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The Field Research Education Centre, Department of Archaeological Heritage and Society, Faculty of Archaeology, Leiden University, is looking for a

PhD Candidate in the field of Critical Field Archaeology Studies

to conduct a research project at the Faculty of Archaeology, Leiden University.

Project Description
The Faculty of Archaeology, Leiden University, seeks to appoint a full-time PhD candidate to carry out research at the thematic intersection of Field Archaeology, education, and/or ethics. The successful candidate will join the Field Research Education Centre and the Department of Archaeological Heritage and Society of our Faculty. The research should lead you to obtain a PhD within a four-year timeframe (1.0 FTE).
Daily supervision will be carried out by Dr. Maaike de Waal, Assistant Professor and Head of the Field Research Education Centre at the Faculty of Archaeology, Leiden University.

The PhD candidate’s research will be part of the Field Research Education Centre (FREC). The FREC was created in 2021 with the main objective to establish a Fieldwork Center of Expertise for the Faculty of Archaeology, underlining the pivotal importance of fieldwork (both aimed at heritage studies and at collecting archaeological data and materials) as core of the discipline. The FREC works at the interface of education and research. The past years, the FREC has worked to strengthen the practical skills of our alumni and their employability in the professional archaeology market by coordinating faculty fieldschools and internships in the Netherlands and abroad. As a result, FREC efforts have and will be largely concentrated on topics that come with today’s fieldwork challenges:

• Codes of Conduct for archaeology fieldwork (guidelines for ethical fieldwork behaviour);
• Inclusivity (both in fieldwork and internships, as in the job market);
• Health and safety in archaeology fieldwork projects;
• Research and student training projects in various (international) social, political, cultural, and legal contexts;
• Sustainability of archaeology fieldwork projects;
• Innovative methods for fieldwork education;
• Connection practical skills education, protocols, and the job market;
• Practical fieldwork policies, guidelines and procedures;
• Innovative and ethically sound (non-destructive) fieldwork methods relating to natural and archaeological landscapes.

The successful candidate will be expected to design a relevant research project, linked to two or three of the topics listed above, under the supervision of De Waal and in collaboration with other FREC members, and make substantive contributions to the general efforts of the FREC as outlined above.

Key tasks

• Conduct collaborative and novel research in the field of Critical Field Archaeology Studies;
• Contribute to the overall aims of the FREC;
• Conduct research activities, including data collection, processing, and analyses to answer the research questions;
• Critically collect and analyse fieldwork meta-data;
• Contribute to the development of inclusive, sustainable and ethically sound fieldwork best practices;
• Publish and present the work in international peer-reviewed journals and to academic and professional audiences, both independently and with team members;
• Actively participate in discussions at the faculty, department, and FREC level on research innovation;
• Follow PhD courses based on an individual training and supervision plan, including through the Graduate School;
• Obtain a PhD by defending the PhD dissertation comprised of several articles published in peer-reviewed academic journals on a topic related to the research topics outlined above within a four-year timeframe.

Selection criteria

• Master’s degree completed by the time of the appointment in Archaeology, Anthropology, or related field;
• Demonstrable ability and enthusiasm for innovative and inter-disciplinary research at the intersection of conceptual and policy-oriented research in one or more of the above fields;
• Experience with fieldwork aimed at heritage studies and/or at collecting archaeological data and materials;
• Active and critical research attitude;
• Demonstrable good time-management, organizational, and communication skills;
• Ability to work both independently and as part of a team in an organized and results-oriented fashion;
• Availability to travel and conduct research in and/or outside the Netherlands (if required);
• The PhD thesis will be written in English and therefore excellent command of English is required. Command of Dutch is not required but highly preferable.

Our Faculty
The future of the past begins at Leiden University. The Faculty of Archaeology is internationally leading for its research, home to a broad array of specializations and notable for its strong connection between teaching and research. Home to over 500 students in the multidisciplinary world of Archaeology, the Faculty, and its researchers from all areas of the archaeological field, determine the future of archaeological research. More information about our university and our faculty can be found at: https://www.universiteitleiden.nl/en/archaeology

We offer
The selected candidate will be appointed for 4 years in total: initially for a 1 year trial period, followed by an extension of 3 more years, in accordance with the Collective Labor Agreement for Dutch Universities.

The salary is the standard offered to PhD researchers in the Netherlands in accordance with the Collective Labor Agreement for Dutch Universities (P scale: P0 to P3 = €2770 - €3539 gross per month).

Leiden University offers an attractive benefits package with additional holiday (8%) and end-of-year bonuses (8.3 %), training and career development and sabbatical leave. Candidates from outside the Netherlands may be eligible for a substantial tax break. More at https://www.universiteitleiden.nl/en/working-at/job-application-procedure-and-employment-conditions.

All our PhD students are embedded in the Graduate School of Archaeology. Our graduate school and Leiden University offer several PhD training courses at various levels.

What we find important
Promoting an inclusive community is central to Leiden University’s values and vision. Leiden University aims to be an inclusive community in which all students and staff members feel valued and respected, and are able to develop to their full potential. Diversity in experiences and perspectives enriches our teaching and strengthens our research. High-quality education and research means inclusive education and research.

Information
For more information about the content of this vacancy, please contact Maaike de Waal, Assistant Professor and Head of the Field Research Education Centre, m.s.de.waal@arch.leidenuniv.nl
For information about the Graduate School of Archaeology, please check https://www.universiteitleiden.nl/en/archaeology/graduate-school-archaeology
For other matters, please contact Human Resources HR@arch.leidenuniv.nl

More information about Leiden University can be found at https://www.universiteitleiden.nl/en.

Apply
You can apply via the 'Apply' button. The deadline for applications is September 20, 2024.
Applications must be submitted via SuccessFactors. The position is envisaged to start in January 2025.

Please attach the following additional documents as one PDF file, stating the job number above:

• Motivation letter, including your relevant interest and experience in the subject matter and in doing advanced research (max 1 page)
• Curriculum vitae, including a list of publications
• Research proposal, pitching your personal research idea (including topic, research questions, relevance, and suggested method[s]; max 1 page)
• Writing sample (postgraduate thesis or publication)
• Names and addresses of two potential referees (no actual recommendation letters required at this stage).

The first round of interviews should be scheduled in the first week of October. Selected candidates will initially be invited for an online interview. We kindly request that you be available (online) during this week.

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