Postdoctoral Position in 3D Digitization and Cultural Heritage Imaging

Postdoctoral Position in 3D Digitization and Cultural Heritage Imaging (36 months)

Postdoctoral research assistant as of 1st April 2026 or by arrangement.

University of Basel ranks among the world’s one hundred best universities and boasts a top‑ten place among German‑speaking universities.

The Digital Humanities Lab at the University of Basel is an interdisciplinary institution that coordinates and promotes research, teaching and infrastructure for questions of the technological and digital worlds in the humanities and social sciences. It offers a master’s degree and a doctorate in digital humanities and has collaborative ties with several departments of the university, including the Departments of Arts, Media, and Philosophy, Languages and Literatures, History, Ancient Civilizations, Social Sciences, and the faculty of Psychology.

Research and teaching focus on computational photography, media studies, science and technology studies, videogame studies, critical making and design, AI and society, computational social science, and psychology.

We invite applications for a full‑time postdoctoral researcher to join the interdisciplinary SNSF‑funded research project "Digital Originals in 3D" (D2M). This innovative project is a collaboration between the University of Basel, the Bern University of the Arts, and FHNW. The goal is to develop a highly automated, reproducible pipeline for the capture, processing, and dissemination of 3D digital twins of cultural artifacts using cutting‑edge imaging and rendering technologies.

• Developing and operating the robotic multi‑modal capture system (SfM‑MVS, eRTI, and Photometric Stereo).
• Designing workflows for automated photogrammetric acquisition and reconstruction tailored to GLAM (Galleries, Libraries, Archives, Museums) contexts.
• Contributing to data registration and deconvolution, metadata acquisition, and high‑fidelity model evaluation.
• Collaborating with heritage partners (e.g., Swiss National Museum, SIK‑ISEA) and preparing evaluation reports and a white paper for applied use.

• PhD in Digital Humanities, Imaging Science, Computer Vision, or a related field.
• Proven experience in photogrammetry, image‑based 3D reconstruction, and cultural heritage digitization.
• Solid programming skills (e.g., Python, C++) and familiarity with photogrammetry software (e.g., COLMAP, Agisoft, Reality Capture).
• Interest in robotics‑based imaging systems and working across disciplines with engineers and conservators.
• A background or interest in conservation science is advantageous.

• A 100 % funded position for a duration of 36 months at the University of Basel’s Digital Humanities Lab, a leader in scientific photography and digital cultural heritage.
• Access to state‑of‑the‑art infrastructure (Arago Rig, eRTI systems, high‑resolution imaging).
• Collaborative environment within a diverse consortium and real‑world application scenarios.
• Active mentoring and opportunities for academic career development and publication.

The University of Basel stands for excellence through diversity and is committed to equal opportunities and family friendliness. The employment conditions are based on the personnel and salary regulations of the University of Basel.

Further information on the Digital Humanities Lab can be found on our website: (Use the "Apply for this Job" box below)..

If you have any questions, please contact Prof. Fornaro (peter.fornaro) or the DHLab administration team (sekretariat-dhlab).

We look forward to receiving your complete application by 15th March 2026 via the university’s online application portal. Late applications and applications by other means will not be considered.

Title:

Postdoctoral Position in 3D Digitization and Cultural Heritage Imaging (36 months)