"Post-doctoral Candidate in the field of Geophysics"

The Faculty of Archaeology, Leiden University, seeks to appoint a full-time Postdoctoral researcher to carry out research at the thematic intersection of Geophysics and Paleolithic Archaeology. The successful candidate will join the Department of World Archaeology of our Faculty. The research appointment is for a two-year timeframe (1.0 FTE). Part time work is negotiable (e.g. 0.8 FTE).

The Postdoctoral position will be supervised by Dr. Wei Chu (PI), Assistant Professor at the Faculty of Archaeology, Leiden University. The postdoctoral researcher’s research is part of the ERC-funded Consolidator grant: HOME: Palaeolithic shelters in East-Central Europe.

The HOME project is divided into four interconnected Work Packages (WP):

• WP1: To investigate the diversity of forager shelters and establish the main factors that dictate their location and design
• WP2: To locate remnants of Palaeolithic shelters and their associated furniture through a systematic open-air geomagnetic survey
• WP3: To ascertain if and how one of the mammoth bone structures at the site was used as a shelter in the Late Pleistocene
• WP4: To collect primary data on shelter use from karstic deposits

The successful researcher will be expected to lead WP2, under the supervision of the PI and in collaboration with other team members and make substantive contributions to Work Packages 1 and 4.

Key responsibilities include:

• Coordinate and lead geophysical fieldwork campaigns in East-Central Europe lasting up to eight weeks each.
• Oversee the full workflow of magnetometry-based prospection, including daily planning, data collection, and team supervision.
• Collaborate with the PI to prepare fieldwork logistics, including landowner coordination and technical readiness of survey equipment (e.g., GPS, field computers, drones).
• Manage and process geomagnetic data; contribute to refining data analysis workflows.
• Integrate geophysical results with spatial datasets (e.g., DEMs, sediment maps, archaeological site records) using QGIS and other open-source tools.
• Supervise and participate in test excavations of identified anomalies, including sediment screening, artifact recovery, and feature documentation.
• Organize and oversee detailed small-scale excavations of promising test pits, using 3D recording methods and coordinating sample collection for specialist analyses.
• Maintain daily field documentation, including data backup, georeferenced recording, and artifact cataloguing, in collaboration with local museums and partners.
• Support collaborative work with local colleagues, student volunteers, and international project partners in a team-oriented research environment.
• Contribute to the interpretation and publication of results in peer-reviewed journals and present findings at relevant conferences.
• Contribute to the overall aims of the HOME Project, including other fieldwork projects.

Selection criteria:

• PhD degree completed by the time of the appointment in Archaeology, Anthropology, Computer Science, or related field.
• Demonstrable ability and enthusiasm for innovative and inter-disciplinary research.
• Experience with quantitative research methods.
• Availability to travel and conduct fieldwork outside the Netherlands.
• Demonstrable good time-management, organizational, and communication skills.
• Ability to work both independently and as part of a team.
• An excellent command of English is required.

We offer: The selected candidate will be appointed for 2 years: initially for a 1-year trial period, followed by an extension of 1 year. Salary: €3546 to €4075 gross per month. Additional benefits include holiday bonus, end-of-year bonus, and training opportunities.