Postdoctoral position in Archaeology: Understanding Epidemics in Ancient Mesopotamia
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Postdoctoral position in Archaeology: Understanding Epidemics in Ancient Mesopotamia
Postdoctoral position in Archaeology: Understanding Epidemics in Ancient Mesopotamia
The research project From Catastrophe to Culture: Understanding Epidemics in Ancient Mesopotamia at the Department of Cross-Cultural and Regional Studies, Faculty of Humanities, University of Copenhagen (UCPH), invites applications for a 26-month full time postdoctoral position designed for a specialist in ancient Middle Eastern Archaeology, to be filled on February 1, 2026, or as soon as possible thereafter.
Introduction
The postdoctoral researcher will be part of the project From Catastrophe to Culture: Understanding Epidemics in Ancient Mesopotamia, which is funded by the Independent Research Fund Denmark (September 2025 – August 2028). The project will provide the first holistic study of epidemics in ancient Mesopotamia (modern Iraq and Syria), drawing on cuneiform texts and archaeological evidence from the 3rd to the 1st millennium BCE. The overall goal of the project is to establish a renewed timeline of Mesopotamian epidemics focusing on four research questions, namely: (1) How regularly did epidemic events occur during the first 3000 years of human written history? (2) How did epidemic diseases emerge and spread? (3) How did ancient societies react and respond to these calamities? And (4) what effects did such disasters have on the societies and cultures which survived them? The postdoc will work closely together with a postdoc from Assyriology and other project collaborators as part of a research team under the leadership of the PI, Associate Professor Troels Pank Arbøll.
The postdoc will work in the interdisciplinary Ancient Culture Studies section (Assyriology, Middle Eastern Archaeology, Egyptology, and Native American Languages and Cultures) at the Department of Cross-Cultural and Regional Studies, University of Copenhagen. Our section is devoted to maintaining a pleasant and inclusive work environment with daily lunches as well as regular seminars and social gatherings.
Duties and responsibilities
We seek someone with expertise in Middle Eastern archaeology and proven experience working with excavation reports related to sites from ancient Mesopotamia, ca. 3rd to 1st millennium BCE.
The postdoctoral candidate will collate data from published excavation reports to assess population numbers for relevant cities identified as centers of epidemics as well as assemble background data on ways of living, in terms of family structures and proximity to people and animals. Furthermore, the postdoc will examine possible evidence of population decline based on archaeological data directly following periods of known epidemics and situate findings within a given socio-political context. To facilitate comparison between the diverse sources from text and archaeology, the postdoc will be responsible for creating a SQL database. The postdoc and the other team members will collectively, and through their individual research, respond to these research questions as well as contribute to the overall goals of the project by supplying data to the database and co-publish with other members of the research team.
The postdoc is expected to be present at the place of employment and actively participate in weekly project meetings. There will accordingly also be online activities with collaborators and our advisory board, as well as possibilities to co-organize seminars, workshops, or conferences. The postdoc must be willing and able to participate in regular research and outreach activities where we engage in cross-disciplinary discussions and co-authored publications. Applicants should also be aware that postdocs at the UCPH are expected to work full-time and will be asked to spend up to 20% of their working hours on teaching or supervision within the department’s curriculum or perform other relevant tasks. The department can offer postdocs who teach up to 20% of their working hours, to participate in the Teaching and Learning in Higher Education program (without hourly compensation).
Qualification requirements
The successful applicant will have completed (or be close to completing) a PhD in Near or Middle Eastern Archaeology or a closely related field, significant knowledge and understanding of the archaeology of ancient Mesopotamia and neighboring regions, experience of creating or working with SQL databases, and experience with publishing research and presenting research at conferences and seminars. An interest or expertise in Assyriology, and/or ancient epidemics would be welcome. We expect the successful applicant to be highly motivated and team oriented.
Employment as a Postdoc requires academic qualifications at PhD level. For more information on careers at UCPH, and more general information about postdoctoral positions and qualification requirements, please follow the links below:
Career at The University of Copenhagen – University of Copenhagen (ku.dk)
Ministerial Order on Job Structure for Academic Staff at Universities (In Danish only)
Assessment Criteria
Applicants will primarily be assessed in relation to their research qualifications, including their publications, ability to conduct independent research and participate in research collaborations, and their experience of research management. In addition, the applicant’s research plan and research potential will be assessed in relation to the overall project described above.
Teaching qualifications are not a requirement, but if the postdoc is expected to teach, then documented teaching experience can be included in the overall assessment.
Application
Submit the application online in Adobe PDF or Word format.
Please click on the “Apply now” icon at the bottom of this page.
The application must be written in English and include the following enclosures:
Only material in Danish, Norwegian, Swedish and English can be expected to be assessed.
