Fully-funded EU Marie Sklodowska-Curie PhD Studentships in Marine Historical Ecology 2019-2022, University of Cambridge, UK

Fixed-term: The funds for these posts are available for 3 years in the first instance. We invite applications for two fully-funded three-year PhD studentships starting in October 2019 as part of the Marie Sklodowska-Curie Innovative Training Network "SEACHANGES: Thresholds in Human Exploitation of Marine Vertebrates". Candidates with backgrounds in archaeology, biology and/or image analysis are all encouraged to apply; each studentship will be developed with the successful applicant.

SEACHANGES ESR2 NOISE INTO SIGNAL: IDENTIFICATION CHALLENGES & THE MEDIEVAL FISHING REVOLUTION. Cod family fishes were important trade goods in medieval and early modern Europe. Yet the most abundant archaeological remains of these fishes, vertebrae, are often left unidentified to species and are almost always omitted from studies of changing fish-length distributions. Thus much information regarding changes in fishing, fish-trade and potential ecological impacts is lost. This project will develop protocols for replicable identification using quantitative image analysis of both two-dimensional and three-dimensional (CT-scanned) images of vertebrae. ZooMS and ancient DNA will be employed to corroborate species identifications and to detect specimens traded from distant populations. The methodology developed will be applied to bones from European fishing settlements and towns to assess changes in the taxa and sizes exploited during the process of commercialisation. The studentship will also explore how archaeological fish-size data can be used to model the past and changing size distribution of cod in the North Sea, illuminating the scale of impacts from overfishing and the baseline to which we might aspire through measures such as Marine Protected Areas. Supervisors: James H Barrett (Historical Ecology, Dept. of Archaeology) & Carola-Bibiane Schönlieb (Image Analysis, Dept. of Applied Mathematics & Theoretical Physics) Training secondment opportunities: University of York, University of Copenhagen & University of Oslo.

SEACHANGES ESR9 SCRIMSHAW: UNLOCKING THE CULTURAL AND BIOLOGICAL ARCHIVE OF SEA MAMMAL ART. During the 19th century a folk-art tradition - scrimshaw - using the teeth of sperm whales flourished among the crews of whaling ships. It is best known from New England whalers, but a London-based South Sea sperm whale industry resulted in many objects incorporating recognisably British motifs. Examples held by the Scott Polar Research Institute provide a unique biological archive regarding the cetacean population(s) exploited by the London whalers before the use of steamships and advanced exploding harpoons. Relevant pieces will be identified by image analysis of incised decoration. The project will then explore the use of microCT-scanning to age the whales based on growth-layer groups (via secondment at AgeDynamics, Tromsø, Norway). Samples drilled from the concave root of each tooth will facilitate stable isotope analysis to assess dietary/ecosystems heterogeneity and (through cooperation with the University of Oslo) aDNA analysis to assess genetic diversity vis-à-vis modern populations. The study will produce an artefact-based 'environmental history' of the London whaling industry and its whales. Supervisors: James H Barrett (Historical Ecology, Dept. of Archaeology) & Tamsin C. O'Connell (Stable Isotopes, Dept. of Archaeology), in cooperation with the Scott Polar Research Institute Training secondment opportunities: University of Oslo & AgeDynamics (Tromsø).

We particularly welcome applications from women and /or candidates from a BME background for this vacancy as they are currently under-represented in our department.

Eligibility Marie Sklodowska-Curie European Training Networks depend on international mobility of Early Stage Researchers (ESRs). Therefore, to be eligible, applicants, who may be of any nationality, must not have resided or worked in the UK for more than 12 months in the 3 years immediately prior to recruitment. Applicants should also be within the first four years (full-time equivalent) of the start of their research careers, measured from the date when they obtained the degree which formally entitles them to embark on a doctorate either in the country in which that degree was obtained or the UK. They should have a Masters degree in Archaeology or equivalent and should not have a PhD. They must demonstrate sufficiently high ability to understand and express themselves in both written and spoken English in order to derive the full benefit from the network training. Candidates must meet the requirement for a PhD application in archaeology .

Applications for the PhD in Archaeology should submit their application by 26 April 2019 via the Applicant Portal . In addition to the standard application materials, you must state which of these two SEACHANGES studentships you are applying for in your 'Statement of Research Interest' and upload a cover letter (no more than two pages) outlining your suitability for this project. If potentially interested in either project please clearly explain your suitability for each.

The studentship will comprise a living allowance of EUR44,896 and a mobility allowance of EUR7,200. An additional allowance of EUR6,000 may be payable but is dependent on individual family circumstances.

For more information click "LINK TO ORIGINAL" below.