About Position/Job
The University of Oxford invites applications for a Research Assistant for the Indian Collection at the prestigious Ashmolean Museum, working within the Department of Eastern Art. This role supports the Museum’s ongoing work on the provenance, documentation, and interpretation of its exceptional South Asian and Indian subcontinent collections, which include more than 46,000 objects and 150,000 archival materials. Under the supervision of Mallica Kumbera Landrus, Keeper of Eastern Art, the postholder will contribute to improving digital records, cataloguing methodologies, and the research accuracy of the Indian Collection. This two-year, part-time position offers an exciting opportunity to work with one of Britain’s most important resources for the study of Asian art, integrating curatorial practice, archival research, digitisation, and cultural heritage preservation.
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Position/Job Details
- Position: Research Assistant
- Institution: University of Oxford
- Department: Ashmolean Museum, Department of Eastern Art
- Research field: Indian Collection / Asian Art
- Location: Oxford, United Kingdom
- Number of posts: 1
- Job Type: Part-time, Fixed-term (2 years)
- Start Date (Anticipated): January 2026
- Working Hours: 18.75 hours per week
- Salary Range: £39,424 – £43,984 per annum (pro-rata)
- Required Degree/Diploma: Masters
Research area
- Indian art and material culture
- South Asian visual heritage
- Provenance research
- Archival documentation and analysis
- Museum and collection studies
Eligibility & Qualifications
Minimum Requirements:
- Degree in Art History, Archaeology, or Anthropology with a focus on India
- Demonstrable knowledge of Indian visual and material culture
- At least one relevant research publication or strong potential to publish
- Excellent IT, database, and data-entry skills
- Strong organisational and communication abilities
Preferred Qualifications:
- Experience working with museum collections
- Familiarity with digitisation workflows
- Knowledge of archival handling and documentation standards
Key Responsibilities
- Conduct provenance research and match archival documents to objects
- Input, update, and verify provenance records in the digital collections database
- Prepare catalogue entries and interpretive labels
- Coordinate the digitisation of the archive
- Ensure all documentation meets museum data standards
- Collaborate with the Keeper of Eastern Art on research tasks
- Handle archival materials safely, including lifting and moving boxes
Application Process
How to Apply
Applicants must submit an online application through the University of Oxford’s recruitment system.
For role-specific queries, contact: eastern.art@ashmus.ox.ac.uk
For recruitment queries: recruitment@glam.ox.ac.uk
Required Documents:
- Curriculum Vitae (CV)
- Supporting Statement
- Any published work (if applicable)
Important Dates
- Application Opens: 26 November 2025
- Deadline: 5 January 2026 (12:00 midday GMT)
- Interview Date: 30 January 2026
Useful Links
- Institution Website: University of Oxford
- Official Notification Link: click here
- Apply now: click here
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