The UMR 7194 (“Histoire naturelle de l’Homme préhistorique”), department of prehistory of the “Muséum national d’Histoire naturelle”, in collaboration with the UMR 7206 (“Environnements, populations, sociétés: Eco-anthropologie et ethnobiologie”) and the UMS 2700 (“Outils et méthodes de la systématique intégrative”), invites applications for a postdoctoral position. We expect the successful candidate to conduct research on “coevolution of hands and feet in Upper Pleistocene and Holocene hominins”.
This position is funded by the CNRS through the labex BCDiv (“Diversités biologiques et culturelles: Origines, Evolution, Interactions, Devenir”). The successful candidate will conduct a collaborative research within a multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary environment. The post-doc will work on the covariation of hand and foot bones of adult extant humans of various phenotypes in order to reassess the morphology of Upper Pleistocene and Holocene hominins. This research therefore integrates both the field of biological anthropology (UMR 7206) and that of paleoanthropology (UMR 7194). The research will be led on the rich collections of the Muséum national d’histoire naturelle, including extant and fossil hominins (anatomically modern humans, Neandertals and South-East Asian specimens). Employed methodologies should permit 3D quantification of the external morphology (with the help of a digitizer and/or surface scanner) and analyses of the internal anatomy (thanks to micro-CT scanning facilities). Data acquisition and treatment will be accomplished in collaboration with the UMS 2700 (that includes the platform of morphometry and the AST-RX platform and its micro-CT scanner).
The position is a research-only post, with no strong teaching obligations. However, limited participation to master student and doctoral formation and dissemination to a large audience through press release on published scientific papers and conferences will be encouraged. The selected candidate will have a Ph.D. and a significant track record of research. The appointment will be made on a fixed term of one year starting from 1 June 2012. Gross salary will be 30keuros. The work will be based in the “Jardin des Plantes” at the centre of Paris. For further information please contact Antoine Balzeau (abalzeau@mnhn.fr) and Florent Détroit (fdetroit@mnhn.fr). Applications, including cover letter, curriculum vitae, reprints of selected publications, a short statement of research interests, copy of identity document and of diplomas, and contact details of two or more referees should be sent to A. Balzeau, F. Détroit and M. Friess (friess@mnhn.fr). Deadline for application is 25 april 2012.
