Post-doctoral Researcher and Project Manager

Post-doctoral Researcher and Project Manager: Agent-Based modeling of the first hominin migrations into western Eurasia

The Department of Archaeological Sciences, Faculty of Archaeology, Leiden University, is looking for a post-doctoral researcher and project manager to perform research on the drivers of the first hominin migrations into western Eurasia using agent based modeling, and to assist in data management, permitting, and public engagement. The project is part of the NWO-VICI awarded to Prof. dr. A.G. Henry, titled: “Hominin FoodWays: Changing diet and food processing across climate frontiers,” which explores the drivers behind the first hominin migration out of Africa. Homo erectus was the first of our ancestors to leave a narrow range of African habitats and expand into Eurasia, but the behavioural changes that allowed this migration remain debated. This project uses an interdisciplinary combination of new and established methods to understand how changes in diet and food processing contributed to this species’ expansion into new regions.

What you will do

• Establish protocols for data management for project data within the framework of Open Science, work with project members to ensure correct permits for collection of plants and ethical approval for work with volunteers, and assist in planning and executing public engagement, from building a project website to hosting community events;
• Build detailed landscape models, including food costs and benefits, habitat reconstructions, and plant tolerance models, in collaboration with project members;
• Build and test hypotheses about the effect of various drivers (e.g., the ability to use fire, the ratio of meat to plants, etc.) on the use of these landscapes using agent-based modeling;
• Contribute to other FoodWays project goals, including documenting potential foods available to early hominins, and designing and performing experiments on food processing;
• Publish several articles in peer-reviewed academic journals on the results of the above projects and their implications for human evolution;
• Engage with the Faculty community through discussion meetings, journal clubs, and other events.

Where you will work

The future of the past begins at Leiden University. The Faculty of Archaeology is internationally leading for its research, home to a broad array of specializations and notable for its strong connection between teaching and research. Home to over 500 students in the multidisciplinary world of Archaeology, the Faculty, and its researchers from all areas of the archaeological field, determine the future of archaeological research.

The successful candidate will join the Department of Archaeological Sciences. They will be supervised by Prof. dr. A.G. Henry and will work closely with other members of the FoodWays project (two PhD candidates), as well as with master students.

The FoodWays project is divided into three interconnected Work Packages (WP):

• WP1: refining our understanding of past habitats and dietary behaviors.
• WP2: measuring energetic costs and benefits of wild plant foods.
• WP3: modeling effects of biological and behavioral changes on food choices.

The successful candidate will be responsible for WP3 and will make contributions to the other work packages, as well as working as project manager.

This is a two-function position. You will work as a project manager for 0.3 FTE (30% of the working time) and post-doctoral researcher for 0.7 FTE (70% of the working time) for max 48 months. After this period, you will be employed as a post-doctoral researcher for 1.0 FTE for max 9 months.

What you bring

In this team, we are looking for someone who can work independently but collaboratively. Every job is different, so in the beginning we will devote attention to your onboarding. This position is a good fit for you if you recognise yourself in the following:

• PhD degree completed by the time of the appointment in Archaeology, Anthropology, or related field, including experience with agent-based modeling, with strong preference for a background in Paleoanthropology or Human Evolution;
• Demonstrable ability and enthusiasm for innovative and inter-disciplinary research in one or more of the above fields;
• Demonstrable excellence in leadership, time-management, organizational, and communication skills, experience with permitting and ethical approvals strongly preferred;
• Experience with and commitment to Open Science principles, including public engagement;
• Excellent command of English (command of Dutch is not required, but knowledge of one or more European languages is preferred);
• Availability to travel and conduct fieldwork both within and outside the Netherlands, including having a drivers license, is preferred;
• Ability to start in December 2025 or January 2026.

What we offer

• Our goal is to work together to create a transparent and inclusive work environment in which everyone feels welcome and appreciated. Our organisation is always evolving and we need your ideas for improvement and innovation to take us further. We want to devote attention to your personal development.
• You can count on an enjoyable job within the socially relevant world research. The University's challenging and international work environment is located just steps away from Leiden’s lively city centre. We also want to work with you to devote attention to your health and vitality, for example with the fun activities we organise through Healthy University.
• The selected candidate will be appointed for up to a total of 57 months depending on the exact starting date. They will be appointed as a project manager for 0.3 FTE and post-doctoral researcher for 0.7 FTE for max 48 months, followed by an appointment as a post-doctoral researcher for 1.0 FTE for max 9 months. The project ends in August 2030;
• A salary of a minimum of €3425 and a maximum of €5331 gross per month, based on a full-time appointment (38 hours) (scale 10 for post-doctoral researcher and scale 9 for project manager);
• A holiday allowance (8%), an end-of-year bonus (8,3%), and an attractive pension scheme at ABP;
• For a 38-hour week you have 232 vacation hours per year. If you work part-time, your vacation credit is proportional to your contracted hours;
• Lots of options when it comes to secondary employment conditions; we can, for example, discuss options for a sabbatical or paid parental leave. Within our terms of employment individual choices model, you can exchange leave days and/or salary for benefits such as an advantageous sports subscription or bicycle scheme, and we also offer child-care options;
• If your work allows it, hybrid working is possible within the Netherlands;
• A home-working allowance (day and internet allowance) and attention for good workplaces. The University will also provide you with a laptop.

What we find important
Promoting an inclusive community is central to Leiden University’s values and vision. Leiden University aims to be an inclusive community in which all students and staff members feel valued and respected, and are able to develop to their full potential. Diversity in experiences and perspectives enriches our teaching and strengthens our research. High-quality education and research means inclusive education and research.