Topics

We offer research positions for PhD students and postdoctoral researchers on a variety of topics. Key methods, regions and topics of interest are listed below.

Methods

Projects can draw on a range of methods, with in-house facilities available for stable isotope analyses, dental calculus studies, ZooMS (Zooarchaeology by Mass Spectrometry), proteomics, residue analysis, archaeobotany, and zooarchaeology. The department also conducts archaeological excavations in various regions, and proposals involving archaeological excavation and fieldwork, as well as lithic, GIS and computational analyses are welcome.

Regions

The Department of Archaeology’s research is primarily focused on Africa, Asia and Oceania, and applications focused on these regions are encouraged.

Current advertised PhD and Postdoctoral researcher topics

Island Southeast Asian archaeology

The specific research undertaken will be defined in collaboration with the supervisor, but will seek to contribute to better understanding of Island Southeast Asian prehistory through new excavation and fieldwork in the region in collaboration with local institutions and partners. Projects focusing on the Late Pleistocene colonization of the region and/or subsequent Holocene population expansions are particularly welcome.

Postdoctoral level applicants should be able to demonstrate a strong background in Island Southeast Asian archaeology and field excavation methodologies.

Central Asian archaeobotany

The specific research undertaken will be defined in collaboration with the supervisor, but will seek to contribute to better understanding of the role of plants in human economies of prehistoric Central Asia. Through the application of archaeobotanical methods, the applicant will study the ecology and economies of the past. With the increased application of these methods in Central Asia, it is becoming clear how important early farming was in the past. This part of the world was thought to be dominated by mobile pastoralists, ‘nomads’, although new archaeobotanical data are complicating this view. As the crossroads of the ancient world, Central Asia has played a major role in the formation of empires and the spread of innovations, such as farming. Research questions that could be pursued include, but are not limited to: i) the spread of early agriculture across Eurasia; ii) the exchange of crop varieties along the Silk Road; iii) the impact that early farming, pastoral, and mining economies had on the environment; and iv) the origins of arboriculture in the region. Applicants with experience in Central Asian archaeology are particularly welcome.

Postdoctoral level applicants should be able to demonstrate a strong background in either archaeobotanical methods or the botany of Central Asia. She/he must be familiar with laboratory methods in the field and knowledgeable on key topics in Central Asian archaeology. This post will involve collaboration with Dr. Robert N Spengler III (NYU/MPI-SHH), Dr. Alison Crowther (MPI-SHH/University of Queensland), and Prof. Dorian Q. Fuller (University College London). 

African archaeobotany

The specific research undertaken will be defined in collaboration with the supervisor, but will seek to contribute to better understanding of African prehistory through the application of archaeobotanical methods. Applications focused on the origins and expansion of food production in Africa, and the migration of agricultural groups across the continent, are particularly welcome.

Postdoctoral level applicants should be able to demonstrate a strong background in African archaeobotany. Applications from researchers with interest and experience in the study of tropical vegetative crops are particularly welcome. This post will involve collaboration with Dr. Robert Spengler (NYU/MPI-SHH), Dr. Alison Crowther (MPI-SHH/University of Queensland), and Prof. Dorian Fuller (University College London).

Ceramic residue analysis

This project will involve analysis of preserved lipids and/or proteins in archaeological ceramics in Africa, South Asia and/or Central Asia in order to investigate ancient diets, population history and environments. The specific research undertaken can be defined in collaboration with the supervisor.

Postdoctoral level applicants should be able to demonstrate a strong background in biomolecular analyses of ceramics, as well as studies of ancient lipids and/or proteins more generally. This post will involve collaboration with Dr. Jessica Hendy (MPI-SHH), Dr. Christina Warinner (MPI-SHH), and Prof. Richard Evershed (University of Bristol).

ZooMS (Zooarchaeology by Mass Spectrometry)

The specific research undertaken will be defined in collaboration with the supervisor, but will seek to apply ZooMS  to examine questions of archaeological interest. The successful applicant will undertake innovative applications of ZooMS methods to address key research questions concerning, for example, ancient human subsistence, ecological impacts, biological exchange or population history.

Postdoctoral level applicants should be able to demonstrate a strong background in zooarchaeology, the extraction and analysis of bone collagen and/or techniques in mass spectrometry. This post will involve collaboration with Dr. Jessica Hendy (MPI-SHH), Dr. Christina Warinner (MPI-SHH), and Prof. Matthew Collins (University of Copenhagen/ University of York).

Late Pleistocene archaeology
The specific research undertaken will be defined in collaboration with the supervisor, but will seek to contribute to better understanding of Late Pleistocene human populations in Africa and/or Asia through the application of archaeological and/or archaeological science methodologies. Projects that draw on innovative field and/or laboratory methods are particularly welcome.

At the post-doctoral level, candidates are sought to lead interdisciplinary, collaborative field projects. The successful applicant will have a strong background in field archaeology, with extensive experience of Pleistocene archaeological excavation, field supervision, report writing and publication. He/she must be able to demonstrate a thorough knowledge of key issues and debates in human evolutionary studies. Knowledge and experience of digital technologies and GIS is advantageous. This post will involve collaboration with Prof. Michael Petraglia (MPI-SHH).

Stable isotope analysis

The specific research undertaken will be defined in collaboration with the supervisor, but should involve a focus on the use of stable isotope analysis on organic and inorganic archaeological remains to develop one, or more, of the following: i) an understanding of intra- and/or inter-societal differences in prehistoric and historical human diets over different temporal and geographical scales; ii) detailed human stable isotope ecologies in various environments; iii) an understanding of human mobility, and transitions in patterns of mobility, in particular temporal and geographical contexts; and/or iv) novel palaeoenvironmental proxies of immediate relevance to human behaviour.

Postdoctoral level applicants should be able to demonstrate a strong background in stable isotope geochemistry, fieldwork sampling, laboratory experience, and archaeology. Applicants should demonstrate in-depth knowledge, and experience, of the relevant equipment, laboratory procedures, and potential methodological and interpretational complexities involved. Projects drawing on innovative laboratory methods will also be considered favourably. The post will involve collaboration with Dr. Patrick Roberts (MPI-SHH).

Other topics

You are also welcome to suggest your own topic of interest, provided this fits with the Department’s core interests and themes. See link here for a summary of our key research themes.

For more information about applying for a research position with us, click here.

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