Postdoctoral Research Associate

The Research Project

The new Riksbankens Jubileumsfond funded research program (2022-2027), Maritime encounters: a counterpoint to the dominant terrestrial narrative of European prehistory (short title Maritime Encounters), is led by the University of Gothenburg, Sweden. The multi-disciplinary research program aims to shed new light on maritime connectivity across Atlantic Europe from the late Neolithic to the Late Bronze Age through four subprojects. Subproject 4, The Atlantic North and the Iberian Peninsula: Contacts ~1400/1300-600 BC, led by Durham University, United Kingdom, investigates maritime connections between Iberia and Scandinavia during the Late Bronze Age through archaeological, anthropological, linguistic and genetic data. We will characterize and date prehistoric mining in southern Iberia through fieldwork at key mining sites. We will model the circulation of metals through 'fingerprinting' chemically and isotopically copper ores collected from fieldwork across southern Iberia and metal artefacts from museums. Comparative analyses will also be performed on samples obtained from other regions of Atlantic Europe. We will reconstruct Post-Proto-Indo-European vocabulary through the study of words and Late Bronze Age rock art. We will use aDNA and stable isotope analysis of human samples, jointly with state-of-the-art ocean modelling techniques, to reconstruct human mobility patterns from Iberia to the Atlantic north.

The Role

A Research Assistant is required for twenty four months to join the Riksbankens Jubileumsfond funded subproject ‘The Atlantic North and the Iberian Peninsula: Contacts ~1400/1300–600 BC’. The successful applicant will have two main tasks:

• To compile and analyse a comprehensive archaeological relational database for Atlantic Iberia. The data to be identified and entered will include all known Bronze Age sites (monuments, funerary sites, settlements, metalwork finds, mining sites, etc.). This data would be integrated within GIS with other layers (e.g. topography, rivers and geology) and then subjected to spatial and network analysis. Data gathering and inputting would involve extensive use of a wide variety of published and unpublished archaeological sources to a tight timescale. This work will underpin the sampling strategy and the interpretation of the relationship between Bronze Age sites, ore deposits and landing sites.
• To support fieldwork seasons at mining sites and warrior-stelae find-spot sites in south-western Iberia. Fieldwork will involve excavation and survey work for about two months annually. Fieldwork activity will be undertaken in all weathers, often in hot temperatures, and involve moving survey equipment, often walking through rough terrain.
• To sample artefacts at different museums in Spain and Portugal and support sample preparation procedures for accurate and precise isotopic analysis of Pb and elemental work based Q-ICP-MS at the laboratory Ibercron (University of the Basque Country in Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain). Sample preparation will involve work for a total of about two months.

Responsibilities: 

• To plan and manage own research activity, research resources in collaboration with others and contribute to the planning of research activities.
• To publish high quality outputs, including papers for submission to peer reviewed journals and papers for presentation at conferences and workshops under the direction of the Principal Investigator or Grant-holder.
• Participate in project administration and the organisation of project research.
• Assist in the organisation of project workshops and conference sessions.
• Contribute to the updating of the project on media platforms.
• To understand and convey material of a specialist or highly technical nature to the team or group of people through presentations and discussions that leads to the presentation of research papers in conferences and publications.
• To prepare and deliver presentations on research outputs/activities to audiences which may include: research sponsors, academic and non-academic audiences.
• To attend project and department meeting as required.
• To contribute to fostering a collegial and respectful working environment which is inclusive and welcoming and where everyone is treated fairly with dignity and respect.
• To engage in wider citizenship to support the department and wider discipline.
• To assist with the development of research objectives and proposals. 
• To conduct individual and collaborative research projects under the direction of the Principal Investigator or Grant-holder.  
• To work with the Principal Investigator or Grant-holder and other colleagues in the research group, as appropriate, to identify areas for research, develop new research methods and extend the research portfolio.   
• To deal with problems that may affect the achievement of research objectives and deadlines by discussing with the Principal Investigator or Grant-holder and offering creative or innovative solutions.  
• To liaise with research colleagues and make internal and external contacts to develop knowledge and understanding to form relationships for future research collaboration. 
• To engage in continuing professional development by participation in the undergraduate or postgraduate teaching programmes or by membership of departmental committees, etc. and by attending relevant training and development courses.   

This post is fixed term for 24 months, as the funding is available from 01/10/22 for this fixed period only. The post may be extended for 12 more months pending approval of more funds by the funder Riksbankens Jubileumsfond, provided the first 2-year interim report is approved. 

The post-holder is employed to work on a research project which will be led by another colleague. Whilst this means that the post-holder will not be carrying out independent research in his/her own right, the expectation is that they will contribute to the advancement of the project, through the development of their own research ideas/adaptation and development of research protocols.

Successful applicants will, ideally, be in post by 1 December 2022.
Note: the majority of the responsibilities should be included, along with any other specific responsibilities.

 Note: A rationale for the fixed term MUST be included along with an end date.

 Please note that for UKVI purposes, candidates MUST be in post within one year of the post being advertised