Doctoral Researcher (m/f/d, E13 TV-L, 65%)

Cluster of Excellence “HUMAN ORIGINS”

Bewerbungsfrist
: 07.07.2026

The Cluster of Excellence “HUMAN ORIGINS” at the University of Tübingen invites applications for a

Doctoral researcher (m/f/d, E13 TV-L, 65%)
– What does tool use reveal about the impact of resource exploitation during the transition from foraging to farming at Liang Bua, Flores, Indonesia?

The ‘Human Origins: Excellence Cluster of Integrative Human Origins Studies’ is a newly started Cluster of Excellence at the University of Tübingen. It focuses on the comprehensive, bio-cultural investigation of human evolution, to be examined through the integration of diverse disciplines, diachronically and at different scales throughout the last 5 million years of human evolution. 

The position will be located in the Laboratory for Experimental Archaeology and Neotaphonomy (LEArN), led by Dr. E. Grace Veatch, and will investigate one of the central questions in human evolution: How did environmental and/or anthropogenic changes impact the most significant transition in subsistence strategies (i.e., farming) observed in the genus Homo, and what does this tell us about the evolution of the human ecological niche? In this project, we will combine innovative stone tool functional analysis, experimental archaeology, and spatial analyses to understand how changes in resource availability and human migration impacted the adaptation of agriculture and domestication within an insular ecosystem in Indonesia. The aim is to utilize the abundant material culture (stone and shell) from the Holocene deposits at Liang Bua and develop innovative theoretical and methodological approaches to investigating human behavior in Island Southeast Asia. 

The position should start as soon as possible (flexible by agreement) and is limited to three years, with a possibility for extension.

Type of work

The doctoral researcher will combine fieldwork with experimental archaeology to understand the dynamic behavioral processes involved with the creation of the material record at Liang Bua. The central aspect of the project involves stone tool analysis, shell taphonomy, and 3-dimensional imaging techniques. The student will be trained in both theoretical and methodological applications within the archaeological sciences and have the opportunity to collaborate with scholars of closely related disciplines (such as stable isotope analyses, paleogenomics, and morphology) within the Cluster of Human Origins and related departments.

Your profile

• Master’s degree or equivalent in archaeology or another relevant field.
• Strong interest in human evolution.
• Background in stone tool analyses and taphonomy.
• Previous experience conducting archaeological fieldwork in Indonesia, including working closely with Badan Riset dan Inovasi Nasional (BRIN) or other Indonesian research institutions.
• Experience in archaeology, anthropology, or related disciplines.
• We are looking for a curious, proactive, and intellectually independent candidate who is excited to make the project their own and bring their own questions and ideas to it.

What we offer

The successful candidate will join a highly international and interdisciplinary research environment, with outstanding opportunities for collaboration across palaeoanthropology, cultural evolution, and experimental archaeology. The project will be supervised by Dr. E. Grace Veatch, in close collaboration with Prof Nicholas Connard in the Department of Early Prehistory & Quaternary Ecology at the University of Tübingen. The doctoral researcher will benefit from close supervision and mentoring, developing innovative archaeological and taphonomic methodologies, as well as adopting strong quantitative and visualization skills in R and 3D imaging techniques available in the Material Culture Lab and related laboratories within the Cluster of Human Origins. There will also be opportunities to engage in additional collaborative projects and develop an international network of scholars here at the University of Tübingen.

Tübingen is a vibrant university town with a strong international research community and an outstanding environment for doctoral training. The University of Tübingen is committed to equity and diversity and actively promotes equal opportunities. Equally qualified candidates with disabilities will be given preference in the hiring process. The University of Tübingen is committed to increasing the percentage of women in research and teaching and thus encourages women with adequate qualifications to apply. The employment will be handled by the central administration of the University of Tübingen.

How to apply

Please send a single PDF to Dr. E. Grace Veatch by the 7th of July 2026 at Elizabeth.veatch@uni-tuebingen.de including:

• A letter of motivation, including information on previous scientific work and publications, if available.
• A CV with a complete listing of academic certificates and credentials.
• Contact details for two referees.
• If available, a copy of your Master’s thesis.

Informal inquiries are also very welcome. If this type of work sounds interesting to you, feel free to get in touch by email before applying.