Fieldwork Research Associate

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The Role
The Ecologies of Governance project interrogates the emergence of inequality and the economic basis of rulership in early medieval, kin-based societies by undertaking multi-proxy and comparative analyses of the environment and agrarian regimes of some of the major and iconic royal landscapes of first millennium AD Britain and Ireland.

As Fieldwork Research Associate you will be a highly productive, ambitious and collaborative member of the Ecologies of Governance team. Based in the School of History, Classics and Archaeology (HCA) at Newcastle University, you will collaborate with all members of the project team, including those based at Queen's University Belfast and Cardiff University. You will carry out research on case study royal landscapes that form the focus of the project, with primary responsibility for designing and delivering the programme of archaeological fieldwork. This will include development of the project GIS, geospatial analysis, remote sensing, and targeted excavation, in order to detail the evolution of early medieval sites and landscapes. You will oversee the day-to-day management of fieldwork elements in the project's work packages, related collaboration, and outreach. The successful candidate will have a proven track record of working independently to deliver programmes of archaeological fieldwork, and expertise in geophysical and topographic survey and excavation. A research profile in early medieval archaeology, appropriate to career stage, is considered desirable but is not essential.

The project is hosted in the School of History, Classics & Archaeology, which has a vibrant and active research culture with particular strengths in interdisciplinary working and supporting the holistic career development of early career colleagues.

The successful candidate will be provided with academic and pastoral support within the School, and training will be provided to develop their competences. You will also benefit from access to the School's mentoring scheme and extensive training opportunities including a bespoke personal development plan, and peer support from a cross-disciplinary cohort of talented postdoctoral and early career researchers, as well as access to fieldwork equipment and software. Newcastle University is a signatory to the Concordat to support researchers' career development which entitles researchers up to 10 days of personal CPD activities annually.

For more information about the school please visit our website: https://www.ncl.ac.uk/hca/about/.

This post is a (maximum) 30-month fixed-term full-time appointment. The successful candidate will start work as soon as possible after 7th May 2026. Flexible working requests are welcome, but the postholder must be willing to travel for fieldwork and other research/engagement activities as part of the project.

Applicants with minority and/or host community backgrounds are particularly encouraged to apply. Should the successful applicant require a UK Visa for this role, they will be eligible to apply under the Endorsed Funder Route of the Global Talent Visa. The University will support the applicant through this process.

To apply, please upload an up-to-date CV and cover letter outlining how you meet the essential job criteria.

Qualifications

• PhD in Archaeology or a related discipline in hand at the time of application.

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