Aarhus University, The School of Culture and Society at the Faculty of Arts
Assistant Professorship in Archaeometallurgy - 741943
Institution Type: | College / University |
Location: | Denmark |
Position: | Assistant Professor |
The School of Culture and Society at the Faculty of Arts, Aarhus University invites applications for an assistant professorship in archaeometallurgy with a specific focus on the use and circulation of metals in urban societies in the past.
The position is a full-time, three-year position with a start date of 1 October 2015 or as soon as possible thereafter. It is embedded within the Danish National Research Foundation’s Centre of Excellence “Urban Network Evolutions” (UrbNet).
The position
The position represents an opportunity for eminent young researchers to set the agenda for research into the evolution of urban societies and networks from the Hellenistic Period to the Middle Ages, and to participate in one of Europe’s most groundbreaking archaeological research initiatives of this decade.
The centre aims to develop research that will offer comparison of the archaeology of urbanism from Medieval Northern Europe to the Ancient Mediterranean and the Indian Ocean World and determine how, and to what extent, past urban networks catalysed societal and environmental expansions and crises in the past. The newly-opened centre strives to embrace and connect the archaeological research clusters at Aarhus University with new and advanced analytical techniques in geoscience and physics for dating and characterising archaeological sites; and creates a research environment for cross-fertilising approaches from the humanities and sciences.
We are looking for someone with a strong research profile in archaeometallurgy, preferably with training and/or previous research experience in relation to one or more of the focus areas of research within UrbNet, including the times from the Hellenistic Period to the end of the Middle Ages in regions from Northern Europe over the Levant to the East Coast of Africa. The position offers a unique opportunity for carrying out cross-disciplinary research including the contextualisation of archaeometallurgical investigations within a framework of broader historical research. The successful applicant is expected to play an active part within the centre on a daily basis. He/she will also be expected to participate in both teaching and research related to the centre’s initiatives, and to be a leader advancing the centre’s research agenda.
Research
We are looking to integrate researchers into the centre’s work who work with intersecting questions and problems concerning urban development and networks. Projects should align with one or more of the core agendas of the centre:
- How does the combination of multiple methods and approaches help to characterise the material and/or social biographies of urban sites in the past?
- How does the contextual study of archaeological data, including scientific and historical analysis, clarify the structure, dynamics and agency of urban networks in different periods and regions?
- How do high-definition chronologies, site biographies and recorded history integrate as synthetic accounts of urban societies?
We encourage research utilising advanced analytical methods at Aarhus University to identify and source ancient ferrous and/or non-ferrous metals, including (but not limited to) analysis by high-precision multiple collector (MC-ICPMS) and quadrupole ICP-MS, including high-spatial-resolution analysis by laser ablation. Work will be carried out in collaboration with archaeologists and geochemists from the UrbNet centre concerned with the origin, manufacturing and circulation of materials within urban networks of the past.
Teaching
The successful applicant must be prepared to teach and supervise students at all levels of the undergraduate and graduate programmes at the departments relevant to the centre’s research.
The person appointed to the post will be obliged to complete a course in university teaching especially designed for assistant professors.
Talent development
The assistant professor will be expected to develop his or her supervision capabilities at both BA and MA levels.
Knowledge exchange
It is expected that the successful applicant will engage in knowledge exchange as mentioned in the strategy for the Faculty of Arts, for instance in research cooperation with private companies, government consultancy, cooperation with civil society actors, or the public dissemination of knowledge. Applicants should document any prior experience within the field of knowledge exchange.
For further information about the position, please contact centre director Professor Rubina Raja (rubina.raja@cas.au.dk) and vice-director Søren Sindbæk (farksms@cas.au.dk).
Qualifications
Applicants must have PhD degree or equivalent qualifications in archaeometallurgy or related fields. Applicants must also be able to document:
- A strong research and publication record in the field of archaeometallurgy.
- Necessary language skills (reading skills at least), i.e. English, German, French.
- The ability to work in teams.
- Teaching experience at least equivalent to the level acquired during the course of a PhD programme.
- Experience or interest in communication and knowledge exchange.
- Experience and/or interest in supervising student projects, and interest in researcher talent development.
