[Aqualist] PhD position in luminescence dating, MPI-EVA, Leipzig, Germany

[Kathryn Fitzsimmons]

Dear colleagues,

Please find below a new PhD position in luminescence dating techniques 
at the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Leipzig, 
Germany. Please circulate it to any potential applicants. The deadline 
for applications is 1 December 2013, to start in September 2014.


Kind regards,
Kathryn Fitzsimmons*
*

*
*

*Ph.D. position: Luminescence dating techniques and applications to 
human-environmental interactions in the Department of Human Evolution, 
the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology*

**

Luminescence is a highly versatile dating technique which can be used to 
determine the age of sediments based on when they were last exposed to 
sunlight. As such, luminescence can be applied to a range of 
environments and research questions, including the age of occupation of 
archaeological sites, the interactions between humans and changing 
environments, and rates of landscape change. At present, however, the 
technique's dating range is limited based on the physical 
characteristics of particular luminescence signals which have been 
selected for measurement. Potential exists to target additional signals 
which may extend the dating range. This project will investigate the 
physical characteristics of luminescence signals to increase our 
understanding of the luminescence phenomenon, and potentially to extend 
the dating range of the technique. The results of the initial 
investigation may then be applied to archaeological sites which are 
being excavated by researchers in the department, thereby also 
contributing to our understanding of human adaptation to environmental 
conditions at different times in the past.

This position will be within the luminescence dating group 
(http://www.eva.mpg.de/evolution/files/luminescence.htm) in the 
Department of Human Evolution, Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary 
Anthropology in Leipzig, Germany.

The Leipzig School of Human Origins (http://imprs.eva.mpg.de/start.html) 
is a graduate program of the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary 
Anthropology. PhDs are awarded through the University of Leiden 
(Netherlands). This program provides interdisciplinary training and 
research opportunities for university graduates who wish to work towards 
a Ph.D. in archaeological science, archaeology, palaeoanthropology, 
biology, evolutionary genetics, primatology and related fields. Our 
graduate school is conducted in English, open for international students 
and designed as a 3-year-program with a research focus and a limited 
amount of formal classwork.

*Qualifications/Experience:*
We invite applications from all countries. Applicants should have a 
Master's, Honours or equivalent degree before the start of the program. 
Candidates should be fluent in written and spoken English. Knowledge of 
German is not required but international students have the opportunity 
to take free German courses. For this project a background in 
luminescence dating, geology, physics, physical geography or Quaternary 
science is helpful.

*Salary/funding:*
Ph.D. students are supported for the duration of their PhD by tax-free 
stipends of approximately  15,000 Euro per year. There are no tuition 
fees, and low cost health insurance is available. Leipzig is an 
attractive city with readily available housing and a relatively low cost 
of living.

*Start Date and Application process:*
Applicants should follow the application process described at 
http://www.leipzig-school.eva.mpg.de/index.html and indicate interest in 
this project. The application deadline is December 1, 2013, and the 
planned starting date is September 1, 2014.

*For further information please contact:*
Dr. Kathryn Fitzsimmons

Department of Human Evolution

MPI-EVA
Deutscher Platz 6
Leipzig, Saxony 04103
Germany
kathryn_fitzsimmons at eva.mpg.de

-- 
Dr Kathryn Fitzsimmons
Luminescence Dating Laboratory
Department of Human Evolution
Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology
Deutscher Platz 6
04103 Leipzig
Germany

Phone: +49(0) 341 3550 344
http://www.eva.mpg.de/evolution/staff/fitzsimmons/index.htm

Editor, Quaternary Australasia:
http://giantsstudio.com/aqua1/?page_id=11