"Renfrew Fellow (Fixed Term)"

Fixed-term: The funds for this post are available for 3 years in the first instance.

The McDonald Institute invites applications for the eighth Renfrew Fellowship in archaeology. Named in honour of the Institute's founding Director, Professor Colin Renfrew, this three-year postdoctoral Fellowship will consist of a stipend at Research Associate level. The Fellow will be entitled to up to £2,500 p.a. in research expenses for conference attendance, travel for training etc., and the opportunity to apply for up to £5,000 p.a. for fieldwork or other research from the D. M. McDonald Grants and Awards Fund. We are also exploring possibilities to partner with a Cambridge College in order to offer further support and benefits. The successful applicant will take up their fellowship on 1 October 2026 or as soon as possible thereafter.

Applicants must have a successfully examined PhD in archaeology or a related field, awarded with no further corrections by the application closing deadline and must likewise have defended their PhD a maximum of 7 years before the application closing deadline; both these last stipulations are absolute. They should propose an innovative, well-focused research project within any field of archaeology, broadly construed. The successful applicant will, by carrying out that project, complement and enhance the research profile of archaeology at Cambridge and will also help to support, stimulate and shape the postdoctoral research culture of the Institute.

Click the 'Apply' button below to register an account with our recruitment system (if you have not already) and apply online.

Applications are a two-stage process (see further particulars by following the link below for details). Please do not apply without consulting the further particulars as these give you essential information about the procedure and the documents you need to submit. Informal enquiries may be directed to opportunities@mcdonald.cam.ac.uk

Please quote reference JC48479 on your application and in any correspondence about this vacancy.

Closing date is midnight on 27th February 2026

Key information

• Department/location
  McDonald Institute for Archaeological Research
• Salary
  £37,694-£46,049
• Reference
  JC48479
• Category
  Research
• Date published
  26 January 2026
• Closing date
  27 February 2026

Further Particulars - Renfrew Fellow