- Mastery of academic English in the classroom.
The applicants should include a short description of a possible research focus within the fields of the centre.
The application must be submitted in English.
For further information about the application, please contact HR supporter Marianne Birn, mbb@au.dk
Research environment
The Danish National Research Foundation’s Centre for Urban Network Evolutions aims to develop research that will offer comparison of the archaeology of urbanism from Medieval Northern Europe to the Ancient Mediterranean and the Indian Ocean World, as well as determining how, and to what extent, past urban networks catalysed societal and environmental expansions and crises in the past. The centre aims to embrace and connect the archaeologies at Aarhus University, and to create a research environment for cross-fertilising problems based firmly in the humanities with new data arising from sciences.
The Departments of Archaeology and Classical Studies embrace prehistoric, classical and medieval archaeology as well as Greek and Latin philology and ancient history. The departments are also connected with various research programmes at Aarhus University, including “the Ancient World”, “Cultural Dynamics” and “Materials, Culture and Heritage”.
For further information on the research environment, please consult the following links.
UrbNet http://urbnet.au.dk/.
School of Culture and Society
At the School of Culture and Society the object of research and teaching is the interplay between culture and society in time and space:
- From the traditional disciplines of the humanities and theology to applied social research
- From Antiquity to the issues facing contemporary societies
- From familiar Danish cultural forms to other very different worlds
- From local questions to global challenges.
The school’s goal is to produce compelling research with an international resonance, as well as offering teaching and talent development of high quality. The school has a broad cooperative interface with society, both in Denmark and abroad, and contributes to social innovation, research communication and further and continuing education.
For a more detailed description of the school, please see this website.
Qualification requirements
Applicants should hold a PhD or equivalent academic qualifications.
Formalities
- Faculty of Arts refers to the Ministerial Order on the Appointment of Academic Staff at Danish Universities (the Appointment Order).
- Appointment shall be in accordance with the collective labour agreement between the Danish Ministry of Finance and the Danish Confederation of Professional Associations .
- Further information on qualification requirements and job content may be found in the Memorandum on Job Structure for Academic Staff at Danish Universities .
- Further information on the application and supplementary materials may be found in Applicant Guidelines.
- The application must outline the applicant's motivation for applying for the position, attaching a curriculum vitae, a teaching portfolio, a complete list of published works, copies of degree certificates and no more than five examples of academic production. Please upload this material electronically along with your application.
All interested are urged to apply irrespective of personal background.
Deadline
All applications must be made online and received by 1 July 2015
Faculty of Arts
The Faculty of Arts is one of four main academic areas at Aarhus University.
The faculty contributes to Aarhus University's research, talent development, knowledge exchange and degree programmes.
With its 500 academic staff members, 260 PhD students, 12,500 BA and MA students, and 2,500 students following continuing/further education programmes, the faculty constitutes a strong and diverse research and teaching environment.
The Faculty of Arts consists of the Department of Aesthetics and Communication, Department of Culture and Society, Department of Education (DPU), Centre for Teaching Development and Digital Media, and AU Centre for Entrepreneurship & Innovation. Each of these units has strong academic environments and forms the basis for interdisciplinary research and education.
The faculty's academic environments and degree programmes engage in international collaboration and share the common goal of contributing to the development of knowledge, welfare and culture in interaction with society.
Read more at arts.au.dk/en
Aarhus University offers an inspiring education and research environment for 44,500 students and 11,500 members of staff, ensuring results of a high international standard. The budgeted turnover for 2015 amounts to DKK 6.2 billion. The university's strategy and development contract are available at www.au.dk/en.
Contact: |
For further information about the application, please contact HR supporter Marianne Birn, mbb@au.dk For further information about the position, please contact centre director Professor Rubina Raja (rubina.raja@cas.au.dk) and vice-director Søren Sindbæk (farksms@cas.au.dk). |
Website: | http://cas.au.dk/en/about-the-department/department-profile/ |
Primary Category: | Archaeology |
Secondary Categories: | History of Science, Medicine, and Technology |
Posting Date: | 05/27/2015 |
Closing Date | 07/01/2015 |