Research Associate (f/m/x) – ECOLITHIC Project Wiss2504-13 | Institute for Prehistoric Archaeology & MESH | Faculty of Arts and Humanities

Faculty of Arts and Humanities
Research Associate (f/m/x) - ECOLITHIC Project
Institute for Prehistoric Archaeology & MESH

We are one of the largest and oldest universities in Europe and one of the most important employers in our region. Our broad range of subjects, the dynamic development of our main research areas and our central location in Cologne make us attractive for students and researchers from around the world. We offer a wide range of career opportunities in science, technology, and administration.

The candidate will support ECOLITHIC, a pioneering project funded by the Volkswagen Foundation, to develop new conceptual, empirical and computational models to comparatively investigate the long-term evolutionary dynamics of integrated technological worlds from the Late Pleistocene (c. 120 - 15k BP) in Western and Central Europe.
For further details on the position and the project: https://ecolithic.uni-koeln.de/opportunities.

YOUR TASKS

• Conduct independent research and publish its results in high-tier international journals
• Lead ECOLITHIC’s Work Package 3: ‘Theoretical simulations of lithic macro-evolution’
• Translate and operationalize ECOLITHIC’s theoretical core concepts to enable quantification of evolving past technological ecosystems in Pleistocene Europe
• Support the PI in empirical data collection, curation and quantitative-statistical analysis as well as in the organization and implementation of scientific workshops and academic/public outreach
• Engage with literature and theoretical concepts from other disciplines, notably evolutionary biology, ecology, Earth system science, complexity and network science, archaeology, geoanthropology and nascent technosphere science
• Collaborate with external project collaborators and co-supervisors across archaeology, complexity sciences and Earth system/Anthropocene studies

YOUR PROFILE

• Doctoral degree in computational archaeology, data science, theoretical/computational biology, macroecology, physics, complexity and/or network science OR Palaeolithic archaeology with some (acquired) modelling experience
• Excellent English communication and writing skills
• Motivated by challenging interdisciplinary research and experience or background in crossing disciplinary boundaries
• Good coding skills (ideally in R) and the capacity to identify and work with relevant mathematical equations and simulation approaches and to implement them appropriately in the project context
• GIS (Geographical Information Systems) and network software skills (NetworkX, Gephi, etc.) are advantageous
• Knowledge/experience on lithic technology and its empirical analysis are advantageous

WE OFFER

• A competitive and interdisciplinary research ecology
• A diverse working environment with equal opportunities
• Support in balancing work and family life
• Extensive advanced training opportunities
• Occupational health management offers
• Flexible working time models
• Opportunity to work remotely

The University of Cologne promotes equal opportunities and diversity. Women will be considered preferentially in accordance with the Equal Opportunities Act of North Rhine-Westphalia (Landesgleichstellungsgesetz – LGG NRW). We also expressly welcome applications from all suitable candidates regardless of their gender, nationality, ethnic and social origin, religion, disability, age, sexual orientation and identity.

The position is available from 01.08.2025 on a full-time basis (39,83 hours per week). The position is to be filled for a fixed term until 31.07.2027. If the applicant meets the relevant wage requirements and personal qualifications, the salary will be based on remuneration group 13 TV-L of the pay scale for the German public sector.
Please apply online with proof of the required qualifications without a photo under: https://jobportal.uni-koeln.de. The reference number is Wiss2504-13. The application deadline is 25.05.2025.
For further inquiries, please contact Dr Shumon T. Hussain ([email protected]) and take a look at our FAQs.