2-yr Postdoc on Human Macroecology in a Functional Trait Perspective

The Department of Archaeology and Heritage Studies and the Department of Biology, Aarhus University, invite applications for a 2-year Postdoc position on Human Macroecology in a Functional Trait Perspective.

The position is for 2 years and is available from September 1, 2025, or soon thereafter.

The university is keen for its staff to reflect the diversity of society and thus welcomes applications from all qualified applicants regardless of their personal background.

Research context

This postdoc project is part of the Center for Ecological Dynamics in a Novel Biosphere (ECONOVO), funded by the Danish National Research Foundation.  Overall ECONOVO aims to provide new perspectives on the future of the biosphere - to learn more please visit our website here: ECONOVO - Center for Ecological Dynamics in a Novel Biosphere - Aarhus University (au.dk) 

The position

This postdoc project will be part of the ECONOVO research theme 1: Diversity Dynamics, focused on understanding biodiversity dynamics in novel ecosystems (NEs) past and present.

This position is focused on understanding the diverse roles humans might have in ecosystems globally by applying a functional trait perspective that integrates cross-cultural ethnographic idata (from, for instance, D-PLACE), palaeodemography (from, for instance, HYDE), and estimates of human energy consumption. Humans have evolved the unique, culturally and technologically mediated ability to act in multiple different ecological roles – for instance, as foragers, pastoralists, farmers, industrialists – and these variable socio-economic constellations determine their interactions with the environment.

Our aim is to understand these ecological interactions globally in a data-driven macroecological approach, and to articulate these analyses with projections of future climate, human energy consumption, and human niche dynamics differentiated by socio-economic constellation.

The postdoc is expected to lead an investigation that combines functional trait theory, metabolic theory and energetics, macroecological modelling, and human socio-ecology to better understand the variable roles adopted by human communities practicing different economies within ecosystems, and their impacts on these – past, present, and future.

We aim for the investigation to encompass a temporal scope spanning from the Middle Pleistocene to potential future scenarios.
 
We are open to hearing the candidate’s take on this and would like the postdoc to contribute ideas and concepts to the project and lead at least two high-quality papers in this research area. We also emphasize the importance of engaging fully in the center's outreach and educational efforts, while also supporting and encouraging collaborative work with ECONOVO colleagues, including students.

This collaboration involves sharing skills and contributing to problem-solving within the postdoc’s area of expertise.

Teaching

The position will involve some teaching as agreed upon with the Head of the Department and the project PIs.

Knowledge exchange

The successful applicant will be expected to exchange knowledge with various sectors of society and to contribute actively to public debate in areas related to the position.

Qualifications

Applicants must have a PhD degree in Ecology, Computation Anthropology, Cultural Evolutionary Studies or equivalent qualifications.

Read the full job description and apply by clicking the 'Apply' button

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