Dear Colleagues,

The School of Humanities at the University of New England (UNE), Australia, has recently signed an agreement to lead a 3-year programme of collaborative fieldwork and post-excavation research at the prehistoric site of Saruq al-Hadid, U.A.E. This multi-period site located in the desert region of Dubai, is characterised by abundant material remains, including many thousands of copper, gold and iron alloy artefacts and primary smelting slags, dating principally to the Iron Age.

UNE is recruiting to two Post-Doctoral/Junior Research fellowships and offering two International PhD Studentships to underpin the Saruq al-Hadid Archaeological Research Project (SHARP).

Full details of the Post-Doctoral/Junior Research Fellowships are advertised at: http://www.une.edu.au/jobs-at-une/current-vacancies (CLOSING DATE NOVEMBER 12TH)

Full details of the PhD studentships are advertised at: http://www.une.edu.au/research/research-services/higher-degree-research/hdr-scholarships/saruq-al-hadid-phd-studentships (CLOSING DATE NOVEMBER 20TH)

Brief details of the positions are as follows:

1) Post-Doctoral Research Fellow – SHARP ANALYTICAL DIRECTOR

The Analytical Director will work as a part of the SHARP team, playing a key role in undertaking and coordinating the multi-stranded archaeometallurgical programme focusing on the analysis of copper, gold and iron alloys and smelting slags. Applicants should have a PhD in archaeometallurgy, preferably with a focus on Arabia and/or the ancient Near East, and expertise in the compositional, microstructural, and/or isotopic analysis of a range of metallurgical artefacts and residues.

2) Post-Doctoral or Junior Research Fellow – SHARP FIELD DIRECTOR

The successful candidate will direct fieldwork at Saruq al-Hadid and contribute to the analysis and collaborative publication of the project results. Applicants should have broad experience of undertaking and supervising archaeological fieldwork in Arabia and/or the Near East, preferably at the level of Field Director, and an Honours level degree or higher in Archaeology. Experience in the excavation of ephemeral sites and/or sites with a metallurgical component will be an advantage.

These are fixed term fellowships available for 3 years from the date of appointment. Successful applicants will be based at UNE’s Armidale campus as part of the Archaeological Materials Science Hub, as well as spending several months each year working in the field in Dubai.

3) International PhD Studentships (x2)

These fully funded (fees and stipend) 3-year PhD studentships are available to international or Australian domestic students and will be based at UNE’s Armidale campus. PhD researchers will support the overall SHARP research priorities by investigating particular material components of the site’s archaeological assemblages. Students should have Honours or Masters level qualifications with an archaeological materials science component, ideally in archaeometallurgy, and will undertake a substantial research project under the direction of the SHARP leadership team. Previous research experience in Arabia and/or the ancient Near East will be an advantage.

Professor Lloyd Weeks

Head, School of Humanities
University of New England
Armidale NSW 2351 Australia
Phone  61 2 6773 3982
Email  [log in to unmask]
Web www.une.edu.au/staff-profiles/lweeks2