Oral History Summer Research Opportunity

The CADVC is looking for two UMBC graduate students interested in an oral history research project this summer. The objective is to collect an extensive oral history of the founding, development, and progress of UMBC’s Joseph Beuys Sculpture Park (JBSP) and its three partnership parks in Baltimore City before Labor Day. 

These positions are open to emerging historians who are interested in gaining experience in interviewing subjects, transcription, and developing strategies for making historical knowledge accessible to community members and online visitors.

Responsibilities

• Conduct 8-10 in-depth oral history interviews with JBSP founders, UMBC staff, Nature Sacred staff, and others
  
• Employ advanced audio production skills by recording, editing, organizing, and producing audio files 
  
• Conduct transcription of all audio recordings
  
• Log documentation of tasks and hours worked

Requirements

• UMBC graduate students with a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 
  
• Taken either HIST 736 (Introduction to Oral Histories), similar coursework at the undergraduate or graduate level, or have consent of a department head or CADVC as having competency in this area.
  
• Must have the ability to become appropriately certified with IRB through UMBC or provide proof of previous certification 
  
• Provide their own transportation to and from campus and have access to their own reliable and suitable audio equipment or the ability to check out equipment from UMBC’s library 

These two positions carry a stipend of $1,500 each. The stipend will be issued in two installments, one $750 installment at the time of hire or completion of IRB certification and one $750 installment upon project completion.

Covid-19 Precautions: 

• It is possible all work may be carried out remotely, but more likely it will require significant in-person recording time with individuals at locations as far as the offices of Nature Sacred in Annapolis and other locations to be determined. 
  
• UMBC may require daily health monitoring and/or regular testing just as if incumbents were coming to campus regularly. 
  
• It is understood that the on-going pandemic may necessitate continued and unexpected changes in requirements for UMBC research activities for many months to flexibility in responding to these changes will be necessary to the successful completion of the project.

To Apply:

Please send your C.V. or resume and a cover email to Sandra Abbott at abbotts@umbc.edu by May 10, 2021. Candidates will then be contacted for a WebEx interview. No phone calls, please.