PhD position in Arctic Archaeology (1.0 fte)

Faculty of Arts

University of Groningen

Description of the PhD trajectory
The Arctic Centre / GIA are pleased to offer a PhD position in Arctic Archaeology, with a geographic focus on Greenland and surrounding areas.
The PhD project will be run in close collaboration with SILA (the Arctic Centre at the National Museum of Denmark), with supervision by staff from both institutions.
We welcome applications that aim to address one topic within these two broad themes:
• Prehistoric Archaeology: Early Dorset in the Eastern Arctic; Thule Culture (e.g. cultural responses to the Little Ice Age); exchange/trade networks across the Eastern Arctic; technological studies of archaeological materials from the Fifth Thule Expedition.
• Historical Archaeology: Dutch/European whaling/trading in the Davis Strait; culture-contacts and early colonial and Inuit settlements and landscapes in Greenland.
Requirements
We are looking for a talented and ambitious researcher who will possess:
• master's degree in Archaeology or related discipline (or the Anglo-American equivalent: an undergraduate degree in the same or related discipline)
• an excellent academic record
• proven research abilities
• close affinity with the research topic and with the Arctic region
• excellent command of English and strong academic writing skills; preferably also reading skills in another European language (e.g. Danish, Dutch, German, etc.).
Conditions of employment
This is a fulltime, fully-funded PhD position lasting 48 months. As a PhD candidate, you will be committed to conducting independent and original scientific research, to report on this research in international publications and presentations, and to present the final results of the research as a PhD thesis. During your PhD you will be based at the Arctic Centre in Groningen, and will also need to undertake research visits to SILA/Copenhagen, and possibly Greenland (including fieldwork).
Every year results are assessed in order to ensure satisfactory progress and timely completion of the thesis. PhD candidates are also required to participate in the Faculty’s GSH training programme for PhD students (cf. https://www.rug.nl/research/gradschool-humanities/) and will draw up a personal training and supervision plan. Part of the training consists of following the Career Perspectives curriculum, which aims to prepare students for their (academic or non-academic) careers after the PhD trajectory.
Further information about the PhD-training programme and position can be found at: https://www.rug.nl/education/phd-programmes/phd-scholarship-programme/
Employer
Office of the University of Groningen
The University of Groningen is a research university with a global outlook, deeply rooted in Groningen, City of Talent. Quality has had top priority for four hundred years, and with success: the University is currently in or around the top 100 on several influential ranking lists.
Department
Faculty of Arts
Since its foundation in 1614, the University of Groningen has established a leading international reputation as a dynamic and innovative university offering the highest-quality teaching and research. Its 30,000 students are encouraged to develop their own individual talents through challenging study and career paths. The University of Groningen is an international center of knowledge: it belongs to the top research universities in Europe and is allied with prestigious partner universities and networks worldwide.
The Graduate School for the Humanities (GSH) is the home for all PhD candidates of the Faculty of Arts (c. 200), and is committed to creating and maintaining excellent conditions for PhD research in all fields of the humanities. In addition to organizing local training courses, the GSH works closely with 16 national research schools which offer regular courses and seminars by top national and international researchers.
The Arctic Centre (AC) of the University of Groningen was established in 1970, and researches long-term human-environment relations across the Circumpolar North, with specialisms in Arctic Archaeology and Polar Ecology. The AC forms part of the Groningen Institute of Archaeology (GIA); its staff manage the Netherlands Arctic Station in Spitsbergen, represent the Netherlands in the International Arctic Science Committee, and are expert advisors to the Working Groups of the Arctic Council.
Contract type: 48 months

Funding information

Funding applies to:

Open to applicants from a range of countries

Contacts and how to apply

Academic contact:

Prof. Peter Jordan, Director of the Arctic Centre (about PhD position/discussion possible projects)
p.d.jordan@rug.nl
Ms M.R.B. Wubbolts (for questions regarding the application procedure)
m.r.b.wubbolts@rug.nl

Administrative contact and how to apply:

Applicants should send the following information:
1. a cover letter introducing themselves, and describing their motivations and qualifications for pursuing PhD research and training in Arctic Archaeology
2. a full CV demonstrating academic excellence
3. a certified copy or scan of their BA / BSc / MSc / MA diploma (or equivalent) and other relevant academic records / transcripts; furthermore a copy of their passport
4. a detailed research proposal, presenting a specific project; this should define a central research question, and explain the methods and datasets required to approach and answer this question (not exceeding 1500 words (references not counted); please see general research themes and potential topics listed above)
5. names and contact details of two academic referees.
Applicants should send their entire application as a single PDF file. This can be loaded under ‘letter of motivation’ on the website.
It is the responsibility of the applicant to ensure that the application is complete in accordance with the instructions in the advertisement, and that it is submitted before the deadline.
Application deadline: 21 August 2016, 23.59 p.m. (local Dutch time).
Interviews for shortlisted candidates: September 2016.
Start date: 1 November 2016.
Unsolicited marketing is not appreciated.
You can apply for this opportunity using the application form on the AcademicTransfer website.

Application deadline:

21 August 2016