Descripción de la oferta
Organisation/Company Institut Català de Paleoecologia Humana i Evolució Social (IPHES) Research Field History » Archaeology Biological sciences » Zoology Environmental science » Earth science Researcher Profile First Stage Researcher (R1) Positions PhD Positions Application Deadline 26 Feb 2026 - 23:59 (Europe/Madrid) Country Spain Type of Contract Temporary Job Status Full-time Hours Per Week 40 Offer Starting Date 1 Jun 2026 Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme? Horizon Europe - MSCA Marie Curie Grant Agreement Number 101226472 Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure? No
Offer Description
DOCTORAL SCHOOL PALPROX
The Doctoral School PALPROX (Proxies from Small Vertebrates in Prehistoric Archaeology) fosters a unique interdisciplinary and collaborative research frame in which the Doctoral Candidates will work on their Individual Research Projects around a common program: The use of small vertebrates as a proxy in Prehistoric Archaeology.
We aim to focus on the studies of Late Pleistocene small vertebrates to gain insight into the studied taxonomic groups found in archaeological sites, but also to face the new challenges posed by interdisciplinary approaches to archaeological studies, and their contributions to the debate about climate change and biodiversity loss. Small vertebrates, due to their reduced size, small habitat ranges and in most cases low mobility, are known to be more sensitive to regional changes than large mammals and plants, especially in Europe where mountain ranges and sea barriers block their retreat to the south. In addition, fossil small vertebrates can help to modern conservation biology, providing predictive clues based on long-term biodiversity archives. In general, knowledge of the small vertebrate Quaternary record can help to better understand current extinction dynamics, response to climate changes or ecological turning points.
Finally, taking advantage of synergies with other disciplines, fossil small vertebrates studies have incorporated new methodologies such as Geometric Morphometrics, Oxygen Isotope studies or ancient DNA, and introducing Geospatial and MaxEnt tools into the analyses of both fossil and modern specimens. These approaches very much complement, but do not replace, a basal training in the fundamental methods based on osteological and morphometric description.
As a result, PALPROX will support nine promising Doctoral worldwide candidates passionate about interdisciplinary research, supporting the increasing diversity of career paths in Europe’s research landscape and providing fellows with the training, mentoring and career development support needed to become leaders in academia and beyond.
Objectives: The development of new tools for the study of fossil bat specimens based on the analysis of the postcranial skeleton by integrating a set of cut‑edge techniques. A critical contribution to shed light on the evolutionary history of certain ‘cryptic species complexes’ of bats (e.g. the large‑size Mouse‑eared Bats, the Whiskered Mouse‑eared Bats or the Western‑European Long‑eared Bats), some of which are considered as threatened or endangered species in Europe. To facilitate an open access data set with the 3D data generated during this project, including modern referential and fossil material, stimulating network contacts with museums, and cultural and conservationist organisations.
Objectives: The osteological description of the different Corvidae species and the assessment of their phylogenetic status. To analyse the spatial distribution of the Corvidae species recovered in the fossil record through GIS tools. To quantify the degree of fragmentation of current populations of the species identified in the fossil record, to model the distribution of those species strongly perturbed, and to include them in paleoclimate reconstruction methods through GIS.
Objectives: the evaluation of the accuracy of the discriminant models based on geometric morphometrics, as the temporal variation of the accuracy (in relation to the evolution of the molar shape complexity with the acquisition of new triangles in some vole species). Some species complexes will be considered (e.g. Microtus arvalis, M. agrestis, or Lasiopodomys anglicus/gregalis). Study of the status of fringe populations and their morphological variability at the limits of their distribution concerning core populations. Tracing the renewal of lineages within a species complex in relation to climate change over the last 100,000 years. Investigation of the potential migratory pulses and species dynamics at the European scale. Evolution and local adaptation within lineages and their response to climate change
Objectives: Evaluate the relevance of mechanistic or predictive niche models for integrating biotic and abiotic factors on modern species distribution. Application to key rodent species (e.g. Dicrostonyx, Apodemus) and to communities. Integrating fossil data and understanding the structuring of a species' past niche within communities.
