Archives at NCBS -- Open Positions

Archives at NCBS
Call for Positions

Photo Credit: Ravi KB

Archives Description
The Archives at NCBS is a public space for the history of science in contemporary India (https://archives.ncbs.res.in/). It opened to the public in February 2019 with 18 collections, with a variety of primary research material – administrative records, annotated manuscripts, maps, architectural drawings, lab notes, photographs, negatives, slides, oral histories and other electronic audio/visual material. In 2022, the Archives at NCBS (https://archives.ncbs.res.in/) has strengthened its intention to be a collecting centre for the history of science in contemporary India. The website already has the catalog for 50,000 archival objects. By the end of this year, we will have on our website the full catalog for all 150,000 objects, ranging from manuscripts and correspondence to photographs to scientific equipment, from across 25 collections. In addition to the collections visible on the website, we hold other valuable material like the papers of TSG Sastry, a physicist who worked on the Thumba rocket programme, Leslie Coleman, an early 20th century agricultural scientist in Mysore state, and the agricultural scientist and institution builder, MS Swaminathan. We are fortunately able to receive, process, preserve and digitize archival material, and this should be a stable resource for generations ahead. We are also leading efforts in developing legal and ethical standards, and digital annotation tools for archival material. A full range of activities undertaken by the archives is on Page 129/130 of the annual report, https://www.ncbs.res.in/annual-report. Work at the archives is along four broad objectives: strengthening research collections and access in domain areas, pushing the frontiers of research in archival sciences, building capacity and public awareness through education, training and programming, and reimagining the archives as part of the commons. We’re also a founding member of Milli (https://milli.link/), a broader collective of individuals and communities interested in the nurturing of archives, and for the public to find, describe and share archival material and stories.

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Open Positions:

There are no open positions at this time. But if you think you are interested in the work at the Archives at NCBS, do email us and let's start the conversation. Thank you.

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PAST POSITIONS

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Public Engagement at the Archives at NCBS
Are you interested in helping us get the word out for the Archives at NCBS? What blue sky ideas and visions might you have for repositioning the archive as a public physical and virtual space? Do keep in mind that work in public engagement would also include the following baseline activities:
- Creating lively social media engagement that sparks public conversation (currently on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter)
- Managing and hosting public events, including an ongoing lecture series and giving tours of the archives exhibition space.
- Creating one new avenue to make archival material accessible, likely in the form of a newsletter
- Curating content from the archives for merchandise: T-shirts, postcards, bookmarks, anything else.
- Liaison with local schools and colleges, including conducting tours

When: Jan 2023-March 2023
Duration: 3 months (flexible)
Where: In-person at NCBS in Bangalore
Submission deadline: November 20, 2022

Application Process:
(a) All interested applicants should apply through this online questionnaire before the submission deadline: https://bit.ly/archives-ncbs-public-engagement
(b) Those selected from this questionnaire will be asked to make time for a 45-minute interview slot (in person or Zoom).
(c) Final short-listed candidates provide names of two relevant referees who might be contacted as a final step in the process.

Compensation: Rs 50,000 per month (negotiable based on qualifications and experience)
Contact: archives at ncbs dot res dot in

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UPDATE: Nov 10 2022: These positions are now filled.

We are putting out a call for an experimental 3-4 month residency at the Archives at NCBS. We see archives as vibrant spaces that can engage with people from different disciplines. And we want to hear from you -- writers, techies, artists, curators, academics, lawyers, teachers, some other profession that better fits you! Tell us how you may want to build, interrogate or use archives.

When: ~November 2022 to March 2023.
Duration: 3 - 5 months
Where: In-person at NCBS in Bangalore, but some remote work is possible.

First Submission Deadline: Oct 23 2022

Second submission deadline (in case we don't fill positions): Oct 30 2022

Application Process:
(a) All interested applicants should apply through this online questionnaire: https://bit.ly/archives-ncbs-residency
(b) Those selected from this questionnaire will be asked to make time for a 45-minute interview slot (in person or Zoom).
(c) Final short-listed candidates will be required to provide names of two relevant referees who will be contacted as a final step in the process.

