About

The Center for Digital Humanities (CDH) is an interdisciplinary research center devoted to building knowledge infrastructures for the use of digital evidence, fostering communities of practice across disciplines and professions, and modeling critical approaches to the role of data and technology in research and daily life. Our team consists of developers, designers, scholars, writers, and teachers.

Mission Statement

The CDH is where humanities research intersects with data, computer and information science. We foster innovation in academic methodologies, technology design, and collaborative research practices. We believe that technology must act in the service of a more just future for humanity, and that the application of humanistic approaches enables the creation of better technology. We collaborate with faculty and graduate students, publish our own research, and model best practices in software development, UX design, data curation and project management. We are currently working on developing curricular pathways and certificate programs for undergraduates interested in the intersections of humanities, computation, and social justice.

What We Do

Research

We partner with Princeton faculty, students, and fellow library colleagues to incubate innovative digital humanities projects at multiple stages of development - from small seed grants to peer reviewed, chartered projects involving our Development and Design Team and our Project Management methodology. Most CDH staff have 20% R&D time.

Consultations

Staff members consult on digital humanities projects at any stage of development to facilitate collaborations and connections on and off campus.

Teaching

CDH staff and affiliated researchers teach undergraduate and graduate-level DH courses. Undergraduate students can enroll in our Introduction to Digital Humanities course or pursue the digital approaches to the humanities path within the Humanistic Studies Certificate. The new minor in Humanistic Studies, which is open to the Class of 2025 and below, offers a cluster on Data and Culture. Princeton PhD students can work toward a Graduate Certificate in Digital Humanities.

Graduate Student Training

The CDH helps foster a vibrant digital humanities community among Princeton’s graduate students. We train graduate students in innovative computational analysis, research, and project management skills, and offer opportunities for scholarly and professional growth. In 2023, we launched a formal Graduate Certificate in Digital Humanities.

Events

The CDH hosts and co-hosts a wide range of events designed to bring greater awareness of digital humanities research methods and discoveries to the Princeton community. The center fosters discussion on campus and actively engages in debates about critical issues in the field.