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Postdoctoral Opportunities at the McDonald Institute for Archaeological Research

The McDonald Institute for Archaeological Research, the postdoctoral research hub of the Department of Archaeology, welcomes applications from potential postdocs/Early Career Researchers (ECRs). There are a number of national and international funding schemes that you can apply to which will enable you to come and work with us. If you are interested in any of the below schemes, please contact Mr Nicholas Ward on ngw25@cam.ac.uk at least 6 weeks before the deadline.  

The list below is of major sources only. Any international researchers looking to apply for funding in their own country for a Fellowship or grant which they would like to hold in Cambridge should also contact Mr Nicholas Ward in the first instance.

CURRENT OPPORTUNITIES

Closing date: 24th April 2023

The McDonald Institute invites applications for the seventh 'Renfrew Fellowship' in archaeology. Named in honour of the Institute's founding Director, Professor Colin Renfrew, this three-year postdoctoral Fellowship will consist of a stipend at Research Associate level. We are also exploring possibilities to partner with a Cambridge college to offer further support and benefits. The successful applicant will take up his/her fellowship on 1 October 2023 or as soon as possible thereafter.

Applicants must have defended their PhD a maximum of 7 years prior to the closing date shown above. They should propose an innovative, well-focused research project within any field of archaeology, broadly construed. The successful applicant will, by carrying out that project, complement and enhance the research profile of archaeology at Cambridge and will also help to support, stimulate and shape the postdoctoral research culture of the Institute.

Further partiuclars can be found here

These 2-year postdoctoral fellowships are intended to enable early career researchers to move from another country to the UK(Cambridge), provided that they have not spent more than 1 year in the three years prior to the deadline (usually September) in the UK. These are not typical research fellowships or project grants but are for training-through-research rather than just research. Applicants must have their PhD at application deadline and may have up to 8 years FTE post-doc research experience. Cambridge Archaeology operates an internal selection process, usually with two deadlines each year (1 March and 1 June). Potential applicants should make contact with their project Supervisor as early as possible and well before these deadlines. Further details of the scheme can be found at Postdoctoral Fellowships | Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (europa.eu)

For initial enquiries please contact Mr Nicholas Ward, ngw25@cam.ac.uk

OPPORTUNITIES

Restricted call: British Academy Postdoctoral Fellowships 

The British Academy  Postdoctoral scheme opens each year around 13th July. The details of last year’s call can be found on the Academy’s website.  An internal department shortlisting procedure operates. For 2023 we expect that applicants will need to participate in a new package of University advice, information and review to be eligible. Further details about this support package will be announced in late spring.  Awards are typically for three years and cover the salary of the Postdoctoral Fellow to work full-time on the Fellowship, small-scale research expenses, costs towards the time of a mentor and the host institution's estates and indirect costs. Salaries are normally in the range of £34,308 - £36,386. 

Facilitated by the British Academy and/or Royal Society, these 3-year awards are intended for non-UK scientists with no more than seven years active full-time postdoctoral experience at the time of application who wish to conduct research in the UK. For those applying without a PhD, all requirements for the PhD must have been completed (including viva) before the fellowship starts. See International Fellowships 2023 | The British Academy

A 36-month Early Career Researcher award focusing on the Social Sciences, including heritage studies and some aspects of Biological Anthroplogy. Proposals can cover any research area, but the social sciences must represent more than 50% of the research focus and effort. The School of Humanities and Social Sciences operates an internal selection process which allows applications to go forward to submission. See ESRC new investigator grant – UKRI

Restricted call: Leverhulme Early Career Fellowships 

The Department of Archaeology and McDonald Institute for Archaeological Research welcome applications for Leverhulme Early Career Fellowships.. These are post-doctoral awards. The Fellowships provide career development opportunities for researchers with a proven record of research at a relatively early stage of their academic careers (within 5 years of submitting their PhD). The objective is for Fellows to undertake a significant piece of publishable research during the tenure of the award; the project proposed should therefore not be a reworking or mere extension of the candidate’s doctoral research.

The application deadline is usually yearly in December and will initially be ranked by a Departmental panel and two will be submitted to the Isaac Newton Trust. 

For these 3-year awards applicants may have no more than eight years of full-time postdoctoral research experience at time of application. Those without a PhD must have submitted their thesis/dissertation before interview. Proposals need to be at least 50% within NERC’s remit (i.e the Natural Environment). For some NERC schemes the University operates a selection/approval process. Therefore several months’ notice must be given. See Independent research fellowships – UKRI

These 5-year awards are intended for outstanding scientists with three to eight years of postdoc experience who have the potential to become leaders in their field. Some aspects of Archaeological Science are eligible for consideration. These are substantial awards and those interested must contact us at least three months before the deadline. See University Research Fellowship | Royal Society

Of up to 5 years (may be shorter in the Humanities & Social Sciences), providing PI salary and up to £400,000 research expenses. You must have your PhD and may also have some postdoctoral experience in your proposed field of study, but generally no more than three years. Applicants must confirm that their project fits well with the Wellcome Trust subject remit relating to health, medicine etc. See Early-Career Awards - Grant funding | Wellcome

Awards of 3 years, intended to enable early career scientists or engineers of exceptional promise to conduct a research project of their own instigation with the ultimate objective of contributing to the knowledge base required for a healthy and innovative national culture. You must have no more than 3 years of postdoctoral experience. Royal Commission for the Exhibition 1851 (royalcommission1851.org)

Information about Junior Research Fellowships, which are advertised by individual Cambridge Colleges can usually be found at College jobs - Job Opportunities - University of Cambridge at the relevant time of year.