Ph.D. Position Palaeolithic Archaeology Leiden University

September 30, 2008

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Palaeolithic Archaeology Leiden University
In the Human Origins programme at Leiden University we take a multidisciplinary approach to studying the culture and cognition of Palaeolithic hominins, with an emphasis on the European Palaeolithic record. The Palaeolithic period extends from the earliest stone tools (and in Europe, earliest hominin presence) to the beginning of the current warm period. This record provides evidence for the behaviour and culture of a number of species of hominin, the taxonomic group that includes our own species, Homo sapiens. Information about these characteristics and how they changed over time is central to understanding human evolution and explaining why humans act the way they do. The Palaeolithic record presents challenges for interpretation, because of the limited preservation and chronology, and the need to understand the behaviour of other species of hominin. Comparative data and theory from other disciplines such as ethnography, palaeo-anthropology, primatology and behavioural ecology can help us to understand the behavioural and cognitive adaptations of members of the human lineage and the selective pressures that would have been important in the past. At the same time, perspectives from philosophy and the history of science illuminate the theoretical pre-suppositions in Palaeolithic archaeology and in these related disciplines
Ph.D. CANDIDATE, 38 (maximum) hrs per week
Vacancynumber: 8-175
The Human Origins group of the Faculty of Archaeology has an open position for a PhD-candidate and is looking for a candidate with an own plan for original research. Students are asked to send in a detailed research proposal for a 4-year research that fits within the general outline of the program sketched above.
The successful candidate should:
be an enthusiastic and efficient researcher, who has a clear affinity with the research program;
have an excellent academic track record, with a Master’s degree or equivalent in the field of palaeolithicarchaeology, qualifying for the doctoral research;
have a good, active command of both written and spoken English;
be motivated to follow the Ph.D. program of the Faculty of Archaeology, Leiden University, and committed to finishing the dissertation within four years.

Terms of employment

The Ph.D. position covers a period of initially one year, usually full-time (38 hours a week), with a possible extension, in case of satisfactory progress, of another three years maximum with fulltime employment. The selected Ph.D. candidate will devote approximately 80% of her/his working time to research, and 20% to following courses and to teaching. In view of the latter, the Ph.D. candidate must be willing and able to teach classes and seminars on topics of her/his specialisation. The salary of the Ph.D. candidate is € 2.000,- gross per month in the first year, increasing to € 2.558,- gross per month in the fourth year, based on fulltime employment (in accordance with current salary scales as set out in the collective labour agreement for Dutch Universities).

Information

For additional information with respect to the aims of the research program, applicants may contact the coordinator of the programme,, Prof. Dr. Wil Roebroeks by email: w.roebroeks@arch.leidenuniv.nl

For questions concerning the terms of employment, applicants may contact: drs. R.E. Speelman, personnel advisor (0031-71-5272779/2323) create_mail(“r.e.speelman”,”let.leidenuniv.nl”, “r.e.speelman@let.leidenuniv.nl”)

Procedure

Applications should consist of:

a letter of application, stating motivation and capabilities,
a detailed curriculum vitae,
the names of two referees, with their academic affiliations, e-mail addresses and telephone numbers,
xeroxes of academic transcripts (university courses plus examination marks),
a copy of the MA thesis
a research proposal for a 4-year PhD research (max. 3000 words).

Applications should be sent by post to:

Faculty of Archeology
Human Resources department
F.a.o. drs. R. E. Speelman
P.O. Box 9515
2300 RA Leiden
The Netherlands

Note:

the vacancy number should be written on both the letter and the envelope. Applications sent
by e-mail will not be considered. The complete application is due no later than October 15t, 2008.

The committee responsible for making the recommendations to the Faculty Board, may invite potentially suitable applicants for an interview.

Scholarship Tags: Archaeology, Leiden, Palaeolithic, PhD, Position, University