Applications are invited for a PhD fellowship/scholarship at Graduate School of Natural Sciences, Aarhus University, Denmark, within the Geoscience programme. The position is available from May 2025 or later.
Title:
The cradles of agrodiversity in Northern Europe
Research area and project description:
Candidates are invited to apply for a PhD fellowship focused on where, when, and how pre-Roman small-scale cropping and gardening truly began.
The successful candidate will be part of a newly established research group working to address the unanswered questions regarding early agro-diversity. The successful candidate will use and develop well-established soil science, innovative bio-geoarchaeological profiling, and novel dating methods.
The project investigate where, when and how gardening began in Northern Europe by focusing on the soil in the most common, but least understood and most varied traces of prehistory: pits. By combining environmental and human science we will chart the development and resilience of small-scale agro-diversity from the very start of the Holocene until the medieval gardens, and use the resulting long-term record to inform global debates on food security.
The project includes international and nation collaborators (Göteborg University, Sweden; St. Andrews University, Scotland; and Department of Culture and Society, Aarhus University), and the PhD project will preferably include a research visit abroad. The position is funded by the Danish Research Council.
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Qualifications and specific competences:
Applicants must have a relevant Master’s degree or at least one year of a Master’s degree in Geoscience, Archaeology, Horticulture, Soil Science, Agronomy or similar, by May 1st 2024. In addition, the candidate will have demonstrated analytical skills, a good command of English, excellent interpersonal skills, an open attitude to interdisciplinary research, and the ability to work in international collaborations. Previous experience with soils science and/or geo-archaeological methods is highly desired.
Place of employment and place of work:
The place of employment is Aarhus University, and the place of work is Department of Geoscience, Høegh-Guldbergs Gade 2, 8000 Aarhus C, Denmark.
Contacts:
Applicants seeking further information for this project are invited to contact:
Associate professor Søren M. Kristiansen, smk@geo.au.dk or Associate Professor Niels Nørkjær Johannsen, nnj@cas.au.dk
How to apply:
For information about application requirements and mandatory attachments, please see the Application guide. Please read the Application guide thoroughly before applying.
When ready to apply, go to https://phd.nat.au.dk/for-applicants/apply-here/ (Note, the online application system opens 1 December 2024)
Please note:
At the Faculty of Natural Science at Aarhus University, we strive to support our scientific staff in their career development. We focus on competency development and career clarification and want to make your opportunities transparent. On our website, you can find information on all types of scientific positions, as well as the entry criteria we use when assessing candidates. You can also read more about how we can assist you in your career planning and development.
Aarhus University’s ambition is to be an attractive and inspiring workplace for all and to foster a culture in which each individual has opportunities to thrive, achieve and develop. We view equality and diversity as assets, and we welcome all applicants. All interested candidates are encouraged to apply, regardless of their personal background.
