PhD Position in Geosciences

PhD candidate (m/f/d, E13 TV-L, 65%)

Faculty of Science, Department of Geosciences

Bewerbungsfrist: 31.01.2026

As part of the HUMAN ORIGINS Cluster of Excellence project “Human prey adaptation to climatic changes during the MSA and LSA in eastern Africa: isotopic insights from the site of Mumba” a position is available at Eberhard Karls University of Tübingen for a

PhD candidate (m/f/d, E13 TV-L, 65%, limited to 3.5 years)

The main goal of this PhD project is to understand how climatic and environmental changes during the Middle Stone Age to Late Stone Age transition influenced the ecology of large herbivores and, in turn, shaped human subsistence strategies in eastern Africa. Using the long archaeological sequence of Mumba Cave (Tanzania), the project aims to reconstruct how prey species adapted their diets, habitat use, and seasonal behaviour to shifts in vegetation and hydrology between MIS 5 and MIS 3 through high-resolution stable isotope analyses of herbivore tooth enamel.

We are seeking a highly motivated PhD candidate with a Master’s degree in archaeology, paleoanthropology, geosciences, or a related field, and a strong interest in human–environment interactions in eastern Africa during the Late Pleistocene. The candidate should have a solid understanding of paleoecology and/or stable isotope geochemistry, or a strong willingness to acquire these skills during the project. Experience with faunal analysis, zooarchaeology, geochemical laboratory work, or quantitative data analysis is desirable but not mandatory.

The successful applicant is expected to work independently as well as collaboratively within an international research team while pursuing a PhD degree. Strong analytical skills, scientific curiosity, and a high level of commitment are essential. Excellent knowledge of English (spoken and written) is required; knowledge of German is not mandatory but advantageous. 

The PhD candidate will be based at the Departement of Geosciences of the University of Tübingen in the Biogeology Workgroup, which offers a lively and interdisciplinary work environment in collaboration with the Senckenberg Research Society. The PhD project offers training in stable isotope analysis of tooth enamel, paleoecological reconstruction, and chronological methods, alongside excellent opportunities for international collaboration and professional development in archaeological science.

The University of Tübingen is committed to equity and diversity and actively promotes equal opportunities. Equally qualified candidates with disabilities will be given preference in the hiring process. The University of Tübingen is committed to increasing the percentage of women in research and teaching and thus encourages women with adequate qualifications to apply.

Applicants should submit (1) a curriculum vitae, (2) a short motivation letter, (3) a one-page abstract of their completed Master’s thesis, and (4) contact details of two referees to Dr. habil Dorothée Drucker dorothee.druckerspam prevention@ifu.uni-tuebingen.de , Senckenberg Centre for Human Evolution and Palaeoenvironment, University of Tübingen, Germany. Application documents should be sent by email, preferably as a single PDF file, by January 31st, 2026. The position is scheduled to start on April 1st, 2026.