Postdoctoral Researcher in Environmental Archaeology - Befattningen är under tillsättning eller redan tillsatt, och det är inte längre möjligt att lämna in en ansökan

The Department of Historical, Philosophical and Religious Studies is looking for a postdoctoral researcher in environmental archaeology, to be based at The Environmental Archaeology Lab (MAL). The employment period is two years full-time (100%).

Job description
The postdoc will be primarily expected to conduct research in environmental archaeology in any relevant direction. In addition to research, the postdoc will contribute to the development of the research environment by participating in departmental seminars and related activities. There will be opportunities for up to 20% of the position to include teaching at undergraduate, Master’s and postgraduate levels as well as in contract environmental archaeology. Certain limited administrative tasks related to research activities may also be required. 

Considerable opportunities exist for collaboration with international research infrastructures and projects through MAL’s networks, research and consultancy activities. For more information on the lab see our website at https://www.umu.se/en/research/infrastructure/mal/.  

The postdoc will be part of the Environmental Archaeological Laboratory (MAL) and the archaeology subject at the Department of Historical, Philosophical and Religious studies. Connections to and collaboration within Humlab’s (https://www.umu.se/en/humlab/) research focus areas are welcome. 

Qualifications and evaluation of applicants
A person who has been awarded a doctorate or a foreign qualification deemed to be the equivalent of a doctorate is qualified for employment as a postdoctoral researcher. A doctoral degree in any subject relevant for the tasks described above is required for this position. The applicant must not previously have been employed as a postdoc at Umeå University for more than a year within the same or equivalent discipline. The degree must be completed no more than three years before the closing date of the application unless special circumstances exist. Special circumstances include absence due to illness, parental leave or clinical practice, appointments of trust in trade union organizations or similar circumstances.

Good writing and oral communication skills in English as well as good ability to work with others are requirements for the position. 

This is an open announcement, but research projects in the following areas are especially welcome: 

• Palynology

• Palaeoentomology

• Archaeobotany, wood analysis, palaeobotany

• Isotope analysis

• Geoarchaeology/soil micromorphology

• Database-oriented research (e.g. synthesis research)

• NIR spectroscopy and general vibrational spectroscopy

• Northern or Arctic archaeology and environments 

Potential applicants are welcome to contact Archaeology members of staff who they feel might be closely aligned to their discipline to discuss possible research topics. 

Research merits will be of primary importance in the evaluation of applicants, followed by the quality and feasibility of the research plan. When assessing the feasibility of the research plan, great importance will be given to the extent to which the research environment at the Environmental Archaeological Laboratory would be able to support the planned research. 

More information on some of the lab’s projects and networks: SEAD (The Strategic Environmental Archaeology Database, www.sead.se), ARIADNEplus (https://ariadne-infrastructure.eu/), DataARC (https://www.data-arc.org/), Heritage Science Sweden and the European Heritage Science Infrastructure (http://www.iperionch.eu/), Neotoma (www.neotomadb.org), the Swedish Biodiversity Data Infrastructure (SBDI, https://biodiversitydata.se/). 

Application
The application must include the following documents in English: 

(1)   A letter of interest that states the applicant’s motivation for applying for the position and briefly explains how he or she meets the requirements for the position (1-3 pp)

(2)   Curriculum Vitae and validated copies of degree certificates (including date of thesis defence and its title, current and previous positions, grants, awards, research collaborations)

(3)   A full publication list with electronic copies of 3-5 of the most relevant works, the PhD thesis included

(4)   A research plan which describes the research which is to be carried out (2-3 pp)

(5)   A list of 2-3 reference persons including their positions and contact details 

The application is to be submitted through the e-recruiting system Varbi, no later than 9th January 2020. 

Further information
The postdoc is a two-year full-time position (100%) starting on the 1st March 2020 unless otherwise agreed. The selected candidate is required to be present on-site in Umeå to a high degree. 

There are currently fewer female than male lecturers and researchers in archaeology and we therefore especially encourage applications from female candidates. 

For more information about the position, contact Director of the Lab, Dr. Philip Buckland (+46-90-786 5292, philip.buckland@umu.se) or Head of Department Jonas Nilsson (+46-90-786 9990, jonas.nilsson@umu.se ). 

For information about the department, see Department of Historical, Philosophical and Religious Studies (https://www.umu.se/en/department-of-historical-philosophical-and-religious-studies/) and The Environmental Archaeology Lab (https://www.umu.se/en/research/infrastructure/mal/). 

We look forward to receiving your application!