Daily Archives: 3 May 2016

University of Cambridge: Postdoctoral Research Associate – Call For Applications

Research Associate (Fixed Term)
University of Cambridge – McDonald Institute for Archaeological Research

Location: Cambridge
Salary: £28,982 to £37,768
Hours: Full Time
Contract Type: Contract / Temporary

A full-time, four-year Postdoctoral Research Associate is sought to work on a Wellcome Trust funded project entitled “After the plague: health and history in medieval Cambridge”. The project will explore the historical effects of major health events by combining multiple methods (archaeology, history, osteoarchaeology, isotopic and genetic studies of both human and pathogen aDNA) to study the people of medieval Cambridge, particularly to understand health, lifestyle and activity in medieval England and to understand the long-term biosocial effects of the Black Death epidemic.

This post-doctoral position focuses upon the aDNA and genetics component of the project. The research involves sampling and extracting aDNA from human skeletal material from archaeological contexts and helping to write up the results, under the supervision of Dr Toomas Kivisild. Working with collaborators on the analysis of pathogen aDNA will also be involved. The successful candidate should have a PhD in a relevant field in hand or to be awarded soon, good writing skills, and the ability to work as part of a team. aDNA experience and the bioinformatic skills to analyse next generation sequencing data are essential. Knowledge of medieval history/ archaeology and a strong record of academic publication are additional desirable qualifications.

Starting date: 1 October 2016 or as soon as possible thereafter. Limit of tenure: 4 years. The successful candidate will be expected to start at or near the base of the pay scale shown above.

Fixed-term: The funds for this post are available for 48 months in the first instance, until 30 September 2020.

Once an offer of employment has been accepted, the successful candidate will be required to undergo a health assessment.

To apply online for this vacancy and to view further information about the role, please visit:

www.jobs.cam.ac.uk/job/9925. This will take you to the role on the University’s Job Opportunities pages. There you will need to click on the ‘Apply online’ button and register an account with the University’s Web Recruitment System (if you have not already) and log in before completing the online application form.

A covering letter explaining how your qualifications and experience suit you to the post and a full CV should be uploaded onto the online recruitment system no later than the deadline of 1 June, 2016. Interviews will take place in late June.

Informal inquiries may be addressed to Prof. John Robb (jer39@cam.ac.uk).

Please quote reference JC08712 on your application and in any correspondence about this vacancy.

The University values diversity and is committed to equality of opportunity.

The University has a responsibility to ensure that all employees are eligible to live and work in the UK.

Paradigm Shifts: 23rd Annual ACMRS Conference – Call For Papers

Paradigm Shifts
23rd Annual ACMRS Conference
Embassy Suites Hotel, Scottsdale, Arizona
February 9-11, 2017

ACMRS invites session and paper proposals for its annual interdisciplinary conference to be held February 9-11, 2017 at the Embassy Suites Hotel in Scottsdale. We welcome papers that explore any topic related to the study and teaching of the Middle Ages and Renaissance and especially those that focus on the general theme of “Paradigm Shifts during the Global Middle Ages and Renaissance.”

CONFERENCE PUBLICATION: Selected papers focused on “Paradigm Shifts during the Global Middle Ages and Renaissance” will be considered for publication in the conference volume of the Arizona Studies in the Middle Ages and the Renaissance series, published by Brepols Publishers (Belgium).

KEYNOTE SPEAKER: Ronnie Po-Chia Hsia, Edwin Erle Sparks Professor of History, Pennsylvania State University. Professor Hsia’s research has focused on the history of the Protestant Reformation, Catholic Renewal, anti-Semitism, and the encounter between Europe and Asia. His current book project, tentatively titled Translating Christianity: China and the Catholic Missions 1584-1780, is a study of the history of cultural encounter between Counter-Reformation Europe and the Ming and Qing empires.

PRE-CONFERENCE WORKSHOP: ACMRS will host a workshop on manuscript studies led by Professor Timothy Graham, Director of the Institute for Medieval Studies at the University of New Mexico. The workshop will be held on the afternoon of Thursday, February 9, and participation will be limited to the first 25 individuals to register. The cost of the workshop is $50 ($25 for students) and is in addition to the regular conference registration fee.

DEADLINES: Proposals will be accepted on a rolling basis until midnight, MST on December 2, 2016. Responses will be given within a week of submission. Please submit an abstract of 250 words and a brief CV to ACMRSconference@asu.edu. Proposals must include audio/visual requirements and any other special requests; late requests may not be accommodated. Visit our web page at www.acmrs.org/conferences/annual-acmrs-conference for further details.