Salary: Living allowance of $32,400 per year pro rata (2022 full-time study rate)
Founded in 1853, the University of Melbourne is Australia’s #1 university and is consistently ranked amongst the leading universities in the world. The department of Classics and Archaeology is a part of the School of Historical and Philosophical studies, which is one of the oldest and most vibrant pillars of study and research at the University of Melbourne.
There are several opportunities to access travel and other grants and, upon agreement with the supervisor, for getting experience in teaching. For more information, visit: https://study.unimelb.edu.au/find/courses/graduate/doctor-of-philosophy-arts/what-will-i-study/
About the Role
The School of Historical and Philosophical Studies (SHAPS) at the University of Melbourne is at the forefront of teaching and research in the humanities in Australia. We have a team of dedicated academic and professional staff in the disciplines of History, Philosophy, Classics and Archaeology, History and Philosophy of Science, Hebrew and Jewish Studies, and the Grimwade Centre for Cultural Materials Conservation.
The Classics and Archaeology program in particular offers a wide range of subjects in its ‘Ancient World Studies’ major on such topics as the archaeology of Egypt and the ancient Aegean, Mediterranean, Near East and Levant; ancient languages (Greek, Latin, Egyptian, Syriac, and Akkadian); Greek and Roman history; and ancient literature in translation.
Expressions of Interest are invited from applicants with relevant academic qualifications and expertise in the field of Archaeology for a Funded PhD Position in Ancient Greek Archaeology in the School of Historical and Philosophical Studies at the University of Melbourne commencing 2023.
The PhD scholarship is associated with the interdisciplinary and international research project Plain of Gioia Tauro (PGT) Survey in Calabria (Italy), directed by Dr. Lieve Donnellan. This is an exceptional opportunity to work closely with an international research group and train your research and fieldwork skills.
The position is full time and the successful applicant will pursue a PhD research project aligned with the aims and objectives of the PGT project, under the primary supervision of Dr. Lieve Donnellan and in collaboration with other members of the team.
The Project
The Plain of Gioia Tauro Survey project aims at studying the human impact on the local landscape in Antiquity (ca. 3500 BCE – 500 AD) through changing patterns of human occupation. The Plain of Gioia Tauro, located in Calabria, Southern Italy, occupies a key position in the Central Mediterranean, because of its strategic position between Sicily, the Aeolian islands and the Italian peninsula.
Possibilities for maritime and land-based connectivity, combined with the potential for the local exploitation of resources heavily determined the history of human occupation in the region. Despite important testimonies, the region has never been extensively studied archaeologically.
The aim of the project is therefore to collect and document evidence pertaining to resources and settlements, to understand the complex relationship between urbanization, exploitation and the (dis)integration of networks.
The PGT project closely collaborates with the Vienna-based ERC-funded project MIGMAG (Migration and the Making of the Ancient Greek World), directed by Prof. Naoíse Mac Sweeney, providing a highly stimulating international and interdisciplinary environment for study and research.
The PhD:
The historiography of Calabria in the first millennium BCE has been shaped by traditional narratives about Ancient Greek colonization and the foundation of cities. It is now understood that processes of human mobility and urbanization in the region were more complex and not necessarily overlapping.
The PGT project provides a case-study for the development of local patterns of occupation, specifically urbanization and exploitation of resources. The Plain of Gioia Tauro was highly integrated in regional maritime and land-based networks that preceded and followed what we traditionally call “Greek presence” in the West. We are seeking a highly motivated candidate with demonstrably strong research skills and academic background in archaeology to undertake a project on “Urban networks in Southern Calabria between ca. 900 BCE – 250 BCE”.
Possible suggested trajectories of study:
- Landscape analysis of changing patterns of land-based connectivity in Southern Calabria
- Study of resources, production and consumption, e.g. pottery in the Plain of Gioia Tauro
- Resilience and (dis)integration of exchange networks in Southern Calabria
The candidate would be expected to devise their own PhD project within these parameters and thereby make an important contribution to the overall project. The candidate will be expected to participate in fieldwork in Calabria. There would be opportunities to undertake joint publications with other members of the team and participate in international conferences.
The following skills will be advantageous to applicants:
- Demonstrable experience in archaeological fieldwork
- Experience in pottery analysis
- Digital skills such as using databases, GIS and/or network analysis
- Working knowledge of Italian or willingness to learn Italian
How to Apply:
To express your interest in this opportunity please the following information with the EOI form as a single PDF to Dr Lieve Donnellan (lieve.donnellan@unimelb.edu.au) by July 1st, 2022.
Your Expression of Interest include the following:
- A cover letter that sets out why your skills, background and interests make you a strong candidate for this position (no more than two pages).
- A statement of your intended PhD project reflecting the requirements set out above (no more than one page).
- An updated CV
- Academic transcripts.
- A writing sample (e.g. thesis chapter) (no more than 15 pages)
Only shortlisted candidates will be notified and interviewed. The preliminary date for the interview is August 2022. If successful, you are required to submit an online application for a University of Melbourne Graduate Research Degree and Scholarship.
Applicants must meet the entry requirements of a Doctor of Philosophy in Arts at University of Melbourne, including meeting English language requirements. Details of the Scholarship are available at https://scholarships.unimelb.edu.au/awards/graduate-research-scholarships
Advertised: AUS Eastern Standard Time
Applications close: AUS Eastern Standard Time
Website: https://jobs.unimelb.edu.au
