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.

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