Compensation: Total of Rs 1.5 - 2.5 lakhs for the duration of the residency, distributed through monthly pay.

Contact: archives at ncbs dot res dot in

Scope: We would like to leave this open and hear about your vision. But here are some ideas and residencies we are keen about:

1. Public engagement for the Archives at NCBS: Reimagine public engagement! Have ideas for newsletters? Can you bring out nuanced critique of the archive itself? Can you write or communicate using material from the archive? How about an attempt at a podcast series? For this stint, what blue sky ideas and visions might you have for repositioning the archive as a public physical and virtual space?

2. Tech and things digital and open source: Want to tinker with developing code toward a prototype for annotating archival objects? Or play with a new https://www.wikibase.cloud/ module? How about the architecture for an online platform for digital objects and catalogues?

3. Conservation: We are gearing up to set up a conservation lab. Want in? Have ideas on how to take it forward? How about defining conservation protocols and working on non-toxic treatment methods, and anoxic chambers?

4. Oral History Projects

5. Curatorial Research

6. Curriculum development using archives, and toward understanding archives.

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Position: Archivist. Archives at NCBS (This is an open call for positions at various experience levels)

UPDATE: Oct 10 2022: The archivist positions are filled for 2022-23. But if you are still interested in being in touch, do fill up the form below and we will contact you in the future.

Duration: 6 months, 1 year (both extendable to multiple years, depending on specific position and mutual interest)

Job Description: The candidate might hold a post-graduate degree preferably in archival methods or history from an internationally recognized institution. And/OR they will have at least 2-5 (or more or less!) years of work experience in key archival roles at nationally recognized archives/consultancies. Through their work experience, they are expected to have demonstrated knowledge of accessioning, appraisal and archival arrangement methods, in addition to work on oral history collections. They might have some experience in public engagement with archives, and a track record of designing and delivering successful public events/projects. They will possess excellent communication and organizational skills. They are expected to be adept at the following roles. But we completely understand an applicant might not check all these boxes. So, you know what, just read on, check out the questionnaire. And apply if you think you are a good fit, or have better ideas on what this centre should be doing.

•   Expanding accessions at the Archives at NCBS to reflect its objectives as a public collecting centre for the history of science in contemporary India. Manage the end-to-end archival process, from sourcing, appraising and accessioning, to arrangement, preservation and access.
•   Applying archival standards for arrangement, description, conservation and preservation: Integrating global archival standards into the framework of the Archives at NCBS, both in the physical collections and their digital reproductions.
•   Developing and applying transparent standards of access.
•   Supervision and coordination, both of archival accessions from across India, and of 1-2 staff members and interns.
•   Manage and conduct oral history interviews as part of the process of collecting tangible archival material.
•   Proficiency with all things digital, and/or willingness to pick skills up. Manage and operate open source archival catalog management systems like ArchivesSpace and AtoM and digital preservation management systems like Archivematica. Work in coordination with a software architect in the team at the Archives at NCBS.
•   Public engagement activities of Archives at NCBS: As part of team at NCBS, coordinate public lecture series, exhibition space, visitor tours, seminars and workshops. Coordinate (and operate/delegate) social media and email communication from the Archives at NCBS.
•   Demonstrated ability and willingness to present research work to peers and the public.

Application Process:
(a) All interested applicants should apply through this online questionnaire: https://bit.ly/archives-ncbs-questionnaire
(b) Those selected from this questionnaire will be asked to make time for a 45-minute interview slot (in person or Zoom).
(c) Final short-listed candidates will be required to provide names of two relevant referees who will be contacted as a final step in the process.

Compensation:
Negotiable. Commensurate with experience and skills. We aim to be competitive.

Deadlines:
Rolling (This announcement was first made on Sep 10 2022. First review after Sep 18 2022, 11:59PM IST. And then every week thereafter. The website will be updated when the positions are filled).

Contact Information: https://archives.ncbs.res.in/contact