Marie Curie Early Stage Researcher (3 posts)

Role Description

Department

The Department of Archaeology at York is recognised worldwide as a vibrant research community and a centre of excellent teaching. We were awarded the Queen’s Anniversary Prize 2011 in recognition of our outstanding and innovative approaches to archaeology and the Department was rated 12th in the world in the 2018 QS Rankings. The main department offices are located in the King’s Manor, a medieval building in the centre of the historic city, set between York Minster and the Yorkshire Museum. Our bioarchaeology department is located in a Environment Building on the Heslington West campus  BioArCh is a collaboration between the departments of Biology, Archaeology and Chemistry and offers a unique concentration of expertise in human palaeoecology and environmental archaeology, with internationally recognised strengths in mammals and birds, soils, proteins, lipids and DNA.

There are three projects available in Archaeology:

1. ESR4: Protein survival in charred ‘foodcrusts’: insights into Mesolithic container technology:Hendy (UoY, Lead), Collins (UCPH, 2nd), Secondment opportunity: Lolland-Falster Museum.jessica.hendy@york.ac.uk
2. ESR6: Exploring the function of grinding stones using old and new methods: Little (UoY, Lead), Wales (UoY), Hendy (UoY), Richter (UCPH, 2nd), Secondment opportunity: ORCA, Ness of Brodga aimee.little@york.ac.uk
3. ESR9: Exploring the artefactual record of feasting during the Orcadian Late Neolithic: Craig (UoY, Lead); Regert (CNRS, 2nd); Secondment opportunity: Ness of Brodgar Trust and Historic Environment Scotland (HES) oliver.craig@york.ac.uk

These are 36-month fully funded PhD opportunities enabling you to study for a double doctorate at the universities of York , Copenhagen, Barcelona or CNRS as specified by the project. As part of the role you will be expected to spend a minimum of 12 months at the partner University for the project, as well as a short period of time on secondment at a partner organisation where specified, to advance the research objectives.A description of all 15 projects can be located at theChemArch website.

Important eligibility criteria:

• Mobility rule: on 1 September 2021 you must not have resided or carried out your main activity (work, studies, etc.) in the UK for more than 12 months in the preceding 3 years. Compulsory national service and/or short stays such as holidays are not taken into account.
• Further eligibility criteria: To be eligible for this role you must, on 1 September2021  be in the first four years (full-time equivalent research experience) of your research career and have not been awarded a doctoral
• Qualifications: Please note that in order to register for a doctorate at the second university you must fulfil their eligibility requirements for a Master’s level qualification as specified in the job description.

Role

• Undertake research work within the overall programme and assist with the day to day operation of the project.
• To undertake a programme of learning and development, in the form of a PhD , as an integral part of the role   
• To undertake work, which may be as part of a research team, investigating a designated area of subject knowledge to promote further understanding
• To contribute to the intellectual development of the project and plan own activities within the overall research effort
• With the guidance of the project supervisor, to undertake a combination of literature searches/scholarly reading, desk and/or lab-based research, subject interviews, questionnaires/sampling or other research activity. Using specialist knowledge, techniques and/or instrumentation as required.
• To document work appropriately and in accordance with research best practice.
• To work closely with the project supervisor to prepare work for dissemination, presenting preliminary findings at meetings within the research group as appropriate.

Skills, Experience & Qualification needed

• Undergraduate degree in conservation science, archaeology, chemistry or the biological or environmental sciences
• Masters level qualification compatible with the second degree awarding University
• For those applicants for whom English is not their first language, you will need to meet or exceed the University of York’s requirements for PhD entry ( a minimum of 6.0 in IELTS with no less than 5.5 in each component (or other accepted English qualification): https://www.york.ac.uk/study/postgraduate-research/apply/international/english/
• Knowledge of prehistoric archaeology, bioarchaeology, archaeological science, biochemistry, analytical chemistry or genetics
• Knowledge of a range of research techniques and methodologies

Interview date: March 2021

For general enquiries: please contact (Oliver Craig) on (oliver.craig@york.ac.uk)

Please apply by submitting a cv and covering letter. In the covering letter you should briefly outline why you are suitable for this project,  how you would develop it and how you would benefit from the wider training offered across the network. Please limit your covering letter and cv to 2 pages maximum each. 

Please also upload all available academic transcripts so we can check your suitability for the joint doctorate programme.

The University is committed to promoting a diverse and inclusive community  – a place where we can all be ourselves and succeed on merit. We offer a range of family friendly, inclusive employment policies, flexible working arrangements, staff engagement forums, campus facilities and services to support staff from different backgrounds.

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In your application, please refer to Professorpositions.com