PRIMHE, our partner research theme at ICArEHB, is excited to announce four new PhD positions at the Universidade do Algarve, with fieldwork opportunities in Gorongosa National Park.
These positions are part of the upcoming FCT PhD Fellowships 2025 call, which aims to support candidates pursuing a PhD in archaeology, focusing on prehistory or paleoanthropology. ICArEHB has a strong track record of hosting FCT-funded fellowships and is actively seeking motivated researchers to join our team.
You can click on the images of each project to get the contact of the main supervisor and apply.
Evolution and biogeography of Afrotheria in southeastern Africa
About the project: The researcher will study fossil mammals from a series of paleontological sites in the Mazamba Formation of Gorongosa National Park, Mozambique. The fossils constitute an abundant sample of cranial, dental, and postcranial elements that will need to be taxonomically identified and analysed in terms of evolutionary and ecological implications. The chronology of the fossil sites is work in progress by the team geologists but likely spans the Oligo-Miocene. The taxonomic focus of the project will be the Afrotheria: Embrithopoda, Hyracoidea, Proboscidea, Sirenia, and Macroscelidea. The new fossil specimens have significant biogeographic and evolutionary implications. This project will require extensive time studying museum collections as well as fieldwork in the southern Rift Valley. → Apply here.
Keywords: Vertebrate paleontology; taxonomy; phylogenetic analysis
Vertebrate taphonomy: from predation to fossilisation in the African Rift Valley
About the project: The main goal of the project is to obtain data relevant to the emergence of the human predatory pattern (see Thompson et al. 2019, Current Anthropology. Origins of the human predatory pattern: the transition to large animal exploitation by early hominins). This project aims to document predation events in the Urema Floodplain of Gorongosa National Park, Mozambique. Predation events will be followed by monitoring of carcass for scavenging, bone dispersal, and eventual skeletonisation. The researcher will also document bone marrow access and availability, and measure bacteriological loads at different times. The project requires extensive fieldwork in Gorongosa National Park. → Apply here.
Keywords: neotaphonomy; predation; carcass monitoring
Late Pleistocene caves and paleoenvironments in southeast Africa
About the project: The main goal of the project is to document newly excavated vertebrate remains in the caves of Gorongosa National Park, Mozambique. The fossil fauna will need to be identified taxonomically and analysed in terms of its paleoecological implications. Paleoclimate and paleovegetation may be assessed through analysis of speleothems and fossil pollen. Potentially, past biodiversity could also be assessed through ancient DNA and proteomics in the cave sediments. → Apply here.
Keywords: micromammals; taxonomy, paleoecology
Neotaphonomy of small vertebrates in a modern African savanna ecosystem: implications for archaeological assemblages
About the project: This project aims to document modern accumulations of small mammals and other vertebrates across different landscapes of Gorongosa National Park, Mozambique. The main source of data will be owl pellets associated with owl roosts as well as other accumulations of small vertebrate bones. The study follows the long-term documentation of larger vertebrate bones in the park. By studying these modern assemblages, the project will provide a clearer understanding of how current micromammal communities reflect ecological conditions while offering insights that can be applied to paleoenvironmental reconstructions of ancient habitats. → Apply here.
Keywords: micromammals; owl pellets; Rift Valley ecology
The FCT call will be open to candidates of all nationalities. However, if your bachelor’s and master’s degrees were obtained outside Portugal, they must be officially recognized and graded according to Portuguese regulations before submission. More information on degree recognition can be found here.
For a list of potential research themes and supervisors, or to express your interest, please contact the relevant supervisor directly. If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to us at icarehb@ualg.pt.