Cyprus Institute seeks a postdoc in archaeological science communication; apply by 10 December

The Cyprus Institute is recruiting a full-time Post-doctoral Research Fellow in Evidence-Based Archaeological Science Communication (reference STARC_PDF_26_15) for STARC, its archaeology and culture research centre, on the Athalassa campus in Nicosia. The closing date is 10 December 2026.

The post belongs to OneArchSci, the Institute's One Archaeological Science project, which joins up separate branches of archaeological science and promotes isotopic methods (chemical signatures in bone, teeth and plant remains, used in Cyprus to reconstruct ancient diet). The fellow is to build an independent line of research on how such work is best explained to non-specialists, testing ways of presenting evidence, methods, uncertainty and cross-disciplinary conclusions, and publishing the results in peer-reviewed journals.

The fellow will work with the project's specialists in environmental archaeology, human osteoarchaeology (the study of human skeletons), archaeological materials and isotopes, turning their findings into accurate public accounts, and will produce outreach material and reusable toolkits that help researchers communicate and measure the effect of what they do. The project's events have included a seminar on crop isotopes given at the Institute by Amy Styring of Oxford in October.

Applicants need a PhD in archaeological science, archaeology, bioarchaeology, heritage science or a related subject, a record of presenting research to non-specialists, and the ability to use quantitative, qualitative or mixed methods. Preferred: a research background in osteoarchaeology, archaeobotany, zooarchaeology or isotope archaeology, experience of evaluating outreach, and work with schools, museums, heritage authorities or community groups.

The first contract runs until the project ends on 31 December 2029 and may be renewed, subject to performance and funding. The starting salary is €37,688.69, €39,506.61, €41,324.66 or €43,142.58, points CYI4.1 to CYI4.4 on the Institute's CYI4 band. Benefits include flexible and remote working, a provident fund and group medical and life insurance.

Applications go through the Institute's recruitment portal, in English and as PDFs: a CV with a short letter of interest or vision statement, a list of publications or a portfolio, and two referees with contact details. The contact is Dr Efthymia Nikita (e.nikita@cyi.ac.cy). STARC is also hiring two Associate Research Scientists, in heritage data integration and in the digital modelling of historic buildings; both posts close on 15 November.