Gerald Averay Wainwright Early Career Research Fellowship in Near Eastern Archaeology

Faculty of Asian and Middle Eastern Studies; UK-based, location dependent on project

University of Oxford Grade 7: £39,424 - £47,779 per annum Fixed-term for 12 months from 1 September 2026

The Gerald Averay Wainwright Fellow is a post-doctoral research fellowship role. The Fellow will carry out research addressing the archaeology (not literary or philological studies) of any period of the human past apart from that of Classical Antiquity (i.e. the sphere of influence of Classical Greek and Roman Worlds, between c. 600 BCE and 500 CE), from the Palaeolithic up to and including the medieval and post-medieval periods of any of the following countries: Afghanistan, Algeria, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Burkina Faso, Chad, Cyprus, Egypt, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Georgia, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Mali, Mauritania, Morocco, Niger, Oman, Palestine, Persia, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria, Tunisia, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, Western Sahara, and Yemen. Priority is given to Armenia, Azerbaijan, Egypt, Georgia, Iran, Iraq, Palestine, Saudi Arabia, Syria, and Turkey.

The primary emphasis is on completion of significant publishable research and/or the preparation of postdoctoral grant applications (including intended outputs) in the non-classical archaeology (not literary or philological studies) of any country or countries listed above.

You will be at an early stage of an academic career, having completed a doctorate not earlier than 1 January 2023 (excluding justified career breaks), present a credible proposal for research and publication/postdoctoral grant applications, have or plan to develop research impact and public engagement skills, and demonstrate excellent skills in preparing research findings for publication. The successful candidate will be able to demonstrate sufficient specialist knowledge in the discipline to develop an effective research programme, be able to develop a coherent, well-organised and deliverable programme of research, showing evidence of time management skills, setting priorities and meeting deadlines, and be able to analyse and research complex ideas, concepts or theories, and analyse data as appropriate.

The research may be conducted at any UK University with appropriate supervision in these areas, with the appointee responsible for making hosting arrangements. This is a full-time, fixed-term position for 12 months from 1 September 2026. Please note that, due to immigration restrictions, the option to be based at a university other than Oxford is only available to those with an existing right to work in the UK.

The closing date for applications is 12 noon on 1 July 2026.

Interviews are expected to take place the week commencing 29 July 2026