Tromsø University Museum, UiT The Arctic University of Norway has a four-year position vacant from 1st May 2019 for applicants who wish to obtain the degree of Philosophiae Doctor (PhD). The position is on the project “Jomon Environmental Archaeology and diet, and a comparison with N Scandinavian Hunter-gatherers-fishers”.

From January 1st 2019 Tromsø University Museum and the Faculty of Fine Arts at UiT will be merged into a new unit.

Over the last 20 years Japan has had hundreds of archaeological excavation of Jomon period sites in wetland contexts with remarkable preservation of environmental remains of both plants and animals. This has led to an attempt to use a nutritional niche approach to Jomon and early Yayoi archaeology. This project will continue this approach, expand it into the use of sedaDNA and undertake a comparison with communities outside typical cereal-based agriculture in Northern Scandinavia. The project will consist of three components: (a) further development and analyses of the environmental database of Jomon sites compiled as part of a recent project on Jomon nutritional archaeology, (b) undertake sampling, processing and interpretation of DNA from sediments excavated at environmentally rich Jomon sites in Japan, and (c) attempt a comparison of diet and nutrition between Jomon-Okhotsk hunter-gatherers-fishers (h-g-fs) and later prehistoric hunter-gatherers-fishers from N Norway. There are both theoretical and practical justifications for all the components of this research as both Jomon and Northern Scandinavian h-g-fs are difficult to fit into standard subsistence models of past societies, and as it is suspected that the diet of these peoples had relatively positive health outcomes in comparison with cereal-dominated agricultural diets. The project is an extension of the Jomon Nutritional Archaeology Project (Leverhulme Funded).

The PhD position is for a fixed term, with the objective of completion of training and research to the level of a doctoral degree. Admission to a PhD programme is a prerequisite for employment, and the programme period starts on commencement of the position. The PhD Candidate will participate in one if UiTs faculty’s organized research training or alternative training organized by (for example) the research school in biosystematics (http://www.forbio.uio.no/). The PhD project will be completed during the period of employment. Information about the application process for admission to the PhD programme, application form and regulations for the degree of Philosophiae Doctor (PhD) are available at this site.

Further information about the position is available by contacting the:

• Project leader, Professor Tony Brown, +4777 64 50 18 Antony.G.Brown@uit.no

The position’s affiliation

This position is attached to the Department of Natural Sciences, which is responsible for developing and maintaining scientific collections of objects (animals, plants, fossils and minerals) as well as public outreach, including the Tromsø Arctic-Alpine Botanical Garden. The department has a permanent staff of 16, of which nine are in academic positions. At the moment, four PhD students and one researcher are connected to the department. The position is within the research group in palaeoecology, geoarchaeology and environmental change. The department has laboratories for sediment analysis, microfossil analysis (including pllen), modern and ancient DNA analyses, and it is currently involved in several large projects: “Terrace Archaeology, Culture and Environment (TerrACE)”, “Waves of Colonisation in the Sea of Moyle”, “ECOGEN”, “Ancient DNA of Northwest Europe” and “Norwegian Barcode of Life”. For more information about the Department of Natural Sciences, visit this site.

The successful applicant is expected to spend most of the time in Tromsø, but there will also be extensive fieldwork. The candidate is also expected to undertake a research stay abroad for up to three months with one or more of the project collaborators.

Required qualifications

The successful applicant must fulfil the requirements for admission to the faculty’s PhD programme as described by Regulations for the degree of Philosophiae Doctor (PhD) at UiT, The Arctic University of Norway (see below). In addition, he/she must be able to document proficiency in English equivalent to the Norwegian Higher Education Entrance Qualification, as described in the PhD regulations at UiT.

This position requires that the applicant must be fluent in Japanese (both spoken and written) and English, but could come from a background in environmental archaeology or a natural science such as botany, zoology and geology but with an interest in the archaeology of Japan. A working knowledge of databases, ecology and/or human nutrition would also be an advantage. Personal fit to the team and teamwork skills are important. Average physical condition is sufficient for the fieldwork. The applicant must present a one-page outline of their fit with the project and pertinent skills.

Working conditions

The normal period of employment is four years. The nominal length of the PhD programme is three years. The fourth year, distributed as 25 % of each year, will be used for teaching or other duties at the university. See Guidelines for the candidate’s duties.

The position may be assigned duties related to dissemination of science, collection management or other work depending on the qualifications of the applicant and the needs of the museum.

Remuneration for the position of PhD Candidate is in accordance with the State salary scale code 1017 (or code 1378) (or both codes depending on qualifications). A compulsory contribution of 2 % to the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund will be deducted on top of tax.

Assessment

The applicants will be assessed by an expert committee. During this assessment process, emphasis will be attached to the applicant’s potential for research as shown by the following:

• Master’s thesis or equivalent,
• any other relevant academic works, and
• project outline

In addition, consideration may be given to work experience or other activities of significance for the implementation of the PhD studies, and to any teaching qualifications. This includes teaching education, teaching experience, experience from popularization and experience/education from other types of dissemination. Information and material to be considered during the assessment must be submitted by the stipulated deadline.

The applicants who are assessed as the best qualified will called to an interview. The interview will, among other things, provide the opportunity to discuss the applicant’s personal suitability for the position.

Application

The application must be submitted electronically via the application form available on www.jobbnorge.no.

The application must include:

• Letter of application
• Proposed project outline
• CV (containing a complete overview of education, supervised professional training and professional work)
• Copies of:

- diploma and transcript from your Bachelor’s degree or equivalent

- diploma and transcript from your Master’s degree or equivalent

- diploma supplement for completed degrees

- documentation of English language proficiency

- project description

• List of works and description of these (see below)

The list of works should contain the following information:

• author(s), the work’s title
  • for publications: publisher, printer, year of publication, number of pages
  • for articles: the journal’s name and volume, the first and last page of the article, year of publication

• The works (published or unpublished) which the applicant wishes to be taken into consideration during the assessment process should be submitted
• List of referees with contact information.

All documentation that is to be evaluated must be certified and translated into English or a Scandinavian language.

Information and material to be considered during the assessment must be submitted by the stipulated deadline.

Applicants should also refer to the Supplementary regulations for appointment to postdoktor (Postdoctoral Fellow), stipendiat (PhD) and vitenskapelig assistent (Research Assistant) positions at UiT The Arctic University of Norway and to the Regulations concerning terms and conditions of employment for posts of postdoktor (Postdoctoral Fellow), stipendiat (PhD), vitenskapelig assistent (Research Assistant) and spesialistkandidat (Resident). (In Norwegian only)

Questions concerning the organisation of the working environment, such as the physical state of the place of employment, health services, possibility for flexible working hours, part time, etc., as well as questions about the PhD programme may be directed to the telephone reference in this announcement.

UiT has HR policy objectives that emphasize diversity, and it encourages all qualified applicants to apply regardless of their gender, functional ability and national or ethnic background.

UiT is an IW (Inclusive Workplace) enterprise, and will emphasize making the necessary adaptations to the working conditions for employees with reduced functional ability.

Personal data given in an application or CV will be processed in accordance with the Act relating to the processing of personal data (the Personal Data Act). In accordance with Section 25 subsection 2 of the Freedom of Information Act, the applicant may request not to be registered on the public list of applicants. However, the University may nevertheless decide that the name of the applicant will be made public. The applicant will receive advance notification in the event of such publication.

We are looking forward to receiving your application.

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