[Aqualist] Job opportunity: Senior Research Associate (The Molecular Biology of Archaeology and Forensics)

[Tim Barrows]

From: Maria Lekis <maria.lekis at adelaide.edu.au>

Job opportunity: Senior Research Associate (The 
Molecular Biology of Archaeology and Forensics)

A 3-year Australian Research Council (ARC)-funded 
postdoc position will be available at the 
Australian Centre for Ancient DNA in Adelaide 
from early 2008, to research and develop 
revolutionary new methods to extract and 
characterise DNA from a range of unusual ancient 
samples including sunken ship timbers, stone 
tools, hominid bones and teeth, and sediments. 
The project is an ARC LINKAGE collaboration with 
the National Geographic Society, Australian 
Federal Police, and Forensics South Australia. 
The main aim of the project is to re-assess and 
re-design current ancient/damaged DNA approaches 
from the ground up, and to develop and extend 
recent new approaches to PCR such as SPEX 
(Brotherton et al. NAR 2007), and genomic library construction.

The candidate will need first-rate molecular 
biology knowledge and experience, and the ability 
to work from a first principles basis, with 
minimal reliance on kits and pre-designed 
systems. The work will be experimentally 
challenging due to the difficult nature of the 
genetic templates, but this is a rewarding 
opportunity to undertake a complete re-design of 
current ancient DNA and molecular archaeological 
practice. An interest in ancient DNA, archaeology 
or natural history would be very useful, but the 
key requirement is expertise at the fundamental 
level in molecular biology and biochemistry.

Salary: (Level B) $66,700 – $79,207 per annum.
Plus an employer superannuation contribution of 9-17% applies.

Deadline: 31 January 2008. Please note the 
selection process is expected to take several 
months due to the timing of ARC funding and we 
expect to announce results by late March, 2008. 
The aim is to get the project underway by May, 2008.

For further information about the position 
including how to apply, please visit the website 
<http://www.adelaide.edu.au/acad/job_ad.html>http://www.adelaide.edu.au/acad/job_ad.html