You are encouraged to familiarize yourself with the faculty’s strategic landmarks here: Strategic landmarks – University of Copenhagen (ku.dk).
Recruitment Process
After the application deadline, the Head of Department selects applicants for assessment on the advice of the appointment committee. All applicants are notified whether their application has been accepted for assessment. The Head of Department subsequently appoints an expert assessment committee tasked with carrying out an assessment of the selected applicants for the specific post. Selected applicants are notified of the composition of the committee. Based upon the assessments, a selection of qualified candidates will be invited for an interview. Please be advised that a positive assessment does not necessarily mean that one will be invited for an interview.
You can find further information on our recruitment process at: Recruitment process – University of Copenhagen (ku.dk).
As an applicant to the University of Copenhagen, you should be prepared to undergo a security screening related to international research collaboration as part of the recruitment process. The security screening will be conducted in cases where the University deems it appropriate based on an overall assessment.
Salary and Terms of employment
Terms of appointment and salary will be in accordance with an agreement between the Ministry of Finance and The Danish Confederation of Professional Associations (AC). The salary range starts at DKK 39,237.41 per month, (approximately EUR 5,250) + an 18.07 % contribution to the pension scheme. It is possible to negotiate salary supplements on an annual basis.
International Applicant?
The University of Copenhagen offers a broad variety of services for international researchers and accompanying families, including support before and during your relocation and career counselling to expat partners. Please find more information about our services at: For international researchers at the University of Copenhagen – University of Copenhagen (ku.dk).
An Equal Opportunity Workplace
The University of Copenhagen is committed in its pursuit of academic excellence to equality of opportunity and to creating an inclusive working environment and therefore encourages all qualified candidates to apply, regardless of personal background, gender, sexual orientation, age, disability, ethnicity etc. To learn more about our diverse workplace and our participation in the HRS4R HR Excellence in research, please visit HR Excellence in Research – University of Copenhagen (ku.dk).
Contact Information
For more Information about the recruitment process, please contact HR South at hr-soendre@adm.ku.dk. Please refer to ID number: 211-2338/25-2I.
For additional information about the position, please contact the PI Troels Pank Arbøll, e-mail: tpa@hum.ku.dk.
Applicants must submit the application electronically no later than 16 November 2025 at 23:59 (11:59 pm) CET.
Applications or supplementary material received thereafter will not be considered.
The research project From Catastrophe to Culture: Understanding Epidemics in Ancient Mesopotamia at the Department of Cross-Cultural and Regional Studies, Faculty of Humanities, University of Copenhagen (UCPH), invites applications for a 26-month full time postdoctoral position designed for a specialist in ancient Middle Eastern Archaeology, to be filled on February 1, 2026, or as soon as possible thereafter.
Introduction
The postdoctoral researcher will be part of the project From Catastrophe to Culture: Understanding Epidemics in Ancient Mesopotamia, which is funded by the Independent Research Fund Denmark (September 2025 – August 2028). The project will provide the first holistic study of epidemics in ancient Mesopotamia (modern Iraq and Syria), drawing on cuneiform texts and archaeological evidence from the 3rd to the 1st millennium BCE. The overall goal of the project is to establish a renewed timeline of Mesopotamian epidemics focusing on four research questions, namely: (1) How regularly did epidemic events occur during the first 3000 years of human written history? (2) How did epidemic diseases emerge and spread? (3) How did ancient societies react and respond to these calamities? And (4) what effects did such disasters have on the societies and cultures which survived them? The postdoc will work closely together with a postdoc from Assyriology and other project collaborators as part of a research team under the leadership of the PI, Associate Professor Troels Pank Arbøll.
The postdoc will work in the interdisciplinary Ancient Culture Studies section (Assyriology, Middle Eastern Archaeology, Egyptology, and Native American Languages and Cultures) at the Department of Cross-Cultural and Regional Studies, University of Copenhagen. Our section is devoted to maintaining a pleasant and inclusive work environment with daily lunches as well as regular seminars and social gatherings.
Duties and responsibilities
We seek someone with expertise in Middle Eastern archaeology and proven experience working with excavation reports related to sites from ancient Mesopotamia, ca. 3rd to 1st millennium BCE.
The postdoctoral candidate will collate data from published excavation reports to assess population numbers for relevant cities identified as centers of epidemics as well as assemble background data on ways of living, in terms of family structures and proximity to people and animals. Furthermore, the postdoc will examine possible evidence of population decline based on archaeological data directly following periods of known epidemics and situate findings within a given socio-political context. To facilitate comparison between the diverse sources from text and archaeology, the postdoc will be responsible for creating a SQL database. The postdoc and the other team members will collectively, and through their individual research, respond to these research questions as well as contribute to the overall goals of the project by supplying data to the database and co-publish with other members of the research team.
