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University of Helsinki (Faculty of Arts) invites applications for the position of

DOCTORAL CANDIDATE (HIGH-RESOLUTION SEQUENTIAL STABLE ISOTOPES)

in archaeology and high-resolution sequential stable isotopes for a fixed term of up to four years, preferably start-ing in January 2021 (the start date is negotiable, but not later than 1 April 2021). The position is placed in the Eu-ropean Research Council-funded project “Animals Make Identities: The Social Bioarchaeology of Late Mesolithic and Early Neolithic Cemeteries in North-East Europe” (AMI) at the University of Helsinki.

The doctoral candidate will conduct full-time research and work towards the completion of a PhD thesis within the field of archaeology. The position may include some teaching or administrative duties (no more than 5%).

The appointee must either have the right to pursue a doctoral degree at the University of Helsinki by the start of the appointment, or apply for the right separately in spring 2021 (www.helsinki.fi/en/research/doctoral-education/the-application-process-i...).

The ERC CoG project “Animals Make Identities” (AMI) at the University of Helsinki runs from 2020–2025 and is directed by Dr. Kristiina Mannermaa. AMI seeks to understand links between hunter-gatherers and animals and reconstruct life histories of humans, animals and artefacts based on burial finds from North-East Europe.

The task of the PhD candidate is to investigate the diet of humans from Yuzhniy Oleniy Ostrov (Lake One-ga, Russia) using high-resolution sequential stable isotopic δ15N and δ13C measurements on tooth den-tine. The work will include sampling archaeological teeth for analysis, method development and analysis work at the isotope laboratory, data reduction and management, interpreting the results and writing a thesis for a degree of PhD in archaeology at the University of Helsinki. The PhD candidate will work in close collaboration with the rest of the AMI team. She/he will conduct independent research under the supervision of Dr. Mannermaa, Dr. Laura Arppe (University of Helsinki), Dr. Dmitri Gerasimov (Peter the Great Museum of Anthropology and Ethnography, St Petersburg) and Professor Rick Schulting (University of Oxford). The results will be combined with the results from other AMI researchers in order to understand the individual life histories and social identities of the deceased at Yuzhniy Oleniy Ostrov.

The PhD candidate will write a research plan for a PhD thesis in collaboration with supervisors. The main objec-tives of the thesis will be

1. to conduct a high-resolution isotopic study of the diet of the individuals buried at Yu-zhniy Oleniy Ostrov,
2. to reconstruct the individual dietary histories of the Yuzhniy Oleniy Ostrov individuals
3. to compare the results with other isotopic studies in the North European Mesolithic.

The candidate must be experienced in light stable isotopes analysis laboratory work and capable of working inde-pendently in the laboratory. The successful conduct of the research requires the use of basic statistics or the readiness to learn to use statistics.

The ideal applicant is a highly motivated student with a background in archaeology, geology, palaeontology, or a closely related field, and a master’s degree (or equivalent) completed by the start of the position. The ideal candi-date will have a keen interest in understanding the isotopic signals of human skeletal tissue and has the basic command of mathematics/chemistry necessary for reduction and interpreting light stable isotope data, prior expe-rience in (isotope) chemical laboratory work, capabilities for precision work with very small samples and inde-pendent work in the laboratory after a period of familiarization. Prior experience in interpreting stable isotope data pertaining to paleodietary reconstruction and/or human skeletal tissue composition and formation is considered a merit.

The candidate must have excellent skills in working both independently and collaboratively as part of a multidisci-plinary scientific community. As the working language is English, the successful candidate is expected to have excellent skills in written and spoken English. Skills in Russian are preferable but not required. The position is based in Helsinki, but tasks also include conducting work at the School of Archaeology, University of Oxford.

The University of Helsinki offers a salary dependent on qualifications and work experience. The salary will be based on recruitment levels 2–4 of the job requirement scheme for teaching and research personnel in the salary system of Finnish universities. In addition, the appointee shall be paid a salary component based on personal work performance. The salary will be EUR 2261–3126 per month, depending on the appointee’s qualifications and work experience. The appointment starts with a probationary period of six months.

Applicants are requested to enclose with their applications the following English-language documents as one pdf file:

1. Your CV (max. 3 pages);
2. A letter of motivation addressing the project’s research questions (max. 2 pages);
3. One or two representative pieces of your writing (if possible, including your master’s thesis); and
4. The name and contact details of at least one referee.

Please name the pdf file with your last name and the initials of your first name.

An interview via Zoom will be arranged for shortlisted candidates.
Please submit your application, together with the required attachments, through the University of Helsinki Re-cruitment System via the link Apply for the position. Applicants who are currently employees of the University of Helsinki are requested to submit their application via the SAP HR portal https://saphr.it.helsinki.fi/irj/portal.

For further information on the position, please contact Kristiina Mannermaa (kristiina.mannermaa@helsinki.fi). Further information about the recruitment process can be obtained from HR Specialist Maria Colliander, maria.colliander@helsinki.fi.

For more information on AMI and its members, please see
http://www.helsinki.fi/en/researchgroups/animals-make-identities
For information on the University of Helsinki as an employer, please see https://www.helsinki.fi/en/university/working-at-the-university

Due date

15.09.2020 23:59 EEST