Jobs at CYENS Centre of Excellence (Now Hiring) — 7 open

Responsibilities

Department: Innovation / Education and Training

No. Of Positions: 1 Part Time Researcher

Reporting Line: Education and Training Manager

Contract Type: Fixed Term Fixed Term project-based contract for the duration of the project.

Part Time basis, approx. 20 hours per week

Duration of project: 30 months (September 2026 – February 2029)

Location: Nicosia, Cyprus

Indicative Annual Gross Salary for Part Time employment (50%): up to €15,800. The salary will be determined based on qualifications, experience, and suitability for the role.

Preferred Start Date: September 2026, or as soon as possible.

Application Deadline: (3 weeks) 15th of July 2026. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.

About the project / position:

The Research Associate will contribute to the implementation of the Re-Memorizing EU WWII – Urban Memories of World War II and Totalitarian Regimes project, a Horizon Europe initiative that combines digital humanities, cultural heritage, public history, immersive technologies (XR), semantic technologies, and participatory research methodologies. The project aims to transform contested WWII and totalitarian heritage into accessible, inclusive, and reusable digital resources through the development of interoperable digital infrastructures, immersive experiences, co-creation activities, and educational resources.

The successful candidate will work within a multidisciplinary research team and contribute to the design, implementation, evaluation, and dissemination of research activities related to cultural heritage digitisation, digital storytelling, public engagement, immersive learning, semantic interoperability, and participatory heritage practices. The position offers opportunities to contribute to scientific publications, project deliverables, policy recommendations, and European-level research outputs.

Key Responsibilities:

The Research Associate will be involved in aspects of the following:

• Research and Knowledge Development

1. Conduct literature reviews and state-of-the-art analyses in areas such as digital heritage, public history, immersive technologies, digital humanities, cultural memory, and participatory methodologies.
2. Contribute to the design and implementation of qualitative and quantitative research activities.
3. Support the collection, organisation, analysis, and interpretation of research data.
4. Assist in the documentation and evaluation of project pilots, demonstrations, and validation activities.

• Digital Heritage and Content Development

1. Contribute to the development and documentation of digital cultural heritage assets, datasets, and educational resources.
2. Support activities related to archival research, oral histories, historical interpretation, and heritage documentation.
3. Assist in the development and evaluation of immersive and interactive cultural heritage experiences, including AR/VR applications, digital twins, and participatory storytelling approaches.

• Stakeholder Engagement and Co-Creation

1. Participate in co-creation workshops and community engagement activities involving citizens, schools, NGOs, cultural organisations, museums, and other stakeholders.
2. Support the coordination of user studies, pilot implementations, validation activities, and feedback collection.
3. Contribute to the preparation of educational, training, and outreach activities.

• Project Implementation and Reporting

1. Contribute to the preparation of project deliverables, technical reports, policy briefs, and dissemination materials.
2. Support project monitoring, data collection, quality assurance, and impact assessment activities.
3. Assist with the organisation of meetings, workshops, conferences, and dissemination events.
4. Contribute to communication, exploitation, and sustainability activities of the project.

• Scientific Dissemination

1. Contribute to the preparation of scientific publications, conference papers, presentations, and other research outputs.
2. Support dissemination of project findings to academic, professional, policy, and public audiences.

Your profile

Skills and Competencies
The ideal candidate will be:

1. Ability to work independently, meet deadlines, and collaborate effectively within an interdisciplinary team
2. Strong organisational and problem-solving skills
3. Self-motivated with the ability to take initiative and work independently.
4. Strong organizational, communication, presentation, and negotiation skills, having the ability to deal confidently and politely with enquiries.
5. Very good analytical skills coupled with attention to detail.
6. Dynamic, adaptable, hands-on and results driven.
7. A team player with an ability to work independently and under pressure.
8. High levels of commitment, energy, and drive.
9. Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.

