PhD in Archaeology – Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Spain

About the Program

Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona is offering a fully funded PhD position (HUM-PIPF-2025-04) in Archaeology, with a specialised focus on phytolith analysis, archaeobotany, and digital methods. Hosted within the CASES Research Group and the Centre for Digital Humanities, this doctoral opportunity will explore the morphometric and AI-based identification of phytoliths from C4 crops and their wild relatives, with regional emphasis on Asia and Africa. Supervised by Prof. Marco Madella and Prof. Carla Lancelotti, and in collaboration with Kew Gardens (UK) and the Chinese Academy of Sciences, the project includes experimental cultivation, lab-based research, and the development of an automated reference database. The successful candidate will work in an interdisciplinary setting, contributing to advanced archaeobotanical methodologies and digital environmental archaeology. This position is funded under the Horizon Europe – ERC programme.

Program Details

Position: Fully-funded PhD Position
Institution: Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF)
Department/Faculty: Department of Humanities / CASES Research Group
Supervisors: Prof. Marco Madella and Prof. Carla Lancelotti
Location: Barcelona, Spain
Start Date (Anticipated): 31 October 2025
Duration: 1–4 years (full-time)
Funding: €18,180.45 gross/year; funded by Horizon Europe – ERC
Working Hours: 37.5 hrs/week
Required Degree/Diploma: BA/BSc and MA in Archaeology, Heritage Studies, Biology, or related fields

Research Focus/Area

Archaeology
Archaeobotany
Phytolith Analysis
Environmental Archaeology
Digital Humanities
C4 Crops (Asia and Africa)

Eligibility & Qualifications

Minimum Requirements:

BA/BSc and Master’s degree in Archaeology, Heritage, Natural Sciences, or related fields
Proven experience in data collection
Strong command of English

Preferred Qualifications:

Experience in phytoliths and archaeobotany
Skills in image analysis and database management
Familiarity with experimental fieldwork and digital tools

Key Features of the Program

Affiliation with CASES Research Group and Centre for Digital Humanities
Supervised by internationally recognised scholars
Collaboration with Kew Gardens (UK) and Chinese Academy of Sciences
Involvement in lab-based and possibly field-based research
Workspace in the Mercè Rodoreda building, Ciutadella Campus
Potential participation in experimental cultivation of landrace crops
Contribution to digital reference collections and automated pipelines

Application Process

How to Apply:

Submit your application via the Interfolio platform at the official link provided.

Required Documents:

Academic CV
Motivation Letter (max. 5000 characters including spaces)
BA/BSc and Master’s transcripts
Names and contacts of two academic references
Copy of Passport / DNI / NIE

Selection Process:

Evaluated on degrees, data collection expertise, language skills, phytolith/archaeobotany experience, image analysis, and database use
Minimum 30 points required to pass
Shortlisted candidates may be interviewed