Postdoctoral Researcher in Archaeology at the Center for the Human Past

The Department of Archaeology, Ancient History and Conservation is a multidisciplinary department characterised by several interdisciplinary collaborations. Within the department, teaching and research are conducted in the fields of Archaeology, Osteology, Classical Archaeology and Ancient History, Egyptology, Assyriology, Conservation, and Global Environmental History. The department hosts the national research infrastructure Swedigarch and the excellence centre The Viking Age World. The department operates in both Uppsala and Visby (Campus Gotland). The field of archaeology involves around thirty teachers, researchers, and doctoral students active on both campuses. Learn more about the Department of Archaeology, Ancient History, and Conservation here: Department of Archaeology, Ancient History and Conservation - Uppsala University

Center for the Human Past

The CHP is a pioneering initiative that unites the three research areas of archaeology, genetics, and linguistics. Each discipline has accumulated significant amounts of information and developed many different research methods to analyse these. Researchers at the center will focus on bringing together these unique types of data and methods to strengthen the interdisciplinary development of the field. A central goal for the center is to train a new generation of students and doctoral candidates with skills and insights into the various theoretical models and analytical methods used across these research areas, as well as the ability to work with the databases that are under development. The aim of the center is to illuminate and understand various aspects of human development over the past 10,000 years, thereby creating a comprehensive picture of human prehistory regarding language, culture, and genetic evolution in Africa, Oceania, and Eurasia. Read more: http://centerforthehumanpast.se/

We are seeking a postdoctoral researcher in archaeology to contribute to the centres’ overarching goal of elucidating and understanding various aspects of human development over the past 10,000 years. The postdoctoral researcher will be employed by the Department for Archaeology, Ancient History, and conservation, and associated with the Excellence Center for the Human Past.  

Duties

The postdoctoral researcher will work with computer-based analytical methods and large databases to develop theory and methodology for utilising aggregated data from archaeology, genetics, and linguistics, thereby advancing innovative interdisciplinary research on human development. Grounded in archaeological perspectives, the proposed postdoctoral project should shed light on various aspects of human prehistory at the interface of questions about culture, language, and genetic development. The postdoctoral researcher is free to develop a project idea within the centre's overarching theme and chronological framework, and we welcome project proposals based on material from Africa, Oceania, and Eurasia, or that draw on a combination of case studies from these regions.

Requirements

• A PhD degree in Archaeology or a foreign degreeequivalent to a PhD in Archaeology. The degree needs to be obtained by the time of the decision of employment. Those who have obtained a PhD degree three years prior to the application deadline are primarily considered for the employment. The starting point of the three-year frame period is the application deadline. Due to special circumstances, the degree may have been obtained earlier. The three-year period can be extended due to circumstances such as sick leave, parental leave, duties in labour unions, etc. A requirement is proven experience and ability to work with computer-based analytical methods and information in large databases containing complex aggregated data.
• The applicant must have demonstrated independence and high research quality through research publications of high quality. Excellent oral and written skills in English are essential.
• Being able to work independently as well as collaboratively with others is necessary. Strong emphasis will be placed on personal qualities, therefore interviews as well as reference checks may be included in the selection process.

Desirable/Additional qualifications

• Desirable are previous studies of archaeological material from Africa, Oceania, and Eurasia, or a combination of case studies from these regions.
• Skills and proficiency in working with open-source software programs, such as QGIS and R, are advantageous, as well as demonstrated ability to contribute to the principles of open science, particularly in terms of producing open and reusable research data.
• Experience of working in international and interdisciplinary research contexts is also advantageous.

The application

The application should include a CV and a letter describing the applicant and their qualifications, research interests, and publication list. Copies of relevant degrees, a copy of the applicant's doctoral thesis or a draft of this. A research plan describing planned research no more than 6000 characters including spaces.

About the employment

The position is temporary for two years according to the central collective agreement. Full-time position which may include teaching and supervision up to 20% of full-time. Starting date 15 February 2026 or as agreed. Placement: Uppsala

For further information about the position, please contact: Head of Department Karl-Johan Lindholm, 46701679609, prefekt@arkeologi.uu.se

Please submit your application by 15 December 2025, UFV-PA 2025/3291.