Research Assistant for Prof. Susanne Paulus
Opportunity Description:
The Tablet Collection at ISAC is home to over 6,000 inscribed artifacts from ancient Mesopotamia, dating from 3000 to 100 BCE, originating from what is now Iraq. This remarkable collection includes clay tablets that capture the literary, legal, economic, and scientific life of past cultures. Through our research, we digitize and catalog these objects, creating a resource for future scholarship and discovery.
Our student researchers play a vital role in this mission, gaining hands-on experience with object-based analysis, digitization, museum database management, and scholarly writing. They also participate in outreach, connecting our work with the broader community. Currently, we are focusing on a unique set of tablets excavated by the University of Chicago in Nippur, aiming to present these texts within their rich archaeological context as well as a series of historical texts from Assyria.
Desired Skills: We seek candidates who are detail-oriented, reliable, and collaborative, with an enthusiasm for artifact-based research. While prior knowledge of Mesopotamian history, culture, or a cuneiform language is a plus, it is not required.
Commitment: The role involves a weekly team meeting and up to 9 hours of research time at ISAC, with some tasks available for remote work.
Application Process:
Susanne Paulus