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ERC-Funded PhD position on Past and Future Millet Foodways (MILWAYS) project

26 Jun 2023

Job Information

Organisation/Company
Vilnius University
Department
Department of Archaeology, Faculty of History
Research Field
History » Archaeology
Researcher Profile
First Stage Researcher (R1)
Country
Lithuania
Application Deadline
Type of Contract
Temporary
Job Status
Full-time
Offer Starting Date
Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme?
HE / ERC
Reference Number
101087964
Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure?
No

Offer Description

We invite applications for a funded, full-time PhD position of 42 months duration under the ERC Consolidator Grant (101087964) project led by Prof. Giedre Motuzaite Matuzeviciute Keen titled PAST AND FUTURE MILLET FOODWAYS (MILWAYS) The successful candidate will be based at the Department of Archaeology, Faculty of History at Vilnius University (Lithuania). The project will be coordinated by Vilnius University, with work distributed across several countries in north-eastern and central Europe.

Further details about the PhD topic area

The successful PhD student will work on reconstructing the history of millet cultivation and changes in its status through time in relation to climate, intensification of use of other foods and technological advancements. This will be achieved by combining archaeobotanical data with existing historical data and environmental proxies to understand the causes of variation in past dietary choices and in relation to the exploitation of other cereal crops. PhD candidate will be working in close collaboration with a Postdoctoral historian who will study historical sources from the 14th-18th centuries. During the PhD studies, the archaeobotanical data will be collated into a database that will be used to interpret historical written sources that mention the exploitation of millet in the past and its relationship with other crops. The PhD student will work with archaeobotanical material stored mostly at the Bioarchaeology Research Centre at Vilnius University, and other primary and published archaeobotanical datasets.

Requirements

Research Field
History » Archaeology
Education Level
Master Degree or equivalent
Skills/Qualifications

The successful candidate will be expected to:

  • Apply archaeobotanical research techniques;
  • Learn state-of-the-art of the research methods to be applied during the PhD;
  • Apply, when necessary, additional analytical techniques;
  • Successfully complete a paper-based PhD thesis by the end of a 3,5-year duration; with 4 WoS published papers (2 of which the PhD candidate is a first author) see more: Regulations_of_Doctoral_Studies_EN_2020-10-06.pdf
  • Attend 30 credits of courses and pass the required exams, as defined in the regulations of doctoral studies at of Vilnius University   (https://www.vu.lt/site_files/DRS/Doctoral_Studies/Regulations_of_Doctoral_Studies_EN_2020-10-06.pdf);
  • Partake in the seminars and conferences organised around the ERC project;
  • During their PhD candidates will also be encouraged to participate in other relevant events at Vilnius University and conferences worldwide;
  • The PhD student will construct an Open Access archaeobotanical macroremains database for the geographical regions studied in MILWAYS in collaboration with key archaeobotanists (Aldona Mueller-Bieniek (University of Warsaw).
Specific Requirements

Candidates must have:

  1. A Master’s degree in archaeological science, archaeology, botany or related studies.
  2. Excellent oral and written English and the skills in writing scientific publications.
Languages
ENGLISH
Level
Excellent
Research Field
History » Archaeology

Additional Information

Benefits

The PhD bursary is regulated by Lithuanian Government, which is 931-1078 EUR per month (post tax). In addition, the PhD student will also simultaneously be employed as a junior researcher on the project in a part time capacity. The total monthly income of the PhD student together with a PhD scholarship will be approximately €1700 per month after taxes. During the course of the PhD the candidate is required to spend at least 9 months per year physically at Vilnius University, Lithuania.

The successful candidate will also have access to funding to participate in conferences in the 2nd and 3rd years of the PhD.

Good command of English is mandatory. Knowledge of the Lithuanian language is not a requirement. The successful candidate will have a working space at Vilnius University, in a shared office with other members of the group.

Selection process

Applicants must submit:

  1. An academic curriculum vitae
  2. A statement of interest
  3. PhD proposal
  4. A transcript of the grades obtained in the MA degree
  5. The names and addresses of two academic referees
  6. All applications must be submitted by email (apply.phd@cr.vu.lt CC giedre.keen@if.vu.lt)

Application deadline: 17.00 (Brussels time), September 15, 2023.

  1. Shortlisted candidates will be notified no later than 7 days after the deadline and asked to have an online interview. This would be held during the second half of the September 2023.
  2. Candidates will be notified of the result of the selection process up to 1 week after the interviews.
Additional comments

For academic questions about the project and the position, please contact Giedre Motuzaite Matuzeviciute Keen (giedre.keen@if.vu.lt; giedre.motuzaite@gmail.com).

For practical information about the position and the application process, please contact Simona Akamauskaitė or Virginija Uksienė (simona.akamauskaite@cr.vu.lt; virginija.uksiene@cr.vu.lt).

Work Location(s)

Number of offers available
1
Company/Institute
Vilnius University
Country
Lithuania
State/Province
Vilnius City
City
Vilnius
Geofield

Where to apply

E-mail
giedre.keen@if.vu.lt

Contact

City
Vilnius
Website
Street
Universiteto street 7
E-Mail
giedre.keen@if.vu.lt
giedre.motuzaite@gmail.com