ESR short-term fellowships on the interdisciplinary study of premodern ceramics and plasters from the Eastern Mediterranean

The Cyprus Institute (CyI) is a non-profit research and educational institution with a strong scientific and technological orientation, emphasizing international collaborations, cross-disciplinary research, innovation, and post graduate education. CyI, through its established research centres, addresses challenging issues that are important at both the regional and international levels. Many of its research activities are being carried out in partnership with leading institutions in the respective thematic areas.

As part of a recently awarded MSCA Innovative Training Network (ITN), CyI advertises now six short-term Early-Stage Research fellowships designed for Researchers that are already doctoral students at another Institution and seek to receive training and develop their analytical skills in the interdisciplinary study of archaeological plasters and ceramics at the Cyprus Institute (CyI).

The research to be conducted during these fellowships is expected to directly support and contribute to the main doctoral studies of the applicants, as well as having a close link to the main topic of PlaCe-ITN and the analytical and supervisory capabilities of the CyI. These fellowships will be co-supervised by the CyI and the respective PhD supervisors at the external host universities. The short fellowships will take place at the CyI labs with the potential for secondments to other laboratories of the consortium, according to the needs of the pursued doctoral research topics. No short-term fellow will be recruited without full approval of their home institution, and preference will be given to applicants who do not have access to analytical support at their home institution.

The selected candidates will need to have already secured the plaster or ceramic materials intended for analysis by the commencement of their fellowships, together with all the necessary permits for their study and sampling by the relevant authorities. During their six-month fellowships at STARC, they will be trained through practice in one or more of the following:

• Research project design and sampling strategies
• Sample preparation for analysis (thin sections and/or polished blocks)
• Analytical techniques for the technological, compositional, microstructural characterisation of plaster or ceramic samples (hhpXRF, petrography, and/or SEM)
• Data processing
• Data interpretation and integration in cultural and historical contexts.

Secondments within the PlaCe Consortium may be arranged on an individual basis to meet specific analytical or supervisory expertise not available at CyI.

The work conducted during each of these six-month fellowships should ideally lead to at least one publication of results in a peer-reviewed scientific journal.

According to the eligibility criteria set by the European Commission and the particular MSCA-ITN-2020 call, the recruited Early-Stage Researchers (ESRs) will have to comply with the following conditions:

1. not have resided in Cyprus for more than 12 months in the 3 years immediately before the recruitment date, and not have carried out their main activity (work, studies, etc.) in Cyprus. Short stays, such as holidays, are not taken into account;
2. be — at the date of recruitment — an ‘early-stage researcher’ (i.e., in the first four years of his/her research career and not have a doctoral degree).

Qualified applicants from all countries are welcome to submit an application, provided they meet the abovementioned eligibility criteria.

Responsibilities

1. Research project design and sampling strategies
2. Sample preparation for analysis
3. Technological, compositional, microstructural characterisation of plaster or ceramic samples
4. Data processing
5. Data interpretation and integration in cultural and historical contexts
6. Presentation and dissemination of results, including the preparation of at least one open-access publication in a peer-reviewed scientific journal

Required Experience and Qualifications

• MSc/MA in Material Sciences, Archaeological Sciences, Artefact studies, Archaeology, Cultural Heritage, Geology, or related fields
• BSc/BA in Archaeology, Cultural Heritage, Archaeological Sciences, Material Sciences, or related fields
• Typically be enrolled in a PhD programme
• be — at the date of recruitment — an ‘early-stage researcher’ as defined by MSCA rules (i.e., in the first four years of their research career and not have a doctoral degree).
• Excellent knowledge English language both verbal and written.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.

Application

For full consideration, interested applicants should process their application at The Cyprus Institute JobBoard (http://jobboard.cyi.ac.cy/) based on the instructions given. Applicants should submit a curriculum vitae including a letter of interest and contact details of two references, including their primary PhD supervisor. All documentation should be in English and in PDF Format. For further information, please contact Dr Maria Dikomitou-Eliadou (m.dikomitou@cyi.ac.cy ). Please note that applications which do not follow the announcement’s guidelines will not be considered.

Recruitment will continue until the positions are filled. 

Closing date: Monday, the 14th of June 2021, for the first two ESR03A and ESR03B fellows to be recruited respectively in September 2021 and February 2022.

For ESR03C and ESR03D fellowships the closing date for applications will be in June 2022, and for ESR03E and ESR03F in June 2023. Exact deadline dates to be announced in due course.