[Aqualist] 2 PhD Research Scholarships

[Tim Barrows]

From: Sean Ulm <s.ulm at uq.edu.au>

Call for Expressions of Interest for PhD Research Scholarships (2 available)

Archaeology, Anthropology, Geoarchaeology/Geomorphology

Expressions of interest are called for two PhD research scholarships 
in archaeology, anthropology and/or geoarchaeology/geomorphology to 
work on an interdisciplinary ARC Discovery Project investigating 
Aboriginal cultural patterns in the Wellesley Islands region of the 
Gulf of Carpentaria. We encourage applications from candidates whose 
interests bridge these disciplinary areas.

The project tests pivotal hypotheses concerning insularity, isolation 
and cultural change in Aboriginal Australia. It examines two 
now-divergent island populations residing in similar physical 
environments and with shared ancestral language and a common mainland 
source group. The project examines how these groups contended with 
cultural change over a 10,000-year time scale, sometimes 
acculturating exogenous traits whilst at others exploiting insularity 
and isolation to promote distinctiveness through local invention in 
such a way that two different cultures emerged. The findings will 
contribute to international debates on island colonisation and how 
cultural reproduction continues in the face of globalising influences 
and environmental change.

Successful candidates would be expected to enrol at the institution 
of the chief investigator/s in the relevant field of study during 
2006. Principal advisors will be drawn from the project 
investigators, comprising A/Prof. Paul Memmott (UQ); Dr Sean Ulm 
(UQ); A/Prof. Ian Lilley (UQ); A/Prof Nicholas Evans (UMelb); Dr 
Errol Stock (Griffith); A/Prof. Neville White (La Trobe); Dr Sheila 
van Holst Pellekaan (UNSW); Prof. David Trigger (UWA); and Dr Richard 
Robins (Everick Heritage Consultants).

Research Strand 1: Establishing the environmental framework for other 
research strands. The focus will be on establishing the local record 
of aeolian, coastal and estuarine sedimentation and the 
palaeogeography of the southern Gulf of Carpentaria, especially in 
relation to changes in mean sea-level.

Research Strand 2: Establishing the antiquity of Aboriginal 
occupation of various islands and detecting cultural variation 
through time across the study area.

Research Strand 3: Investigating the material culture repertoires of 
Lardil, Yangkaal, Kaiadilt and Ganggalida people, focusing on fishing 
technologies, contemporary management of cultural heritage and the 
reproduction of Indigenous cultural identities.

Successful candidates will be expected to work on topics within or 
across the project research strands. Candidates will be expected to 
undertake field investigations and sample collection in key sites in 
the remote Wellesley Islands/Gulf of Carpentaria study area. 
Candidates will work as part of an interdisciplinary team including 
Aboriginal community members, university researchers and other 
postgraduate students. Candidates will undertake laboratory analyses 
of newly-collected as well as existing data held in various collections.

Applicants should have a good honours degree or research masters in 
archaeology, anthropology, earth sciences or a related field. Current 
Australian Postgraduate Award (APA) applicants from one of the 
universities of the project investigators are also invited to express 
their interest.

The scholarship pays a tax-free stipend at APA rates with further 
funding for project operation costs, field expenses and relocation.

Further information is available from the Project Director A/Prof. 
Paul Memmott on (07) 3365 3660 or p.memmott at uq.edu.au.

Closing date for expressions of interest 16 January 2006 to 
p.memmott at uq.edu.au or by post to A/Prof. Paul Memmott, Aboriginal 
Environments Research Centre, PO Box 6114, St Lucia QLD 4067.

Dr Sean Ulm
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies Unit
The University of Queensland
Brisbane QLD 4072
AUSTRALIA

Telephone: (07) 3365 2385
Facsimile: (07) 3365 2359
Email: s.ulm at uq.edu.au

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Archaeological Congress
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Queensland Chapter
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