PhD Researcher Positions in Quantitative Past Urban Studies (f/m/d)

The Department of Coevolution of Land Use and Urbanization, Max Planck Institute of Geoanthropology, Jena, Germany is pleased to announce vacancies for PhD Researcher positions in the area of quantitative, historical and archaeological urban research. Particular focus in the position will be on analyzing urban patterns and processes across large past datasets within the URBank () initiative. The full-time position will be for a period of 3 years, with the possibility of a 1-year extension, and based in Jena, Germany.

The Department of Coevolution of Land Use and Urbanization studies the long-term interaction between cities (and their non-urban counterparts), land use, and the Earth system. Through state-of-the-art fieldwork, computation analysis, and laboratory research, as well as data compilation, it connects observations from the deep past to present planning and future predictions and explore urbanisation as a non-linear, dynamic process, answering questions such as:

• Is human urbanisation unique or part of general human evolutionary processes of social aggregation and connectivity?
• Are there corollaries of these processes in other social species and biological systems?

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Candidate tasks

The successful candidate will play a central role in the Department and its outputs (e.g. publications, data synthesis, policy contributions). They will integrate multidisciplinary research (including archaeology, history, urban studies, social theory, anthropology) and datasets into current debates in Urban Studies. The candidate should have a background in computational analyses of archaeological or historical urban data and an interest in comparative urban research. An interest in the integration of historical, archaeological, and palaeoenvironmental datasets of different temporal and spatial scales, with complicated uncertainties, is also essential.

The candidate will work in a leading global centre for deep time and contemporary social and Earth system research at the Max Planck Institute of Geoanthropology, an institute combining archaeological, anthropological, geochemical, and Earth system expertise in computational modelling, social theory, and fieldwork and laboratory methodologies. They will also work closely with key project partners and will be expected to also work within the framework of ongoing international research initiatives to ensure maximum reach of results.

Your qualification

The ideal applicant will have a background in urban history, history, urban studies and a record of having applied computational methods to studying these areas. Other prerequisites include evidence of strong oral and written communication skills, including ideally experiences with publications, commensurate with career stage and care duties. Willingness to work as part of a team, travel to field sites, a strong work ethic, and the ability to complete tasks in a timely and structured fashion are also necessities.

Essential:

• Masters degree in Archaeology, History, Urban Studies, or a similar discipline or specialism.
• Hands-on, practical experience analysing diverse urban datasets behaviour across diverse temporal and spatial scales.

Advantageous:

• Experience in computational approaches to studying urban dynamics and patterns.
• Enthusiasm for comparative research across different temporal and spatial scales.
• Experience and skills in public outreach and science communication.

Our offer

The position offers a unique opportunity to develop cutting edge research in the city of Jena that is renowned for its position at the intersection of Biogeochemical, Ecological, and Archaeological research. The Max Planck Society promote these multidisciplinary connections and this position offers the candidate the possibility of making the most of such networks and become a leader in novel approaches to study human-Earth system dynamics across space and time.

The position will begin on the 1st of March 2027 though some flexibility in start date is possible. Remuneration will follow the standard PhD salaries given in the Max Planck Society which correspond to 65% of EG 13 TvöD (Bund). The position includes 31 days of annual leave. We also offer attractive and family-friendly flextime and options for remote work. Additional benefits include an employer subsidy for a job ticket, access to training opportunities within the Max Planck Society, as well as language and health courses.

The Max Planck Society is committed to employing more individuals with disabilities and especially encourages them to apply. We are also committed to encouraging diversity and actively challenging biases based on gender, nationality, ethnicity, sexual orientation, religion and other components of identity. We were honored with the TOTAL E-QUALITY award for the first time in 2023 for our commitment.

The Max Planck Society supports the compatibility of family and career and is certified according to the "berufundfamilie" (“job and family”) audit.

Please submit your application using the link below by October 31, 2026. It should include:

• A cover letter
• A CV of no more than 3 pages
• If applicable, a list of at most 10 scientific, peer-reviewed publications related to the position or a copy of the candidate’s MA/MPhil/MSc thesis.
• Any relevant certificates

You are also required to ask two referees to submit letters of recommendation, which are also due by October 31, 2026. Referees should independently submit their letters as a pdf file to the email address below by the same deadline.

About us

The Max Planck Institute of Geoanthropology (MPI-GEA) was founded in the summer of 2022; it is a dynamically growing, highly-interdisciplinary and international research institution. The research focuses on modeling and analyzing the interrelationships between biophysical and human-made systems, looking from the deep past to the future to examine how humanity has driven the emergence of the Anthropocene – the period in which human activities began significantly impacting our planet’s climate and ecosystems – and identifying potential intervention points towards a more sustainable future.

Contact

Contact for more information:

Prof. Dr. Patrick Roberts
Email:

Max-Planck-Institute of Geoanthropology
Kahlaische Straße 10
07745 Jena
Twitter: