We invite applications for a 3-year funded PhD studentship starting in October 2027 under the co-supervision of Professor Paul Lane and Dr Stefania Merlo, as part of the AFRI-CAN project. This PhD studentship is funded by ERC Synergy grant No. 101224449.
The AFRI-CAN project (ERC Synergy grant No. 101224449 - Lead PI Professor Rob Marchant, University of York) explores the interlinked interactions of human systems and mountain ecosystems understood as mountain socioecological systems (MtSES) by combining state-of-the-art modelling, interdisciplinary insights and valuation assessments to co-produce pathways for sustainable mountain futures. Focussed on six contrasting East African mountain settings, the AFRI-CAN project aims to investigate how communities interact with nature, how ecosystems evolve, and which pathways could support sustainable and resilient mountain futures.
Three interlinked work packages examine socioecological systems at three time scales: 'The Past' (WP1) will employ palaeoecology, archaeology, anthropology, history, and ecosystem and climate modelling to investigate the period from 6000 years ago to the present; 'The Present' (WP2) will employ anthropology, history, ecology, ecological-economics, pedology, remote sensing, ecosystem and climate modelling and participatory approaches to investigate the period 1970-2025; and 'The Future' (WP3) will use data from WPs 1 and 2 to co-design future scenarios for with diverse stakeholders 2030, 2063 and 2100. The fourth work package (WP4) will apply our new understanding of the drivers of change to other African and global MtSES through co-production of scenarios and pathways of change with diverse stakeholders to inform how MtSES worldwide could navigate future opportunities and challenges.
The ERC Synergy Grants foster collaboration between outstanding researchers, making it possible for them to combine their expertise, knowledge and resources in order to push the boundaries of scientific discovery. This funding is part of the EU's Horizon Europe research and innovation programme.
We are looking for a highly motivated applicant to join the project and contribute to Work Package 1 (WP1). The selected applicant will be co-supervised by Professor Paul Lane and Dr Stefania Merlo with additional input from other members of the Department and McDonald Institute for Archaeological Research, and external researchers that are part of the AFRI-CAN project, in particular Dr Daryl Stump, at the University of York.
The successful applicant's research will focus on developing detailed historical land-use and land cover map of landscape change across the mountain study sites over the past 6,000 years through the integration of archaeobotanical, faunal and material culture data and historical maps with a particular focus on forestry and forest management. The doctoral student will play a central role in collating and assessing existing historical and archaeological records from the MAEASaM (Mapping Africa's Endangered Archaeological Sites and Monuments) project and other data sets (e.g. the Pandora repositories), as well as conducting supplementary targeted archaeological fieldwork relating to land use activities across the target study sites and synthesising detailed archaeobotanical, faunal and material culture data relevant to the sites. This will include analysing historical maps, aerial photographs and remote sensing and integrated historical data across the study sites to develop finer-resolution maps of land-use and landcover for the past 150 years.
The detailed tasks will be:
- Expanding existing historical and archaeological records from MAEASaM project records to facilitate the creation of Land Use and Land Cover (LULC) maps of the past 6,000 years in selected case study areas.
- Synthesise existing archaeobotanical, faunal and material culture data to enhance historical land-use and landcover mapping for the selected study sites, with an initial focus on forestry and forest management.
- Collate and analyse historical maps, aerial photographs and remote sensing and integrated historical data to develop finer-resolution land-use and landcover change maps for the last 150 years.
- Closely collaborate with ecologists, social scientists, other researchers on the team and stakeholders to develop participatory scenario models for future land use planning.
- Publish results in scientific journals of high standards and present results at academic meetings.
- Contribute to outreach activities and activities at the science-policy interface
Applicants must meet the requirement for a PhD in Archaeology (see details here: https://www.postgraduate.study.cam.ac.uk/courses/directory/aaarpdarc), have (or expect to obtain by July 2027) an MA, MSc or MPhil degree in a relevant discipline and possess the following additional skills:
- Expertise in landscape archaeology, historical geography or landscape history preferably in an African context (Essential)
- Familiarity or experience in the using databases and geospatial analysis and mapping (Essential)
- Experience with using historical maps and remote sensing imagery to identify archaeological sites (Essential) and create Land Use Land Cover maps (Desirable)
- Experience with synthesising archaeological and historical datasets (Desirable)
- Experience in conducting archaeological field surveys (Desirable), ideally in an African setting.
The applicant will be part of the AFRI-CAN project as based at the McDonald Institute for Archaeological Research, University of Cambridge, which also hosts a large community of researchers focused on geospatial analysis in archaeology and African archaeology.
The studentship will provide a stipend covering maintenance and fee costs (home fees). See: https://www.postgraduate.study.cam.ac.uk/finance. Where a successful applicant is not a citizen of the UK, immigration health surcharge and visa fees will be covered. Additionally, fieldwork costs and selected conference attendance, as well as maintenance payments for the duration of parental leave are all covered. Non-EU students and those from EU countries who do not meet the residency requirements may be eligible for additional support, and to ensure this they must also indicate that they wish to apply for funding from the Cambridge Trust, and select the relevant schemes they may be eligible for from the drop-down lists. Applicants who meet the residency requirements for Home Rate fees are welcome also to apply for these additional sources of funding.
How to make an application
Applications should be submitted for the PhD in Archaeology via the Applicant Portal (https://www.postgraduate.study.cam.ac.uk/courses/directory/aaarpdarc). Professor Paul Lane should be identified as your preferred supervisor and you must state that you are applying for AFRI-CAN project in the "proposed title" section'. In addition to the standard required application materials upload a cover letter (no more than two pages) outlining your suitability for this project and what you will bring to the team.
You may be eligible for additional financial support. To ensure you are considered, you must tick the apply for funding box and select anything you may be eligible for. We encourage minorities, women and members of underrepresented groups to apply.
Additional information about the Department of Archaeology can be found here: https://www.arch.cam.ac.uk/
Information on postgraduate study at Cambridge can be found here: https://www.postgraduate.study.cam.ac.uk/courses-overview
Please note that the deadline for funding applications is January 6th 2027.
Shortlisted applicants will be interviewed online during the week 18-22nd January 2027.
For further information and informal enquiries, please contact via email either Professor Paul Lane (pjl29@cam.ac.uk) and/or Dr Stefania Merlo (sm399@cam.ac.uk)
Please quote reference JD51563 on your application and in any correspondence about this vacancy.
The University actively supports equality, diversity and inclusion and encourages applications from all sections of society.
The University has a responsibility to ensure that all employees are eligible to live and work in the UK.
