PhD candidate (1.0 FTE)

The Faculty of Archaeology is looking for a:

PhD candidate (1.0 FTE)
Vacancy number 22-262

in the context of the research program Embodied Inequality: Transforming Archaeological Knowledge of State Formation, Social Disparity, and Health Inequality.

Project description
The project is financed in the context of the Nederlandse Organisatie voor Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek (NWO) Talent Scheme (VIDI). The project will investigate health inequality as it relates to socioeconomic status and state formation, in ancient Kush (ca. 2500-1500 BCE), located in what is today Sudan. Using multi-disciplinary methods, the project aims to assess how health inequality was embodied in the human skeleton. Health inequality will be assessed: (1) through time, (2) according to settlement type, (3) as it relates to vulnerable groups, and (4) and social status via the mortuary context. Analysis of inequality will consider regional, community, and individual experiences of inequality.

The PhD candidate and PI will work closely together, excavating, visiting museums, engaging in outreach, etc. The PhD candidate is expected to contribute not only to the Embodied Inequality project, but also the Laboratory for Human Osteoarchaeology, and the Department of Archaeological Sciences.

Key responsibilities
• Perform key osteoarchaeological analyses, including estimation of sex and age-at death as well as paleopathological assessment;
• Excavate in a hot, dry, and sometimes challenging environment (Sudan);
• Publish academic papers and present at academic conferences;
• Actively participate in outreach, in the Netherlands, in Sudan, and on social media;
• Participate in training students osteological excavation techniques within the context of fieldschools;
• Communicating closely and effectively with the team members;
• Assist with teaching and student supervision;
• Complete a PhD thesis within four years (1.0 FTE).