Postdoctoral Research Fellow – Ancient Environmental DNA, UK

About Position/Job

The University of Reading invites applications for a Postdoctoral Research Fellow in Ancient Environmental DNA under the ERC-funded MEDGREENREV project. This two-year position, supervised by Aleks Pluskowski, focuses on the medieval Western Mediterranean, exploring human-environment interactions through sedimentary DNA (sedaDNA/eDNA) analysis. The fellow will conduct fieldwork in Spain and North Africa, analyse soils and sediments from terraces, irrigated fields, and archaeological sites, and use metagenomics and metabarcoding to reconstruct past landscapes, biodiversity, and species richness over time.

The project is highly interdisciplinary, combining archaeology, palaeoecology, and history, and collaborates with institutions including the Autonomous University of Barcelona, University of Granada, University of York, UCL, University of Basel, University of Valencia, and University of Murcia, in addition to laboratory work at the Natural History Museum, London. This role offers a unique opportunity to contribute to innovative archaeological science and advance international research collaboration.

Position/Job Details

Position: Postdoctoral Research Fellow
Institution: University of Reading
Department: School of Archaeology, Geography & Environmental Science
Research field: Ancient Environmental DNA, Medieval Archaeology, Human-Environment Interactions
Location: Whiteknights, Reading, UK
Number of posts: 1
Job Type: Full-time, Fixed Term (24 months)
Start Date (Anticipated): March 2026
Working Hours: 35 hours per week
Salary Range: £36,636 – £42,254 per annum
Required Degree/Diploma: PhD

Research Area

Sedimentary DNA (sedaDNA/eDNA)
Metagenomics & Metabarcoding
Medieval landscape reconstruction
Human-environment interactions
Archaeology, Palaeoecology & History
Fieldwork in Spain and North Africa

Eligibility & Qualifications

Minimum Requirements:
- PhD in Archaeology, Palaeoecology, Genetics, or related field
Preferred Qualifications:
- Experience in environmental DNA analysis
- Skills in metagenomics and metabarcoding
- Experience in interdisciplinary research collaboration

Key Responsibilities

Conduct laboratory and fieldwork for sedaDNA analysis
Collaborate with the international project consortium
Analyse and interpret DNA data for biodiversity and landscape reconstruction
Contribute to academic publications and research dissemination
Support career development and partnership building between UoR and NHM London