NERC-funded PhD studentship:
Changing animal use in prehistoric western Asia: zooarchaeological
investigations
The Institute of Archaeology, UCL, invites applications for a NERC-funded research
studentship, for three years, to enable a postgraduate student to receive training in
research methods and to undertake a programme of research that will lead to the
submission of a thesis and the award of a PhD. This studentship covers tuition fees
and provides a termly maintenance grant (stipend) in accordance with NERC
standards.
Research topic:
The Institute of Archaeology UCL has access to prehistoric animal bone
assemblages/datasets from areas of western Asia including northern Iraq and central
Anatolia, key areas for exploring changing human-animal relations in the late
Pleistocene/early Holocene. Zooarchaeological analysis will focus on questions of
wild animal management, early domestications, commensalism and faunal diversity
in relation to settlement character, resource pressure and niche construction.
A PhD student will be expected to undertake original zooarchaeological analyses to
critically examine existing models of animal procurement and treatment during
important periods of change in human-animal relations. The student is expected to
be methodologically and theoretically innovative, and to contribute as team member
to field and post-excavation projects.
Essential skills required: an MSc in Zooarchaeology or equivalent, including
experience of animal bone assemblage analysis (mammals – minimum
requirement), quantitative methods, biometrical approaches, databasing,
independent research writing.
Desirable experience: educational background in palaeoecology, environmental
archaeology methods, Neolithic transitions, western Asia, fieldwork.
Eligibility: In accordance with NERC regulations, the candidate should be a UK
citizen or have settled status in the UK within the meaning of the Immigration Act
1971, and have been ordinarily resident in the UK throughout the 3-year period
preceding the date of application for an award, but not been resident in the UK,
during any part of that 3-year period wholly or mainly for the purposes of full time
education. For further regulations, see
http://www.nerc.ac.uk/funding/application/studentships/
How to apply: Applications are based on the existing UCL application form for
Postgraduate (Research) degrees
http://www.ucl.ac.uk/prospective-students/graduatestudy/application/application-main/downloadable-applications
and should include:
1) The applicant’s Curriculum Vitae
2) A covering letter including a statement concerning their eligibility for this
fellowship
3) Transcripts of relevant studies
4) Two reference letters in sealed and signed envelopes
Submission of application: All application documents should be sent in hard copy to
Lisa Daniel, UCL Institute of Archaeology, 31-34 Gordon Square, London WC1H
0PY, UK, with the indication NERC Studentship written on the envelope. Applications
to be received no later than 5pm, 19th June. Interviews will take place on 25th June.
Please do NOT submit the application via the UCL admissions portal, since this will
unnecessarily delay the receipt of your application.
For further enquiries: Dr Louise Martin, louise.martin@ucl.ac.uk