Supervisors: Dr Claudio Berto (Faculty of Archaeology, UNIWARSAW)
Objectives: To develop climate models that estimate the major parameters (e.g. MAT, MAP, etc.), as well as their probability distribution, starting from Late Pleistocene small vertebrate assemblages. To link those models to a solid chronological framework thanks to direct radiocarbon dates datasets on small vertebrates and thanks to rodent voles aDNA chronological estimation datasets. To verify and compare the obtained data with major continental and marine records (e.g. Oxygen Isotopes Compositions or Pollen sequences) as well as other results from the same small mammal assemblages (e.g. isotope records, and other climatic reconstruction methods).
Objectives: To complete the taxonomic identification of small vertebrate communities and identify the origin of the accumulation. To analyse the climatic evolution of the sequences using high‑resolution geochemical techniques, specifically stable isotopic compositions in teeth (δ 18O/ δ13C). To reconstruct the past ecology associated with the assemblages using various methods of environmental reconstruction, including correlations based on stable isotopes to estimate past rainfall and temperatures. To explore the linkage between observed shifts in human subsistence patterns in the sequences and environmental reconstruction, evaluating causality.
Supervisors: Dr Claudio Berto (Faculty of Archaeology, UNIWARSAW) and Dr Mateusz Baca (CeNT)
Objectives: To investigate the major small vertebrate changes and stasis in fossil assemblages from MIS 5 and 4 in Europe. To apply climate and environment reconstruction models to the fossil assemblages to link small vertebrates population changes to the major climate oscillation of MIS 5 tp MIS 3. To assess the homogeneity of the selected small vertebrate assemblages and to link developed climate models to a solid chronological framework on radiometric dates and molecular age estimations based on aDNA datasets of various rodent species. To verify spatial and diachronic homogeneities and differences between macrobioregions (i.e. the Mediterranean and the Central European ones or Central and Western Europe).
Objectives: To identify paleo‑rivers using SAR images. To model the potential distribution of microvertebrates with and without the distribution of paleo‑rivers as a predictor with ecological niche models such as Maxent and Random Forest. Determine the most influential variables to the distribution of the species.
Objectives: To identify and better characterise archaeological sites using Remote Sensing Data. Derive probability maps of potential undiscovered archaeological sites for microvertebrates. Transfer the elaborated methodology to different spatial scales, following a standard workflow in Google Earth Engine.
For information on the application process, visit www.palprox.eu/applicants/. There, you will find a guide for applicants, a template application form, a template CV, and other useful information.
One candidate can only apply for a maximum of 2 Individual Research Projects, and must prioritise them as Option 1 and Option 2 in the template application form.
Deadline
February 26th, 2026, 23:59 (CET)
Requirements
Specific requirements might be different for each position, and candidates should carefully read the call terms at each host institution. The General Requirements are:
DCs should not be in possession of a doctoral degree at the closing date of the call.
This call is open to DCs regardless of race, colour, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, or any other basis protected by state or local law applicable. We specifically encourage women as well as researchers with family obligations and/or special needs, to apply.
You need to comply with the MSCA mobility rule, no residence or main activity (work, studies, etc.) in the country of the recruiting institution for more than 12 months in the 36 months before the date of deadline of the application. [Country of main activity = not only where the fellow was physically based but also the country of the institution for which the main activity was performed. Example: if a fellow did a master in Spain and another master remotely in Italy, the fellow needs to comply with the mobility rule in both countries].
To have a Weighted Average Mark of 7/10 or 14/20 (depending on the grading system in each country) or higher for their academic transcript, including both the bachelor’s and master’s degrees.
To have a good level of English: candidates must accredit the required level of English by submitting one of the accepted certificates (level B2 or higher) or, if the university of enrolment accepts, doing a proof of level of English in the frame of CEFR (https://www.examenglish.com/CEFR/cefr.htm).
Research Field Biological sciences » ZoologyHistory » ArchaeologyEnvironmental science » Earth science Years of Research Experience None
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