About the Program
Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona, invites applications for a fully funded PhD position in archaeology within the ERC-funded ROOTS project – The Historical Roots of Global Inequality. This exciting opportunity is offered by the Department of Humanities, in collaboration with the CASES (Culture, Archaeology and Socio-Ecological Dynamics) Research Group, and will be supervised by Professor Marco Madella. The research explores prehistoric storage systems and their link to the emergence of taxation and inequality. The successful candidate will collect, analyse and manage archaeological data to build a comparative global database. The project spans multiple cultural and geographical regions and will be based at the Ciutadella Campus of UPF. This PhD position also provides the opportunity to work within the recently founded Centre for Digital Humanities, offering access to interdisciplinary tools and international research networks.
Program Details
- Position: Fully-funded PhD Position / Doctoral Researcher
- Institution: Universitat Pompeu Fabra
- Department/Faculty: Department of Humanities / CASES Research Group
- Supervisor: Prof. Marco Madella
- Location: Barcelona, Spain
- Start Date (Anticipated): October 2025
- Duration: 1–4 years (renewable annually)
- Funding: Fully funded (Horizon Europe – ERC Grant) | Annual gross salary: €18,180.45
- Working Hours: 35 hours/week
- Required Degree/Diploma: BA/BSc and Master’s degree in Archaeology or related discipline
Research Focus/Area
- Archaeological data on prehistoric storage systems
- Global patterns of taxation and inequality
- Database development and data integration
- Comparative and chronological archaeological analysis
- Digital humanities and spatial analysis
Eligibility & Qualifications
Minimum Requirements:
- Master’s degree (or equivalent) in Archaeology, Heritage Studies, or related field
- Admission to the Doctoral Programme in History at UPF by the start date
- Not barred from public service roles in Spain or elsewhere
Preferred Qualifications:
- Experience in archaeological data collection and analysis
- Skills in database construction
- Knowledge of GIS software (ArcGIS, QGIS, GRASS)
- Familiarity with prehistoric archaeology
- Proficiency in English
Key Features of the Program
- Opportunity to design a doctoral project using ROOTS data
- Access to the Centre for Digital Humanities at UPF
- International collaboration with LUISS University (Italy)
- Structured support from CASES research team
- Optional teaching opportunities (up to 60 hours per year)
- Interdisciplinary and comparative methodological approach
- Workspace in shared research office on UPF campus
Application Process
How to Apply:
Applications must be submitted via the Interfolio Platform when the call opens on the university website.
Required Documents:
- Academic CV
- Motivation letter (max 5000 characters incl. spaces)
- Transcripts for BA/BSc and Master’s degrees
- Names and contact details of two academic referees
- Copy of passport, DNI or NIE
Important Dates
- Applications Open: July 2025
- Deadline: 15 September 2025 (23:59 CET)
- Interviews (if applicable): Late September 2025
Where to Apply
- University Website: Universitat Pompeu Fabra – CASES Group
- Official Notification: click here
- Application Portal: Apply – Interfolio
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