PhD: Historical Linguistics, Archaeology, Anthropology

Institution/Organization: University of Cambridge
Department: Faculty of Archaeology and Anthropology
Web Address: http://www.homepages.ucl.ac.uk/~tcrndfu/sealinks/sealink1.htm

Level: PhD

Duties: Research

Specialty Areas: Historical Linguistics
Archaeology, Anthropology

Description:

Applications are invited for an ERC-funded PhD studentship to investigate early
plant and animal translocations in the Indian Ocean. The 3-year studentship
will be based in the Faculty of Archaeology and Anthropology at the University
of Cambridge. The studentship is offered as part of the SEALINKS Project, which
is undertaking multi-disciplinary studies on the prehistoric emergence of
long-distance maritime contacts in the Indian Ocean. The 5-year project will
take a unique interdisciplinary approach to maritime prehistory, and is of
particular interest to students whose interests bridge the humanities and
natural sciences.

The aim of the PhD studentship is to study early biological translocations in
the Indian Ocean through the collection of linguistic data on plants and/or
animals, and its synthesis with relevant historiographic, archaeological and
genetic findings. The student will undertake fieldwork in areas of interest,
which may include East Africa, Madagascar, India and/or Southeast Asia. The
student selected for the project will have the opportunity to help shape its
particular direction and course, and will work closely with the project PI, Dr.
Nicole Boivin (Leverhulme Centre for Human Evolutionary Studies, University of
Cambridge) and key project partners, Dr. Dorian Fuller (Institute of
Archaeology, UCL), Dr. Roger Blench (Mallam Dendo, Cambridge), Dr. Martin Walsh
(Department of Social Anthropology, University of Cambridge), Prof. Dr. George
van Driem (Humanities Faculty, Leiden University), and Dr. Sander Adelaar (Asia
Institute, University of Melbourne).

Students should have a very good honours degree (at least a 2.1 or equivalent)
or Master's degree in a relevant subject (e.g., historical linguistics,
ethnobiology, anthropology or archaeology). Students with a background in
historical linguistics are especially encouraged to apply. The project will
involve extensive travel abroad, active fieldwork and library research.

The studentship covers the full cost of a home/EU student (tuition, college
fees, and living expenses). Funding for fieldwork is also available. The
successful candidate will subsequently be required to make a formal application
for graduate studies to the University of Cambridge.

Start date: October 2008.

For further details see:
http://www.homepages.ucl.ac.uk/~tcrndfu/sealinks/sealink1.htm


To apply, candidates should send a CV and cover letter outlining their
background and interest in the project to Dr. Nicole Boivin. Candidates should
also arrange for two academic referees to send confidential letters of reference
by the closing date. All material, including letters of reference, should be
submitted by email as pdf documents.

Key words: Linguistics/Historical Linguistics/Ethnobiology/Archaeology/Anthropology.

Application Deadline: 17-Apr-2008

Web Address for Applications: http://www.homepages.ucl.ac.uk/~tcrndfu/sealinks/studentship.htm

Contact Information:
Dr. Nicole Boivin
nlb20@cam.ac.uk