The Cluster of Excellence ROOTS – Social, Environmental, and Cultural Connectivity in Past Societies at Kiel University explores the roots of social, environmental, and cultural phenomena and processes that substantially marked past human development. The ROOTS working group “Socio-environmental Hazards” addresses core questions of how past societies have coped with abrupt climate and environmental change.
We invite applications for a postdoctoral position Climate-induced human responses in the Mediterranean area over the course of the Holocen to begin as early as possible. This position is limited for 2 years. The salary is based on the German public pay scale (TV-L 13) if the conditions of the collective agreement are met. The regular weekly working hours are those of a full-time employee (currently 38,7 hours).
Tasks:
The successful candidate will empirically explore the role of major climate hazards for past socio-environmental dynamics. Extensive existing data sets of climate and environmental change and of human activities (landuse, demographic changes, settlement and potential migration/mobility patterns) in a broad circum-Mediterranean context provide an excellent basis to empirically test such hypotheses.
Namely quantitative reconstructions of precipitation, temperature and vegetation patterns shall be explored to assess the role and interdependencies of these variables in past scenarios. A multi-proxy approach shall integrate existing and new proxy data from diverse paleoclimatological and -environmental archives, as well as enabling a comparison of reconstructed and model simulated scenarios, and a comparison of climate and archaeological variables.
Requirements:
- a qualified PhD in Geosciences/ Environmental Sciences
- familiar with computer based and statistical approaches as needed to handle large data sets
- Experience with methods to quantitatively reconstruct past climate and environmental scenarios are expected in at least two of these fields
- Experience in Modern Analogue Techniques (e.g. based on pollen assemblages or other terrestrial, lacustrine or marine microfossil assemblages); stable isotope-, trace metal-, biomarker approaches; chronological approaches based on probability analyses; pattern analyses (e.g. time series analyses; GIS based approaches)
- A keen interest in quantitative archaeological methods is expected enabling to integrate both, paleoenvironmental and archaeological proxy data.
We offer an interdisciplinary research environment, where the postdoctoral project will be conducted jointly with ROOTS experts and international partners of the ROOTS cluster.
Christian-Albrechts-Universität zu Kiel sees itself as a modern and cosmopolitan employer. We welcome your application regardless of your age, gender, cultural and social background, religion, ideology, disability or sexual identity. We promote gender equality.
Reconciling work and family life and promoting part-time employment are in the special interest of the university. For this reason, applicants interested in part-time employment are especially addressed. If such applications are received, it will be examined whether the part-time wishes can be met within the scope of the official possibilities.
Christian-Albrechts-Universität zu Kiel is committed to the employment of people with disabilities: Applications from severely disabled persons and persons of equal status will be given preferential consideration if they are suitable. The University strongly encourages women with appropriate qualifications to apply for the position. Women with equivalent qualifications, competence and expertise will be given preference.
We also support the application of people with a foreign background.
Please address your application (cover letter, description of your research profile and your qualification for the position (1 page), CV, including list of publications, certificates of all academic degrees and the contacts for 2 references, as one single *.pdf document until June 15, 2022, to:
Kiel University
Dr. Mara Weinelt
Exzellenzcluster ROOTS,
Leibnizstr. 3
24118 Kiel
E-Mail: application@roots.uni-kiel.de
For further information, please contact: Dr. Mara Weinelt (mweinelt@roots.uni-kiel.de).
Please refrain from submitting application photos.
Please note that all documents will be deleted once the recruitment process has been completed.