Doctoral Researcher in Archaeobotany

Tiivistelmä työpaikkailmoituksesta: The University of Helsinki is hiring a Doctoral Researcher in Archaeobotany for the NeoPlant project to conduct a 36-month fixed-term PhD based at the Department of Archaeology under Dr. Mia Lempiäinen-Avci. The researcher will carry out independent doctoral research using archaeobotanical plant macroremain analysis, participate in sampling and lab work, manage and analyse datasets, integrate results with other scientific evidence, and publish and present findings. Applicants should hold a Master’s degree or equivalent in a relevant discipline, have strong interest and motivation to complete a PhD, good English, and the ability to work independently and in interdisciplinary teams, with prior archaeobotanical or related scientific experience considered an advantage and training provided as needed. The full-time position includes a six-month trial period, pays between €3400–€3900 per month, preferably starts on 1 January 2027, and applications (motivation letter, CV, transcripts, publications if any and two referees) are due 30 November 2026 via the University of Helsinki recruitment system. Tämä tiivistelmä on luotu tekoälyn avulla. The University of Helsinki invites applications for a Doctoral Researcher in Archaeobotany for a fixed-term position of 36 months in the Research Council of Finland-funded project NeoPlant: “ Neolithic Plant Use, Cultivation and Cultural Roles of Plants in Finland, ca. 3000-1500 BCE”. The position is based at the Faculty of Arts & Cultures at the Department of Archeology, University of Helsinki in Finland, and the successful candidate will join the research group led by Dr. Mia Lempiäinen-Avci. About the project NeoPlant investigates one of the major transformations in human history: the transition from hunting and gathering to food production and farming. The project focuses on Neolithic Finland, where hunting, fishing and gathering continued to play an important role while new practices related to cultivation, animal husbandry and food production gradually emerged. The project examines how plants were used during this transition and what archaeobotanical evidence can reveal about changing subsistence strategies, environments and everyday life. Particular attention is paid to exceptionally well-preserved archaeological contexts, including wetland sites, which provide new possibilities for studying plant use in prehistoric northern Europe. NeoPlant combines archaeobotanical analysis of plant macroremains with archaeological and natural-scientific approaches, including radiocarbon dating, stable isotope analyses and ancient DNA. The project aims to develop a more detailed understanding of when, how and under what circumstances cultivation became part of human subsistence strategies in Finland. About the position The Doctoral Researcher will conduct an independent PhD project within the broader research framework of NeoPlant. The precise research questions and focus of the doctoral dissertation will be developed together with the Principal Investigator, taking into account the successful candidate’s expertise and research interests. The doctoral project is expected to have archaeobotanical plant macroremain analysis as its primary methodological approach. The researcher will work particularly with archaeological plant remains and datasets from Neolithic contexts in Finland and will participate in the collection, processing, analysis and interpretation of archaeobotanical material. The main tasks include: conducting doctoral research within the themes of the NeoPlant project; analysing and identifying archaeological plant macroremains; participating in archaeological sampling and sample processing; managing and analysing archaeobotanical and archaeological datasets; integrating archaeobotanical results with other archaeological and natural-scientific evidence; publishing research results in international peer-reviewed journals; presenting research at national and international conferences; participating in the activities, meetings and collaborative work of the NeoPlant research group; and completing a doctoral degree at the University of Helsinki. Training in specialised archaeobotanical methods will be provided where necessary. Qualifications We are looking for a motivated researcher interested in archaeobotany, prehistoric archaeology and human–plant relationships. The successful candidate is expected to have: a Master’s degree or equivalent in archaeology, archaeobotany, palaeoecology, biology, environmental archaeology or another relevant discipline; a strong interest in prehistoric plant use and the transition from hunting and gathering to farming; the ability and motivation to undertake doctoral research and complete a PhD within the project period; good written and spoken English; the ability to work both independently and as part of an interdisciplinary research team. Previous experience in archaeobotanical analysis, particularly the i