Research Associate

We have an opportunity for a Research Associate to make a leading contribution to the UKRI ERC replacement fund project : Powerful Plants, The Power of Plants as Food, Medicine and Raw Materials Before Agriculture. Specifically, the focus of this position will be on reconstructing Palaeolithic behaviour and environment from microfossils embedded in dental calculus. It is hoped the successful candidate can start on 1 August 2024 or as soon as possible thereafter.

The Powerful Plants project uses archaeological evidence, supported by experimental archaeology and ethnographic data, to investigate the social, cultural and behavioural roles of human use of plants before farming.  Plants are essential to our physical, psychological and physiological well-being today as they were in the past. They provide us with energy, nutrients, medicines and raw materials. Yet the role of plants before the emergence of agriculture around 10,000 years ago, is virtually unknown largely due to low survival rates on archaeological sites. This project has adopted an interdisciplinary approach to investigate three areas - food, medicine and technology - in which use of plants was pivotal in shaping human trajectories, with implications that are still evident today.

The candidate with work within a multidisciplinary, international team based in Glasgow and other leading European institutions.

The project is looking for someone who is already experienced in microfossil analysis and light microscopy with a background in botany, biology, archaeobotany or bioarchaeology.

Informal enquiries about the role are welcomed and should be addressed to Professor Karen Hardy, [email protected] .

This post is full time (35 hours per week) and has funding for 24 months.

Closing date: 28 May 2024

We believe that we can only reach our full potential through the talents of all. Equality, diversity and inclusion are at the heart of our values. Applications are particularly welcome from across our communities and in particular people from the Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) community, and other protected characteristics who are under-represented within the University. Read more on how the University promotes and embeds all aspects of equality and diversity within our community https://www.gla.ac.uk/myglasgow/humanresources/equalitydiversity/ .

In line with the commitments in the University of Glasgow’s Gaelic Language Plan, we also welcome and value skills in Gaelic language for anyone working within areas where key Gaelic services are delivered, in particular within the School of Humanities / Sgoil nan Daonnachdan and the College of Arts.

We endorse the principles of Athena Swan https://www.gla.ac.uk/myglasgow/humanresources/equalitydiversity/athenaswan/  and hold bronze, silver and gold awards across the University.