualification or professional experience in a relevant field
2. An in-depth understanding of Digital Media and Culture and/or a related
3. Experience and/or demonstrable understanding of designing and delivering teaching
4. Ability to communicate clearly and convincingly both orally and in writing to a wide range of individuals and groups, including overseas students, academic and professional services colleagues, and our cultural and industry partners
5. Experience of effective supervision, assessment, marking, and provision of feedback for students at UG and PGT level
6. Experience of contribution to departmental administration
7. Experience of providing personal and pastoral support for students

Desirable criteria

1. A recognized teaching qualification in Higher Education
2. Work experience relevant to the field
3. Experience of online teaching

Downloading a copy of our Job Description

Full details of the role and the skills, knowledge and experience required can be found in the Job Description document, provided at the bottom of the next page after you click “Apply Now”. This document will provide information of what criteria will be assessed at each stage of the recruitment process.

Further information

We pride ourselves on being inclusive and welcoming. We embrace diversity and want everyone to feel that they belong and are connected to others in our community. We are committed to working with our staff and unions on these and other issues, to continue to support our people and to develop a diverse and inclusive culture at King's. As part of this commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion and through this appointment process, it is our aim to develop candidate pools that include applicants from all backgrounds and communities.

We ask all candidates to submit a copy of their CV, and a supporting statement, detailing how they meet the essential criteria listed in the advert. If we receive a strong field of candidates, we may use the desirable criteria to choose our final shortlist, so please include your evidence against these where possible.

To find out how our managers will review your application, please take a look at our ‘ How we Recruit’ pages.