Overview

About us

Biosciences is one of the world’s foremost centres for research and teaching in the biological sciences and one of the largest Divisions within UCL, undertaking a significant amount of research and teaching. The Division has a diverse portfolio addressing all areas of biology from protein interactions to cell function, organism development, genetics, population studies and the environment. Computational modelling approaches are frequently used alongside experimental research programmes and much of our research crosses traditional boundaries, including the relationship of biodiversity to the health of the planet. Activity is underpinned by high calibre science technology platforms and state of the art equipment. Educational activity includes a range of undergraduate programmes, an expanding number of Masters Programmes and a substantial number of postgraduate research students.

This is an exciting opportunity to join the Molecular and Cultural Evolution(MACE) Lab at UCL, headed by Professor Mark Thomas.

We undertake research on a wide range of issues relating to human evolution, with a focus on model-based statistical inference from genetic (including ancient DNA), environmental and archaeological data to better understand our demographic, biological and cultural evolution.

 

About the role

The main purpose of this position is to develop and implement spatially explicit agent-based simulation models to explore the social parameters of growth and decline of the first agricultural societies in Europe. We will examine the role of social webs of lateral insurance in colonising populations, and the extent to which fragmentation of these relationships constrained population expansion into new regions. The successful candidate will also apply a new Bayesian approach to analysing domesticate (Cattle, sheep, goats) age-at-death data to infer productivity and sustainability parameters of prehistoric herds.

We will consider candidates with a PhD or similar in a computational science or mathematics, and an interest in archaeology, or candidates with a PhD or similar in archaeology, geography or a biological science, and relevant experience in computational modelling and model-based statistical inference.

Salary is £46,155 per annum, including London Allowance.

Interview Date(s) are scheduled for July/August 2023.

This is a fixed-term role from 1 November 2024 until 31 October 2026. This role is an open-ended contract with a funding end date of 31 October 2026 in the first instance.

Research Fellows – ‘Appointment at Grade 7 is dependent upon having been awarded a PhD; if this is not the case, initial appointment will be at Grade 6B (salary £34,502 – £36,348 per annum) with payment at Grade 7 being backdated to the date of final submission of the PhD Thesis.’

This role is eligible for hybrid working with a minimum of 80% on site.

This appointment is subject to UCL Terms and Conditions of Service for Research and Professional Services Staff. Please visit https://www.ucl.ac.uk/human-resources/conditions-service-research-teaching-and-professional-services-staff for more information.

A job description and person specification can be accessed at the bottom of this page.

If you have any queries about the role, please contact Professor Mark Thomas m.thomas@ucl.ac.uk.

If you need reasonable adjustments or a more accessible format to apply for this job online or have any queries about the application process, please contact Biosciences staffing at biosciences.staffing@ucl.ac.uk.

 

About you

The successful candidate will become an active member of the research project SUSTAIN: Sustainability of Agriculture in Neolithic Europe. This is a multi-centre project (University of Mainz, Germany; Senckenberg Biodiversity and Climate Research Center, Frankfurt am Main, Germany; University of Bristol; UCL). The project is led by Prof. Maria Ivanova-Beig at the University of Mainz, and is  aimed at investigating how early agricultural societies in Europe maintained their capacity to self-generate and persist through time. It examines societies that have only recently settled in new environments and begun to practice mixed agro-pastoral husbandry. While archaeological research traditionally centres on the question of how societies and livelihoods changed, SUSTAIN asks what made them capable to carry on, i.e. to remain sustainable. The project weaves together approaches from social anthropology, biogeography, bioarchaeology and complexity science in a manner that has not been attempted previously.  The UCL component is aimed at developing and implementing spatially explicit agent-based simulation models to explore the social parameters of growth and decline of the first agricultural societies in Europe, and applying a new Bayesian approach to analysing domesticate (Cattle, sheep, goats) age-at-death data to infer productivity and sustainability parameters of prehistoric herds.

 

What we offer

As well as the exciting opportunities this role presents, we also offer some great benefits some of which are below:

  • 41 Days holiday (27 days annual leave 8 bank holiday and 6 closure days)
  • Additional 5 days’ annual leave purchase scheme
  • Defined benefit career average revalued earnings pension scheme (CARE)
  • Cycle to work scheme and season ticket loan
  • Immigration loan
  • Relocation scheme for certain posts
  • On-Site nursery
  • On-site gym
  • Enhanced maternity, paternity and adoption pay
  • Employee assistance programme: Staff Support Service
  • Discounted medical insurance

Visit https://www.ucl.ac.uk/work-at-ucl/reward-and-benefits to find out more.