Research Associate / Senior Research Associate in Biomolecular Statistical Analysis

The role

The successful applicant will join leading international researchers in the Organic Geochemistry Unit (University of Bristol) and the Molecular and Cultural Evolution Lab (MACE; University College London), to investigate the dichotomy between farmed and aquatic resource exploitation during the Neolithic. By testing specific hypotheses, the applicant will contribute to the AquaNeo research project, investigating the role and importance of aquatic resources in Prehistory.

The role is based in the School of Chemistry at the University of Bristol, with regular visits to the Molecular and Cultural Evolution Lab at UCL

What will you be doing?

The main purpose of the RA’s role will be creative and novel collaborative scientific research, focused on biomolecular data generated from Neolithic pottery sherds to estimate dietary components, evaluate subsistence strategies, and test hypotheses about past aquatic resource exploitation within a formal model comparison framework.

You should apply if

You should have:

• A degree in a relevant subject (Data science, Statistics, Bioinformatics, Chemistry, Biology, Archaeology).
• Desirable to have a PhD (awarded or imminent) in a relevant subject and involving statistical data analyses and formal model comparison.
• Experience or a strong interest in archaeological questions.
• Ability to publish scientific manuscripts, data reports and summaries 
• Experience of liaison with external collaborators and organisations.

Additional information

Contract type: Open ended (funding available until 31.03.2027)

The position is funded for a fixed term of 17 months with a starting date of November 2025. Further funding may become available to extend this employment.

This advert will close at 23:59 UK time on 22/10/2025

Interviews are anticipated to take place at the end of October 2025

For informal queries, please contact: Dr Melanie Roffet-Salque, melanie.salque@bristol.ac.uk Prof Mark Thomas, m.thomas@ucl.ac.uk

Our strategy and mission

We recently launched our strategy to 2030 tying together our mission, vision and values.

The University of Bristol aims to be a place where everyone feels able to be themselves and do their best in an inclusive working environment where all colleagues can thrive and reach their full potential. We want to attract, develop, and retain individuals with different experiences, backgrounds and perspectives – particularly people of colour, LGBT+ and disabled people - because diversity of people and ideas remains integral to our excellence as a global civic institution.

Advert information