The Cultural Heritage and Archaeology Research Group is looking for three Wake Forest University undergraduate students to begin a year-long position working as Digital Heritage Research Technicians. These paid positions begin after the 2022 Spring Break, and last through next March, 2023. Student researchers will gain experience in archaeological field and lab methods, digital heritage methods and applications using Geographic Information Systems (GIS), and work in a collaborative, team-based environment under the direction of Dr. Terry P. Brock, an archaeologist who has been working at the intersection of museums and archaeology for his entire career. They will also produce their own digital heritage deliverable, and present at the Mid-Atlantic Archaeology Conference in March of 2023. These positions are provided through funding from the Office of the Dean of the College.
CHARG Techs will be working on a handful of cultural heritage projects with CHARG’s Institutional Partners. This year, CHARG Techs will be working with The Archaeology Department at The Montpelier Foundation, and the staff of the Wake Forest Historical Museum. Projects at Montpelier will support the ongoing research at the Home Farm Project building digital heritage archaeology dashboards, and expanding the Montpelier Archaeological Archive Project (MAAP) by incorporating the Home Farm sites. At the Wake Forest Historical Museum, CHARG Techs will work on digitizing and georeferencing historical maps to aid in the development of a mapping exhibition, and to begin building a basis for exploring archaeological resources in the Town of Wake Forest, NC.
Details
Schedule
Different periods of the year-long position are focused on different aspects of learning and project work.
- Hiring Process
- February 28, 2022: Applications Due
- March 1 – 4, 2022: Interviews
- March 15, 2022: Onboarding
- Spring Season (March 15 – April 22)
- Training
- WFHM Map Digitizing Project
- Montpelier Dashboard Project
- Summer Season (August 17 – 21st)
- Archaeology Field Training at The Montpelier Foundation
- Fall Season (August 22 – December 1)
- Develop and Work on Projects
- Spring Season (January 10 – March 30)
- Work on Projects
- Develop Presentations and Deliverables
- Attend and Present at Mid Atlantic Archaeology Conference (March 30th)
Compensation
During the Spring and Fall Seasons, Technicians will be paid $9/hour and work 8 hours per week. Four hours of work each week will be conducted in-person with the rest of the team.
Technicians are expected to attend a four-day field school training the week before the fall semester begins. This training will be designed to acclimate students to the archaeological process, and explore the ways that The Montpelier Foundation utilizes archaeology as a tool for exploring the past. This training will include archaeological field work, tours, and guided conversation. Students will be provided a stipend for travel and meals, and will receive free housing for the four days.
In the spring of 2023, Technicians will present their work at the Mid Atlantic Archaeology Conference. CHARG will cover the registration, travel costs, and 2 nights of hotel expenses.
Technicians will have full access to ESRI ArcGIS Software and applications, and all the resources available via the licensing options, training resources, and other tools to complete the projects. Training on aspects of ArcGIS tools will be provided.
Qualifications
- Applicants must be undergraduates at Wake Forest University during the Spring and Fall of 2022 and Spring of 2023.
- No experience in ArcGIS or GIS is necessary, although some experience or classwork is encouraged.
- Applicants from any major or minor are encouraged to apply.
- Applicants should be willing to work in both independent and team capacities.
- Applicants should be interested in participating in an archaeological field school, and understand the physical demands of such a commitment.
- Applicants should have an interest in learning how archaeology, the built environment, and the past are intertwined with how people in the present view and experience the world.
If this is a position you think you might be interested in, but there is an obstacle in the expectations, or you don’t think you are qualified, please reach out to learn more. This is our first time offering this position, and we want to make sure it is accessible to students.
