Researcher in 3D Scholarship and Infrastructure - PURE3D 2.0

Welcome to Maastricht University!

What if your next role let you sit at the intersection of cutting-edge 3D technology, open scholarship, and international heritage communities? PURE3D 2.0 is building the first sustainable, FAIR-compliant infrastructure for 3D Scholarly Editions and we are looking for a Researcher in 3D Scholarship and Infrastructure who will be the bridge between our platform and the communities who use it.

Researcher in 3D Scholarship and Infrastructure — PURE3D 2.0 

About the project

PURE3D 2.0 (Building a Sustainable and Open Infrastructure for 3D Scholarship, 2026–2029) is an Open Science NL Infrastructure project led by Maastricht University's Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. Unlike traditional publication methods that reduce 3D research to 2D screenshots or video flyovers, PURE3D enables researchers across all disciplines to create rich, multimodal scholarly works where 3D models are central to the academic argument, accompanied by annotations, articles, guided tours, audio narratives, and contextual media. With approximately 70 published 3D scholarly editions spanning history, heritage, archaeology, literature, architecture, cultural studies, and media studies, PURE3D demonstrates the transformative potential of 3D-centered scholarship. The infrastructure is disciplinary-agnostic and accessible to researchers and the public with varying levels of digital expertise, making 3D scholarship available worldwide.

• Our goal: Supporting PURE3D 2.0 in expanding its user communities, coordinating events that bring together diverse stakeholders and disciplinary perspectives, training current and future users of the infrastructure, and promoting PURE3D’s mission in developing a sustainable infrastructure for 3D scholarship.

• Your colleagues: You will join a dynamic and distributed team at FASoS led by PI Dr Costas Papadopoulos. You will work alongside the two initiators of the infrastructure, a Digital Content & Community Building Specialist, three Senior Research Software Engineers, a UX/UI Designer, and a Project Manager. Beyond Maastricht, you will collaborate with partners at the University of Amsterdam, TU Delft, Open University, and DANS, and with international partners including DARIAH-EU, Europeana, the Rijksmuseum, the National Library of the Netherlands, and the Smithsonian Institution.

What you do

In this role, funded by SSHoC-NL, you support PURE3D 2.0 in reaching its user communities and act as a bridge between the PURE3D leadership team and the broader research and heritage communities. You contribute to expanding the platform’s reach, supporting its long-term sustainability, and ensuring its day-to-day operations.

You tasks:

• organize and manage multiple rounds of 3D scholarly edition development, including designing themed calls for different audiences (e.g. GLAM, Education, Tourism), and coordinating proposal calls and review processes.
• set up and deliver training trajectories and workshops for participants, and mentor edition creators in both content development and technical support.
• oversee the full editorial workflow of 3D scholarly editions, from application review and peer review coordination to revision management and final publication.
• maintain and update editorial guidelines and ensure FAIR principles are applied throughout the publication process.
• act as a liaison between the PURE3D team, technical partners, and stakeholders by reporting issues, coordinating feature requests, and supporting infrastructure maintenance and documentation.
• contribute to community engagement and representation by promoting PURE3D at events, building relationships with partner institutions, and supporting dissemination activities.
• maintain the website, social media channels, and related content to ensure up-to-date and accessible information about the project.

What you bring

We’re not looking for someone who ticks all the checkboxes; we’re interested in who you are and what you bring. Do you recognize yourself in this?

This role requires strong strategic thinking and the ability to envision PURE3D’s role in advancing global 3D scholarship. You should be comfortable working in a dynamic and evolving research infrastructure environment, with a collaborative mindset to effectively engage with PIs, technical teams, institutional partners, and the broader research community. The position also requires self-direction to manage multiple workstreams while maintaining clear communication with project leads, as well as strong networking and relationship-building skills to foster partnerships and community engagement. Experience in stakeholder engagement across diverse audiences is important, along with strong attention to detail to ensure high-quality delivery and documentation across parallel activities.
Furthermore, you bring:

• an advanced degree (MA) in humanities, social sciences, digital humanities, or a related field, or equivalent professional experience in digital scholarship;
• demonstrated professional experience in organising and coordinating complex, multi-stakeholder projects;
• demonstrated experience with digital tools and platforms, including web-based systems, content management, and editorial workflows, and a solid understanding of the broader technical landscape;
• a background in or familiarity with cultural heritage digitisation, 3D modelling, and/or digital scholarship projects;
• experience working with diverse audiences, e.g. academics, museum professionals, and students;
• excellent written and oral communication skills in English, with knowledge of Dutch considered an advantage.

What we offer

At Maastricht University, you’ll work in an international, open, and engaged environment. We offer: 

• A 12-month contract (1,0 FTE) with the possibility of an extension.
• A gross monthly salary between € 3.546 and € 5.538 (based on full-time employment of 38 hours per week). 8% holiday allowance and an 8.3% year-end bonus.
• 29 vacation days (based on full-time), four additional days off (Carnival Monday and Tuesday, Good Friday, and Liberation Day), and the possibility to accrue up to 12 extra days through compensation hours.
• Flexible working hours, a home office allowance, and the option to work from home.
• Freedom and space to shape your work independently and develop your ideas.
• A close-knit community of colleagues to collaborate and grow with.
• A solid pension plan via ABP, company fitness schemes, and access to various university sports facilities.
• An inspiring work environment in the heart of Europe. 

About the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences (FASoS)

FASoS is a close-knit, international community of thinkers, doers, and connectors. We offer interdisciplinary education in cultural and social sciences, and our research focuses on societies in transition. Creativity and collaboration are central; ranging from European integration, digitalization, and culture to innovative educational projects. FASoS is small-scale, informal, and diverse, with room to follow your own path.

Interested?
Want to know more about this position or what it’s like to work at our university? Reach out to Dr Costas Papadopoulos at k.papadopoulos@maastrichtuniversity.nl. The deadline for submitting your application is 27 June 2026.

Please submit the following:

• Curriculum Vitae
• A motivation letter (max. 2 pages) describing your interest in and fit for this role, paying particular attention to the essential and desirable qualifications, as well as key competencies listed above
• The names of two referees. They will be conducted at the end of the process and before your appointment is confirmed by the Faculty Board. 
• Please note that during the submission of your application, you will be asked to complete five screening questions, which help us gain a clearer understanding of your qualifications for this role, including your familiarity with key tasks such as 3D digitisation, event coordination, and outreach.

The first interview round will take place on the 2nd or 3rd July 2026. This might be followed by a second interview on the 7th of July.

The candidate is expected to start on the project on the 1st of September 2026.

Apply now via the button below. We look forward to getting to know you!

About Maastricht University
At Maastricht University, we collaboratively seek solutions to help move the world forward. We do this with 23,300 students and 5,400 employees across 5 regional locations, 6 faculties, and more than 70 research institutes. We encourage you to push boundaries and discover new opportunities for yourself and the world around you. Together, we can find the answers for tomorrow. 

The vacancy is open for internal and external candidates. In case of equal qualifications, internal candidates will be prioritized.

At Maastricht University, we prefer to contact potential candidates directly. We therefore kindly ask that no agencies or intermediaries submit offers or approaches.

Maastricht University is committed to promoting and nurturing a diverse and inclusive community. We believe that diversity in our staff and student population contributes to the quality of research and education at UM, and strive to enable this through inclusive policies and innovative projects led by teams of staff and students. We encourage you to apply for this position.