Postdoctoral position in Palaeolithic gene-culture coevolution, Department of Archaeology and Heritage Studies, Aarhus University

The Department of Archaeology and Heritage Studies at the School of Culture and Society invites applications for a 30-month fixed-term postdoctoral position in Palaeolithic gene-culture coevolution. The appointment begins on February 1st, 2025, or as soon as possible thereafter.

The primary place of work will be Campus Moesgaard but due to the interdisciplinary and collaborative nature of the project, the candidate is expected to be intermittently present at both the Department of Archaeology and Heritage Studies at Campus Moesgaard and at Bioinformatics Research Centre at Universitetsbyen in central Aarhus.

Research context

We are looking for an innovative scholar with a background in archaeology preferably with a specialisation in the European Upper/Late Upper Palaeolithic, computational material culture analysis, and/or cultural evolution. 
The position is associated with the Villum Foundation Synergy project COEVOLVE, which aims to (i) develop a robust conceptual framework for long-term gene-culture coevolution, (ii) create a protocol for the creation of linked material culture and palaeogenomic data, and (iii) study gene-culture coevolution in the European Late Upper Palaeolithic (~20.000-11.000 BP). 

This data-driven project is led by two PIs – archaeologist Felix Riede and population geneticist Mikkel Schierup – and establishes interdisciplinary collaboration between archaeologists and bioinformaticians to create the first integrated workflow for reconstructing gene-culture coevolution using cophylogenetic methods applied in parallel to material culture data and ancient DNA.

The successful applicant is expected to participate in project activities related to gene-culture coevolutionary theory, data collection and analysis, and will actively collaborate closely with the project’s other postdoc, the two PIs and our colleagues and collaborators. They will be mainly supported by PI Felix Riede but will also work closely with PI Schierup and, in particular the companion postdoctoral researcher. They will further be working along other members of the CLIOARCH Collabulary. 

The position

The employment concerns the following main tasks:
-    Conceptual innovation in gene-culture coevolution with particular relation to
     cophylogenetics and related techniques
-    Literature review of relevant sites and their associated data in relation to palaeogenomic
     samples
-    Derivation of a data/metadata generation protocol for gene-culture coevolution
-    Collection of data existing databases and legacy materials
-    Application of phylogenetic methods on these data
-    Development of cophylogenetic methods that link archaeological and palaeogenomic
     data in a single workflow
-    Closely collaborate with COEVOLVE project members at AU 
-    Attend and actively participate in in-person project meetings, including project travel
-    Actively participate in remote project meetings
-    Present their research at international meetings
-    Publication of project outputs in peer-reviewed international journals, and open access
     code and data
-    Contribute to the organisation of research workshops and international conferences

The successful applicant will be expected to actively participate in the life of the CLIOARCH

Collaboratory and the Department of Archaeology and Heritage Studies. The successful applicant will also be expected to contribute to the interdisciplinary collaboration that is at the heart of COEVOLVE. In addition, the candidate is expected to engage with a wider academic community and to continue their development as an internationally competitive researcher, by

•    working independently on core research tasks and handling a gradually increasing
     degree of autonomy
•    contributing to other projects and collaborating with other members of project including
     across disciplines
•    participating in continuous professional development opportunities. 

Support, both peer-support and mentoring, in terms of the technical and scholarly tasks as well as personal and professional development will be provided to ensure optimal conditions for a thriving professional period. 

Should you have any doubts or require further information, Prof. F. Riede (f.riede@cas.au.dk) is available for informal discussions regarding the potential fit for the position.

The University is keen for its staff to reflect the diversity of society and thus welcomes applications from all qualified applicants regardless of their personal background.

Teaching

The position will involve a limited amount of teaching as agreed upon with the Head of the Department and the project PIs.

Knowledge exchange
The successful applicant will be expected to exchange knowledge with various sectors of society and to contribute actively to public debate in areas related to the position.

Qualifications and the selection process

Applicants for this position must hold a PhD degree (or equivalent level of education) in archaeology, anthropology, cultural evolution, or a related field. 

