PhD Position Available

University of Groningen – Arctic Centre/Groningen Institute of Archaeology

Applications are invited for a new PhD position in Arctic Archaeology (213161)

The University of Groningen

Since its foundation in 1614, the University of Groningen has established an international reputation as a dynamic and innovative university offering high-quality teaching and research. Its 27,000 students are encouraged to develop their own individual talents through challenging study- and career paths. The University of Groningen is an international center of knowledge: it belongs to the best research universities in Europe and is allied with prestigious partner universities and networks worldwide.

The Arctic Centre / Groningen Institute of Archaeology 

The Arctic Centre (AC) was established in 1970 and forms part of the Groningen Institute of Archaeology (GIA). Members of the AC conduct primary research into the functioning of Arctic and Antarctic ecosystems, and undertake inter-disciplinary investigation of long-term human-environment relations in these regions, using archaeological, anthropological, historical, biological and geographic approaches. Please see: http://www.rug.nl/research/arctisch-centrum/

The PhD Position: Arctic Archaeology

The aim of this project is to investigate the function of hunter-gatherer ceramic container technologies in the North Pacific Rim (i.e. Chukotka, Bering Strait, Alaska). When and why did pottery first appear in the challenging environments of this high-latitude region; how and why did ceramic container technologies become so central to local adaptations? The main objective of the research is to reconstruct temporal and spatial variability in pottery function within the broader context of human-environment relations; the study will also draw on relevant contextual data from archaeology, palaeoecology, ethnography, and/or ethnoarchaeology and experimental studies to aid interpretation.

The PhD project forms part of a well-established international research collaboration examining circumpolar hunter-gatherer container technologies. The PhD promoter will be Prof. Peter Jordan (Director of the Arctic Centre), with two co-promoters based in the UK (Dr. Oliver Craig, Department of Archaeology, University of York; Dr. Rick Knecht, Department of Archaeology, University of Aberdeen).

Conditions of employment

The University of Groningen offers the PhD-candidate a salary of € 2,083 gross per month in the first year, up to a maximum of € 2,664 gross per month in the final year (based on full-time employment). The position requires residence in Groningen, 36 hours/week research and research training, and must yield a PhD dissertation. After the first year an assessment of the candidate's progress and results will take place to decide whether the employment can be continued.

Application Procedure

Applicants should hold a master's degree in Archaeology (or related discipline) and have a strong academic record, proven research abilities, close affinity with the research topic, excellent command of English and good academic writing skills. Experience of archaeological laboratory work is essential; familiarity with organic residue analysis is highly desirable.

Applications should be made online via the ‘Apply’ button below.

Deadline: September 1^st 2013 (local Dutch time).

Interviews will be held in late September / early October 2013. Start date negotiable but should fall within the 2013-14 academic year. 

Further information about the general application procedure: Ms. M.R.B. Wubbolts, MA (m.r.b.wubbolts@rug.nl). Informal inquiries about the research project and the Arctic Center/GIA: Prof. P.D. Jordan (p.d.jordan@rug.nl).

APPLY [link to local University of Groningen website] via the Apply button below.

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