The Faculty of Arts at the University of Groningen, The Netherlands offers a four-year PhD studentship to complete a PhD on the zooarchaeology of Southwest Asia. The proposed PhD research plan will be embedded in the Groningen Institute of Archaeology (GIA) zooarchaeology working group: https://www.rug.nl/research/groningen-institute-of-archaeology/research/archeozoologie?lang=en
Are you an enthusiastic student with a demonstrable interest in zooarchaeology, early empires in Southwest Asia, and political ecology, and have a Master’s degree in archaeology, biology, or anthropology? We are looking for a PhD student who will study the complex dynamics between modes of human-animal interactions (from pastoralism to animal translocations), biodiversity loss, and governance between Late Bronze Age and Late Roman period as part of GIA’s long-standing zooarchaeological research in Southwest Asia, especially in Turkey and Lebanon. The student will participate in fieldwork in these countries, analyze large zooarchaeological assemblages and legacy data, and combine a variety of bioarchaeological methods (e.g. stable isotope analysis) with archaeological and historical sources, traditional ecological knowledge. The student will have access to zooarchaeological reference collections and stable isotope facilities, a travel budget, and training in a large range of academic and transferable skills and gain teaching experience.

Your qualifications are:

• a (Research) Master’s degree in archaeology, biology, anthropology or related field
• an excellent academic record
• demonstrable affinity with the research topic
• demonstrable experience in quantitative zooarchaeology and relational databases (e.g. Access)
• great intercultural communication skill
• excellent command of English (at least C1) and proven academic writing skills.

Fixed-term contract: 48 months.

The successful candidate will receive a scholarship € 2,249 gross per month. You will be required to be resident in Groningen.

General information about the University of Groningen’s PhD scholarship programme can be found here: https://www.rug.nl/education/phd-programmes/phd-scholarship-programme/conditions-application/

The preferred starting date is 1 November 2022

Faculty of Arts

Since its foundation in 1614, the University of Groningen has enjoyed an international reputation as a dynamic and innovative center of higher education offering high-quality teaching and research. Balanced study and career paths in a wide variety of disciplines encourage the 36,000 students and researchers to develop their own individual talents. Belonging to the best research universities in Europe and joining forces with prestigious partner universities and networks, the University of Groningen is truly an international place of knowledge.