Applicants are asked to submit the following documents: 
•    a cover letter stating the relevant experience and projects and motivation for applying for
     the position (maximum two pages)
•    a cv and a list of publications
•    a maximum of two relevant publications

Applicants must document (essential): 
•    doctoral-level experience in handling archaeological data to a high scientific standard,
•    familiarity with the European Upper/Late Upper Palaeolithic,
•    familiarity with or demonstrable interest in cultural phylogenetics,
•    fluency in written and spoken English,
•    evidence of team-playing skills, the ability to constructively collaborate, experience in
     interdisciplinary work and collegiality 

Applicants should highlight (beneficial): 
•    an interest in gene-culture coevolution
•    knowledge of programming languages, preferably R
•    activity in an academic network relevant to the project goals
•    familiarity with archaeological databases.

The research activities will be evaluated in relation to the actual research time. We therefore encourage applicants to specify any periods of leave they may have had without research activities (e.g. maternity/paternity leave), so we can subtract these periods from the span of their academic career when evaluating their productivity.

Please upload a maximum of two publications alongside your application. 

Only submitted publications will be assessed; a list of publications is not sufficient. As a result, applications without submitted publications will not be assessed.

Professional references or recommendations should not be included. Applicants who are selected for an interview may be asked to provide professional references.

The application must be submitted in English

For further information about the position, please contact project PI Felix Riede (f.riede@cas.au.dk) 

For more information about applications, please contact HR supporter Gerd Cecilie Bech Thomsen (gebeth@au.dk).
 

International applicants

International applicants are encouraged to check Family and work-life balance and Attractive working conditions for further information about the benefits of working at Aarhus University and in Denmark, including healthcare, paid holidays and, if relevant, maternity/paternity leave, childcare and schooling. Aarhus University offers a broad variety of services for international researchers and accompanying families, including a relocation service and career counselling for expat partners. For information about taxation, see Taxation aspects of international researchers’ employment by AU.

The work environment

This position will be based in the Department of Archaeology and Heritage Studies. At the Department of Archaeology and its associated research programme known as Materials, Culture and Heritage (MCH), we are concerned with people and the environment and culture and society from the earliest to modern times, with a focus on studies of material culture. On the basis of fieldwork and library and laboratory studies – including methods from anthropology, history and a variety of natural science approaches – the programme investigates and challenges our understanding of past societies seen in a deep historical perspective.

The MCH research programme at Aarhus University has an international profile and strong research networks. A dynamic research environment provides the framework for large research projects, international conferences and a variety of visiting researchers. The environment is versatile and cross-disciplinary, and the academic staff’s research competences span topics ranging from war and power, mobility and globalisation, family and individual, religion and rituals, landscape and settlement, palaeo-demography and evolution, trade and networks, technology and knowledge exchange to (in particular) quantitative analysis methods, field methodology and digital representation.
For a more detailed description, please visit https://cas.au.dk/en/about-the-school/departments/archaeology-and-heritage-studies

The successful applicant is expected to be present at the department on a daily basis.
 

The benefits of the position include:

•    being part of a vision-driven world-class research team
•    ample professional development opportunities including state-of-the-art management
     paradigms, processes and software
•    a working environment that upholds values such as work-life balance, kindness, putting
     people over product, aiming to create an environment in which all of its members can
     thrive
•    high level of independence and authority over one’s tasks, timelines and processes

School of Culture and Society

At the School of Culture and Society, the object of research and teaching is the interplay between culture and society in time and space:

- From the traditional disciplines of the humanities and theology to applied social research
- From deep history to the issues facing contemporary societies
- From local questions to global challenges

The school’s ambition is to produce compelling research with an international resonance as well as to offer teaching and talent development of the highest quality. The school has a broad cooperative interface with society as a whole, both in Denmark and abroad, and contributes to social innovation, research communication and further and continuing education.
For further information about the school, please see http://cas.au.dk/en/.

Read more at arts.au.dk/en

The application must be submitted via Aarhus University’s recruitment system, which can be accessed under the job advertisement on Aarhus University's website.

Aarhus University

Aarhus University is an academically diverse and research-intensive university with a strong commitment to high-quality research and education and the development of society nationally and globally. The university offers an inspiring research and teaching environment to its 38,000 students (FTEs) and 8,300 employees, and has an annual revenues of EUR 935 million. Learn more at www.international.au.dk/