General qualifications and requirements

Key requirements
Essential Requirements

1. PhD in Digital Humanities, Cultural Heritage Studies, Education, Learning Sciences, Social Sciences, or a related field.
   1. Or Master's degree (MA/MSc/MEng) in a relevant field with a minimum of three (3) years of relevant research experience.
2. Evidence of research activity demonstrated through publications, conference papers, technical reports, policy papers, book chapters, or other scholarly outputs appropriate to career stage.
3. Experience presenting research findings at academic conferences, workshops, seminars, stakeholder events, or public engagement activities.
4. Experience contributing to the preparation of research deliverables, reports, and dissemination materials.
5. Participation in national and/or European research projects.
6. Experience in teaching, training, or facilitating workshops related to the candidate's area of expertise will be considered an asset.

Additional Qualifications required:

1. Strong understanding of research methodologies, including qualitative, quantitative, or mixed-method approaches.
2. Familiarity with academic research processes, ethics, data management, and dissemination practices.
3. Demonstrated ability to critically analyse information, synthesise findings, and communicate results effectively.
4. Ability to work collaboratively within multidisciplinary and international research teams.
5. Language requirements: Excellent written and oral English-language skills will be required.
6. For non-EU applicants a work permit will be required

Additional skills/knowledge/experience required:

1. For candidates holding a Master's degree: minimum of three (3) years of relevant research and/or project experience in academia, research organisations, cultural institutions, educational organisations, or related sectors.
2. Candidates holding a PhD in a relevant field may be considered without the above experience requirement, provided they demonstrate evidence of active research engagement and scholarly output.
3. Experience in EU-funded research projects (e.g., Horizon Europe, Erasmus+, Creative Europe, Digital Europe) will be considered an advantage.

Why us?

What CYENS Offers

CYENS offers the opportunity to work at the forefront of research and innovation within a dynamic, multidisciplinary, and international environment. Researchers benefit from collaboration with leading academic and industry partners, participation in high-impact national and European projects, access to state-of-the-art infrastructure, and opportunities for professional growth and scientific excellence.

Application process

Application process

For full consideration, interested applicants should submit the following items via the online application form and clearly indicate the position title in their application:

1. Full CV (including contact details).
2. Cover letter outlining:
   1. your suitability for the role
   2. your motivation for applying;
   3. contact details of two referees.
3. Copies of academic transcripts
4. Description of their academic and research experiences as well as any relevant industrial / innovation / entrepreneurship experience, where applicable (500 words maximum).
5. Two (2) representative publications (if applicable).
6. Two (2) representative innovation outcomes / products (if applicable).

Important Information

• Incomplete applications will not be considered.
• Applicants who have previously applied for a position at CYENS are required to submit a new application.
• All applications will be treated in the strictest confidence.
• CYENS Centre of Excellence is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes applications from candidates worldwide.

Contact details

Enquiries
For general enquiries, applicants may contact the HR Department at [email protected].

About us

CYENS Centre of Excellence (formerly known as RISE) is the Research and Innovation Centre on Interactive media, Smart systems and Emerging technologies empowering knowledge and technology transfer in the region. CYENS CoE is supported by the European Commission, the Republic of Cyprus and its founding Partners, the Municipality of Nicosia, the Max Planck Institute for Informatics (MPI), University College London, the University of Cyprus, the Cyprus University of Technology and the Open University of Cyprus.

The Centre conducts excellent, internationally competitive scientific research in the areas of visual sciences, human factors and design, communication, and artificial intelligence delivered by high-calibre multidisciplinary research teams. CYENS engages in knowledge transfer and innovation activities aiming to bridge the gap between scientific research and STEM-led innovation and entrepreneurship.

CYENS, as a Centre of Excellence, cultivates a culture of innovation and creativity in an inspiring environment filled with academics, researchers, creative and onward-looking people, innovators, entrepreneurs, and practitioners. The Centre operates under the moto “Inspired by Humans Designed for Humans” with the vision to produce world class research that drives innovation towards social and economic benefit while conducting excellent, internationally competitive scientific research in the areas of visual sciences, human factors and design, communication, and artificial intelligence. It sets out to meet the challenge with a total potential funding of more than 30 million Euros for the first 7 years, from a Horizon 2020 Teaming Action and multiple other sources, and a business plan for long-term sustainability and growth.