Job offer

European Commission; France; Sur place; EUR 35 000 - 50 000; Plein temps

Résumé du poste

The European Commission is seeking a researcher for a 24-month contract to investigate the geochemical record of horse mobility in Mongolia. The role involves updating isotope maps, analysing ancient remains, and contributing to broader scientific communication. Candidates should have strong skills in spatial modelling and isotopic geochemistry, along with solid experience in international research environments.

Qualifications

• Experience in spatial modelling and isotopic geochemistry.
• Strong writing and data presentation skills.
• Experience in an international research environment.

Responsabilités

• Update and calibrate isotope maps for Mongolia.
• Analyse ancient horse dental remains for geographical origin.
• Model isotopic data and contribute to scientific writing.

Connaissances

Spatial modelling

Isotopic geochemistry methods

Data presentation skills

Animal ecology knowledge

Machine Learning

Outils

R

ArcGIS

QGis

Description du poste

Organisation/Company CNRS Department Bioarchéologie Interactions Sociétés Environnements Research Field History Anthropology Environmental science Researcher Profile Established Researcher (R3) Country France Application Deadline 2 Jul 2025 - 23:59 (UTC) Type of Contract Temporary Job Status Full-time Hours Per Week 35 Offer Starting Date 4 Aug 2025 Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme? Horizon Europe - ERC Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure? No

Offer Description

The main tasks of the researcher will be (1) to update and calibrate the reference strontium and oxygen isotope maps for Mongolia using modern isotope data; (2) to analyse the isotopic composition of ancient horse dental remains in order to determine their geographical origin and their successive movements in this landscape; (3) to identify changes in horse mobility over the 2,000 years covered by the historical period studied.

The researcher will be responsible for spatially modelling the isotopic data (Sr and O) using R and ArcGIS, with the goal of producing isoscapes for the study area. They will also carry out geochemical analyses to generate isotopic profiles (C, O, Sr) from the teeth of Mongolian horses excavated from the Orkhon Valley archaeological site in central Mongolia. These profiles will then be used for geographic assignments to reconstruct the residential mobility and origin of Mongolian horses from the Late Bronze and Early Iron Ages, within a diachronic framework. The researcher will also contribute to the dissemination of scientific results (writing articles) and communication around the project.

We are looking for a researcher for a 24-month contract. The work will focus on the study of the geochemical record of mobility from the biological tissues (teeth, bones) of domesticated animals. Its application will aim to shed light on the role of the horse in the dynamics of exchange between pastoral communities at the end of the Bronze Age and the beginning of the Iron Age in Mongolia.

• Experience in spatial modelling (machine learning, R, QGis/ArcGis)
• General knowledge of animal ecology and solid understanding of isotopic geochemistry methods (IRMS, LA-MC-ICP-MS)
• Ability to develop or adapt methodological approaches to carry out the research
• Intellectual curiosity and enthusiasm
• Strong writing and data presentation skills
• Experience working in a highly international research environment