Research Assistant in Archaeology: Comparative Analysis on Late Bronze Age Art and Digital Artefact

Om jobbet

The University of Gothenburg tackles society's challenges with diverse knowledge. 58 000 students and 6800 employees make the university a large and inspiring place to work and study. Strong research and attractive study programmes attract researchers and students from around the world. With new knowledge and new perspectives, the University contributes to a better future.

The University of Gothenburg is a state authority, which means excellent employment benefits such as wellness time during working hours, a base vacation of 28 days, and an occupational pension. You can read more about our employment benefits here.

Department of Historical Studies

At the Department of Historical Studies, which belongs to the Faculty of Humanities, education and research are conducted in the three subjects of History, Archaeology and Classical Archaeology and Ancient History. Education is offered at all levels, from the undergraduate to the PhD student level. The research takes place both within the individual subjects and in major interdisciplinary projects, where national and international collaboration is an important element. The department currently has around 100 employees in the form of researchers, lecturers, doctoral students, and administrative support staff.

We are seeking a highly motivated and skilled Research Assistant to join our team for a short-term, full-time post supporting research into the Computational Analysis and Digital Recording of Nordic Bronze Age Rock Art.

The successful candidate will work closely with the project Tracing Carvers on the Rocks including spatial and comparative analysis of rock art, as well as photogrammetric recording. This post offers an excellent opportunity for an early-career researcher with specialist knowledge of Nordic Bronze Age rock art, comparative European rock art, and maritime archaeology, combined with advanced digital archaeology skills.

Duties

• Prepare and process 3D recordings of petroglyphs including photogrammetry and laser scanning for research, publication, and dissemination.
• Conduct spatial analysis using ArcGIS, for example least-cost path, etc.
• Contribute to the training of image recognition models.
• Assist in the coordination between different projects at the department especially their rock art components.
• Conduct targeted literature reviews and assist in the preparation of academic publications and project applications.

Qualifications

Requirements for the position:

• PhD degree in Archaeology or a related discipline, with strong research experience in Nordic Bronze Age rock art.
• Detailed knowledge the motif range in Scandinavia and comparative European rock art.
• Proven expertise in specialist the 3D recording of rock art and related digital workflows like visualisation.
• Experience working with annotations and related workflows for the training of image recognition models.
• Competence in GIS software (e.g., ArcGIS Pro).
• Experience working with large amounts of rock art data.
• Strong organisational skills and ability to work independently to deadlines.

Desirable Criteria

• Peer-reviewed publications in rock art and/or maritime archaeology.
• Familiarity with the Fornsök and the Svenskt Hällristningsforkningsarkiv database.
• Experience in project management.
• Excellent language skills in English and Spanish.

Employment

The position is fixed term, 11 months, full time (100%), with placement at the Department of Historical Studies at the University of Gothenburg. Preliminary date for start of position: 2026-02-01

What we offer

• The opportunity to contribute directly to a high-profile research project in Bronze Age rock art studies.
• Access to specialist imaging and scanning equipment.
• A collaborative working environment with strong interdisciplinary research and heritage-sector connections.

Contact information for the post

If you have any questions about the position, please contact Professor Johan Ling at johan.ling@archaeology.gu.se or Professor Christian Horn at christian.horn@gu.se
If you have any questions about the recruitment process, please contact HR officer Johanna Hagbranth at johanna.hagbranth@gu.se

Unions

Union representatives at the University of Gothenburg can be found here: https://www.gu.se/om-universitetet/jobba-hos-oss/hjalp-for-sokande

Application

To apply for a position at the University of Gothenburg, you have to create an account in our recruitment system. Submit your application via the University of Gothenburg's recruitment portal by clicking the "Apply" button. It is your responsibility to ensure that the application is complete as per the vacancy notice, and that the University receives it by the final application deadline.

The application should be written in Swedish or English and must include

• Curriculum Vitae (CV)
• Cover letter
• Contact information for at least two referees
• A copy of the PhD degree certificate
  (or a written statement from the supervisor or equivalent confirming that the dissertation will be completed before the employment start date)
• Copies of any additional certificates or qualifications you wish to be considered

All qualifications claimed must be documented, certified, and translated into English where applicable. All attachments must also be clearly labelled to show their content.

Applications must be received by:2026-01-08

The University works actively to achieve a working environment with equal conditions, and values the qualities that diversity brings to its operations.

Salaries are set individually at the University.

In accordance with the National Archives of Sweden's regulations, the University must archive application documents for two years after the appointment is filled. If you request that your documents are returned, they will be returned to you once the two years have passed. Otherwise, they will be destroyed.

In connection to this recruitment, we have already decided which recruitment channels we should use. We therefore decline further contact with vendors, recruitment and staffing companies.