Research Assistant for the Indian Collection in Oxford

The Ashmolean Museum, part of the University of Oxford’s Gardens, Libraries and Museums (GLAM), is seeking a Research Assistant for the Indian Collection within the Department of Eastern Art. The department houses internationally significant holdings of art from South and Southeast Asia, China, Japan and the Islamic world, encompassing over 46,000 objects and 150,000 items in the departmental archives, that together form one of Britain’s most important resources for the study of Asian art.

Working under the supervision of the Keeper of Eastern Art – who also has curatorial responsibility for Indian, Himalayan and Southeast Asian art – you will primarily be responsible for:

• Researching provenance
• Matching archival documents with objects in the collection
• Entering provenance information in the collections database
• Writing labels and/or catalogue entries on works as required by the Keeper

You will improve the quality of available documentation and create digital records to meet Museum data standards for publication online. You will also be responsible for co‑ordinating the digitisation of the archive on site with the assistance of student placements/volunteers. This is a fixed‑term post for two years, working 18.75 hours per week on site. Please note that this role may involve lifting, moving and carrying heavy boxes of papers, in accordance with safety procedures.

You will hold a degree in art history, archaeology or anthropology with a focus on India, and possess demonstrable knowledge of the visual and material culture of the Indian subcontinent. You will have a record of at least one relevant research publication or the potential to produce such publications. You will bring excellent communication skills, together with strong IT and data skills, including data entry and cleaning. You will be highly organised, with good time management skills, and will be confident working both independently and as part of a team.

What We Offer:

• An excellent contributory pension scheme
• 38 days of annual leave
• A comprehensive range of childcare services
• Family leave schemes
• Cycle loan scheme
• Discounted bus travel and Season Ticket travel loans

Diversity is positively encouraged, through diverse groups and champions, as well as a number of family‑friendly policies, such as the right to apply for flexible working and support for staff returning from periods of extended absence, for example, shared parental leave. We are committed to ensuring that our recruitment processes are inclusive and accessible.

If you require the job description or any other materials in an alternative format, or if you would like to request any adjustments to support you through the application or interview process, please contact the recruitment team at recruitment@glam.ox.ac.uk.

How to apply:

You will be required to upload your CV and a supporting statement as part of your online application. Your supporting statement should list each of the essential and desirable selection criteria, as listed in the job description, and explain how you meet each one. CVs alone will not be considered.

We aim to provide a supportive working environment and are happy to discuss training and professional development opportunities. The Chair of this recruitment panel will be Mallica Kumbera Landrus, Keeper of Eastern Art. Please direct role‑specific queries to Yuliia Spolitak (eastern.art@ashmus.ox.ac.uk). General queries about the recruitment and application process should be directed to the Recruitment team within our Human Resources department (recruitment@glam.ox.ac.uk).

Please kindly note that over the Christmas holiday period, email inboxes are unlikely to be monitored. Only applications received online by 12.00 midday (GMT) on Monday 5 January 2026 can be considered. Interviews are expected to take place on Friday 30 January 2026.