The postdoc is expected to be present at the place of employment and actively participate in weekly project meetings. There will accordingly also be online activities with collaborators and our advisory board, as well as possibilities to co-organize seminars, workshops, or conferences. The postdoc must be willing and able to participate in regular research and outreach activities where we engage in cross-disciplinary discussions and co-authored publications. Applicants should also be aware that postdocs at the UCPH are expected to work full-time and will be asked to spend up to 20% of their working hours on teaching or supervision within the department’s curriculum or perform other relevant tasks. The department can offer postdocs who teach up to 20% of their working hours, to participate in the Teaching and Learning in Higher Education program (without hourly compensation).
Qualification requirements
The successful applicant will have completed (or be close to completing) a PhD in Near or Middle Eastern Archaeology or a closely related field, significant knowledge and understanding of the archaeology of ancient Mesopotamia and neighboring regions, experience of creating or working with SQL databases, and experience with publishing research and presenting research at conferences and seminars. An interest or expertise in Assyriology, and/or ancient epidemics would be welcome. We expect the successful applicant to be highly motivated and team oriented.
Employment as a Postdoc requires academic qualifications at PhD level. For more information on careers at UCPH, and more general information about postdoctoral positions and qualification requirements, please follow the links below:
Career at The University of Copenhagen – University of Copenhagen (ku.dk)
Ministerial Order on Job Structure for Academic Staff at Universities (In Danish only)
Assessment Criteria
Applicants will primarily be assessed in relation to their research qualifications, including their publications, ability to conduct independent research and participate in research collaborations, and their experience of research management. In addition, the applicant’s research plan and research potential will be assessed in relation to the overall project described above.
Teaching qualifications are not a requirement, but if the postdoc is expected to teach, then documented teaching experience can be included in the overall assessment.
Application
Submit the application online in Adobe PDF or Word format.
Please click on the “Apply now” icon at the bottom of this page.
The application must be written in English and include the following enclosures:
- Application letter/cover letter (max 3 page).
- Curriculum vitae (with applicant’s email and telephone number).
- Documentation of qualifications (Masters diploma and PhD diploma, etc.).
- Complete and numbered list of publications subdivided into peer-reviewed and non-peer-reviewed publications.
Only material in Danish, Norwegian, Swedish and English can be expected to be assessed.
You are encouraged to familiarize yourself with the faculty’s strategic landmarks here: Strategic landmarks – University of Copenhagen (ku.dk).
Recruitment Process
After the application deadline, the Head of Department selects applicants for assessment on the advice of the appointment committee. All applicants are notified whether their application has been accepted for assessment. The Head of Department subsequently appoints an expert assessment committee tasked with carrying out an assessment of the selected applicants for the specific post. Selected applicants are notified of the composition of the committee. Based upon the assessments, a selection of qualified candidates will be invited for an interview. Please be advised that a positive assessment does not necessarily mean that one will be invited for an interview.
You can find further information on our recruitment process at: Recruitment process – University of Copenhagen (ku.dk).
As an applicant to the University of Copenhagen, you should be prepared to undergo a security screening related to international research collaboration as part of the recruitment process. The security screening will be conducted in cases where the University deems it appropriate based on an overall assessment.
Salary and Terms of employment
Terms of appointment and salary will be in accordance with an agreement between the Ministry of Finance and The Danish Confederation of Professional Associations (AC). The salary range starts at DKK 39,237.41 per month, (approximately EUR 5,250) + an 18.07 % contribution to the pension scheme. It is possible to negotiate salary supplements on an annual basis.
International Applicant?
The University of Copenhagen offers a broad variety of services for international researchers and accompanying families, including support before and during your relocation and career counselling to expat partners. Please find more information about our services at: For international researchers at the University of Copenhagen – University of Copenhagen (ku.dk).
An Equal Opportunity Workplace
The University of Copenhagen is committed in its pursuit of academic excellence to equality of opportunity and to creating an inclusive working environment and therefore encourages all qualified candidates to apply, regardless of personal background, gender, sexual orientation, age, disability, ethnicity etc. To learn more about our diverse workplace and our participation in the HRS4R HR Excellence in research, please visit HR Excellence in Research – University of Copenhagen (ku.dk).
Contact Information
For more Information about the recruitment process, please contact HR South at hr-soendre@adm.ku.dk. Please refer to ID number: 211-2338/25-2I.
For additional information about the position, please contact the PI Troels Pank Arbøll, e-mail: tpa@hum.ku.dk.
Applicants must submit the application electronically no later than 16 November 2025 at 23:59 (11:59 pm) CET.
Applications or supplementary material received thereafter will not be considered.