Marine Coring
Job Code: GEA-PanEV01
Job Offer from August 17, 2022
The Max Planck Institute for Geoanthropology in Jena, formerly Max Planck Institute for the Science of Human History, is hiring a Postdoctoral Fellow in Mediterranean Palaeoecology and Pollen Analysis to join the ISLANDLAB research group.
The fulltime position is hosted by the ISLANDLAB group and will be for up to three years and based in Jena, Germany. The candidate will be given an initial 2 years with the possibility of extension of a further 12 months, subject to conditions. The position will require substantial time spent in Malta conducting data collection, anticipated as 6 weeks to 3 months every year. The scope of the role is to conduct and collate all archaeobotanical analyses to identify major changes in the vegetation of the Maltese Islands.
Your Tasks
- recover a range of samples for analysis from both archaeological sites and sediment cores
- coordinate and assist in archaeological excavation and terrestrial and marine coring operations
- oversee relevant processing of own samples and those designated for other specialists, and collate results
- conduct detailed palynological analyses of samples
- conduct charcoal counts to reconstruct fire history
- create taxonomic inventories of vegetation and compare them both over time and with modern areas of natural Mediterranean floral preservation (i.e. sclerophyll ecosystems)
- calculate metrics for species richness, species evenness, similarity/dissimilarity, tree density, and biomass, allowing quantitative comparison within and between sites, and regions
- work with other team members in palaeontology, zooarchaeology, archaeobotany, sedimentology, geochemistry, genetics etc. to draw together and interpret results
- work with key partners and colleagues at the University of Malta and the Deutches Geo-Forschungs-Zentrum in Germany, as well as at the MPI-Geoanthropology
- attend fieldwork and post-excavation seasons in Malta (minimum of 6 weeks every year, late August to mid-October)
- participate in any additional research required in Malta, as well as workshops and conferences, and any additional post-excavation work
- write scientific publications for peer review
Your Profile
The ideal applicant will have a relevant master’s degree and PhD with a background in palynology and palaeoecology of the Mediterranean, and a strong track record of publication in this area evidencing commitment to this field of research. The ability to work with a large interdisciplinary team as a team player is also essential. Prerequisites also include evidence of strong oral and written communication skills as evidence by an outstanding publication and presentation record, commensurate with career stage and care duties. The ability to complete tasks in a timely and structured fashion, be self-driven and work independently, is also required for the position. It is desirable but not essential to have experience conducting coring work.
Our Offer
The position offers a unique opportunity to the successful candidate to develop cutting edge research in an unexplored timeframe in the Central Mediterranean just as ISLANDLAB is recovering new data. Please send any queries to scerri@shh.mpg.de. Renumeration will follow the public service pay scale (TVöD), according to the candidate’s qualifications and experience up to paygroup 13. In addition, social benefits are offered as per the regulations of the German Civil Service, f.e. occupational pension and subsidies for public transport.
The Max Planck Society is committed to employing more individuals with disabilities and especially encourages them to apply. We are also committed to encouraging diversity and actively challenging biases based on gender, nationality, ethnicity, sexual orientation, religion and other components of identity.
The Max Planck Society is supporting the compatibility of family and career and is certified according to the “berufundfamilie” (“job and family”) audit.
Your Application
To apply, please include a letter of application stating why you are suitable for the position and why you wish to apply. As start date is envisioned in January 2023, and certainly not later than the beginning of March. Please submit your application (which should include a cover letter, a CV of no more than 3 pages, list of publications with a maximum of 10 relating to the topic, and any relevant certificates) by September, 30. You are also required to ask three referees to submit letters of recommendation, which are also due by September, 30. Please submit your application and the identification number as a single pdf file in English to career@shh.mpg.de. Referees should independently submit their letters as a pdf file to the same address by the same deadline.
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