Three postdoctoral fellowships at Ca’ Foscari University, Venice, on the ERC research project, Science, Society and Environmental Change in the First Millennium CE (SSE1K, grant agreement no. 101044437). All postdocs are for 36 months in the first instance.
1) Science and the environment in the eastern Mediterranean in the first millennium CE
36 months with possible renewal for 12 months
Deadline: 17th June 2023, 12.00 CET
The post-doctoral researcher will carry out original research into the history of science in the eastern Mediterranean in the first millennium CE, and the connections between the study of pre-modern science and the environmental contexts of the writers. The researcher will examine textual evidence for intellectual and social responses to environmental change, and contemporary awareness of human effects on landscapes. They will contextualise this analysis with reference to relevant archaeological and palaeoenvironmental evidence, supported by project team members (Prof. Lawrence and Prof. Fleitmann). The knowledge of ancient / medieval Greek and/or another relevant eastern Mediterranean language is required. In addition to preparing their research for publication, the researcher will participate in the various activities of the SSE1K project, including attending team meetings and undertaking dissemination activities (conferences, seminars, workshops) on the project topics. For needs related to the research project, the renewal of the collaboration with the post-doctoral researcher for an additional year can be envisaged upon successful completion of the research work carried out during the three-year period.
The motivation letter to be enclosed with the application shall include a proposal of the research that the candidate would aim to undertake during the research position.
The research may be carried out in English. The fellowship is intended to provide the successful candidate with the opportunity to pursue his/her own research while benefiting from the range of expertise at Ca’ Foscari University of Venice.
For further details visit https://apps.unive.it/common2/file/download/assegni_ricerca/6467847cba87a
2) Society and environmental change in the western Mediterranean in the first millennium CE
36 months
Deadline: 17th June 2023, 12.00 CET
The postdoctoral researcher will be an environmental archaeologist interested in socio-ecological systems. They will carry out original research into the relationships between society and environmental change in the western Mediterranean in the first millennium CE. They will work with existing GIS-linked datasets for central and southern Italy (such as material from the Tiber Valley Project) to undertake macroand micro-level analyses, including producing large-scale models of climate trends and environmental change across the western Mediterranean for the first millennium CE. They will also examine specific casestudy areas to identify patterns relating to relationships between humans and environmental variation. In addition to preparing their research for publication, the researcher will participate in the various activities of the SSE1K project, including attending team meetings and undertaking dissemination activities (conferences, seminars, workshops) on the project topics.
The motivation letter to be enclosed with the application shall include a proposal of the research that the candidate would aim to undertake during the research position.
The research may be carried out in English. The fellowship is intended to provide the successful candidate with the opportunity to pursue his/her own research while benefiting from the range of expertise at Ca’ Foscari University of Venice.
For further details visit https://apps.unive.it/common2/file/download/assegni_ricerca/646b165de51fc
3) Water, landscapes and environmental history in the medieval Islamic Mediterranean, c. 600-1050 CE
36 months
Deadline: 14th June 2023, 12.00 CET
The post-doctoral researcher will examine the social and intellectual history of water in the Muslim-ruled territories around the Mediterranean from the seventh century to the early eleventh. They will carry out original research into Arabic geographical accounts and cartography alongisde archaeological evidence to analyse the toponymy of water resources and the practices and activities connected to these. They will analyse narrative and legal texts to identify specific rituals, practices and significant water-related events and conflicts. The researcher will work with Prof. Theresa Jäckh to make comparisons across different contexts and regions including the Islamic west. Excellent knowledge of Arabic is required and the knowledge of other languages relevant to this area such as Hebrew and Greek is particularly welcome. In addition to preparing their research for publication, the researcher will participate in the various activities of the SSE1K project, including attending team meetings and undertaking dissemination activities (conferences, seminars, workshops) on the project topics.
The research may be carried out in English. The fellowship is intended to provide the successful candidate with the opportunity to pursue his/her own research while benefiting from the range of expertise at Ca’ Foscari University of Venice.
For further details visit https://apps.unive.it/common2/file/download/assegni_ricerca/646b2dc52057b
