Two-year post-doc position in research project FOODPOWER

The Archaeology and Natural Science section, responsible for scientific research at the National Museum of Denmark, has a vacancy for a post-doc. The position involves research activities and communication of results within the interdisciplinary research project FOODPOWER.

FOODPOWER
The project FOODPOWER: Domesticate Diversification of the Emergent State through Mass Semantic Annotation and Environmental Archaeological Benchmarks combines expertise in digital epigraphy, computational linguistics, and archaeobotany and zooarchaeology to build a mixed-methods, interdisciplinary analysis of post-domestication diversification within emergent political economies of the Bronze and Iron Age Middle East (ca. 3000-500 BCE). The goal is to deliver a diachronic study of the proliferation of new modes of plant and animal use within early political economies drawing on the combined insights of text and material culture. Through case-studies focusing on specific plant and animal domesticates, the project will break new ground by generating novel analyses of subsistence regimes within the emerging body politic, sensitive both to qualitative as well as quantitative aspects of the ancient economy.

FOODPOWER is supported by the Independent Research Fund Denmark and will be directed by Project Senior Researcher Rune Rattenborg. The project will begin 1 October 2026 and is expected to conclude on 30 September 2029.

Job description
The successful candidate will work alongside Senior Researcher Rune Rattenborg and project staff at the National Museum of Denmark. Post-doctoral supervision will be provided by Jacob L. Dahl, Professor of Assyriology at Wolfson College, Oxford University and co-director of the Cuneiform Digital Library Initiative. As part of the project, the candidate should expect to undertake short, biannual research stays at Oxford University

The postdoc will:

• Design, test and deploy protocols for linguistic and semantic annotation of transliterations stored with the Cuneiform Digital Library Initiative
• Develop procedures for automated data retrieval from administrative cuneiform texts in Cuneiform Digital Library Initiative ATF transliteration format
• Contribute to interdisciplinary analyses of select plant and animal resources in accordance with project aims
• Contribute to the development of project data model and database management
• Optimize and document protocols for project data management and integration with Cuneiform Digital Library Initiative documentation libraries
• Engage in communication and dissemination of project results through writing of peer-reviewed articles and participation in academic conferences

Qualification and skills
We are looking for a candidate with a completed PhD in Assyriology, archaeology, or computational linguistics or similiar. The successful applicant will have proven expertise in the use of digital applications for humanities and social science research, including database design and management. Significant experience with programming and coding for linguistic analysis is desirable. Previous experience of working with administrative cuneiform texts and analysis of socio-economic structure in the cuneiform world will be considered an advantage.

The candidate should work in a structured and analytical manner, communicate effectively in spoken and written English, enjoy working as part of a team, and be willing to contribute to academic papers and the preparation of funding applications.

Terms of salary and employment
The working hours are 37 hours per week. Salary, pension, and terms of employment will be in accordance with the agreement between the Danish Ministry of Finance and The Academics Central Organization in Denmark and and Circular concerning the job structure for academic staff with research responsibilities in archives, libraries, museums etc. under the Danish Ministry of Culture.

The appointment is fixed-term for two years, starting on 1 October 2026 or as soon as possible thereafter.

The place of work is at the National Museum of Denmark’s Section for Archaeology and Natural Science at I.C. Modewegsvej, Brede, 2800 Kgs. Lyngby, located north of Copenhagen.

Application process
The National Museum’s strives to create a working environment, where differences are not just tolerated, but actively promoted and valued. The National Museum therefore encourages all qualified, regardless of personal background, to apply for the position.

We actively work on reducing bias in our recruiting process to ensure diversity in our work force and to ensure that we, based on professional and personal qualifications, hire the best qualified for the position. We therefore ask you to not enclose af photo in your CV.

The application is to be submitted in English and must include the following:

• Letter of motivation (max. one page)
• Curriculum vitae, including education, previous employment, language skills, professional certificates, and other relevant qualifications (max. two pages)
• List of publications (mark publications submitted for evaluation)
• Up to three 3 publications to be considered in your assessment. Full copies must be sent by post or uploaded in .pdf-format via the electronic recruitment system. Hyperlinks to publications are not accepted.
• Full copies of undergraduate, MA, and PhD diplomas and transcripts
• Transcripts of diplomas into English, if not written in English, Danish, Swedish, or Norwegian.

If a publication to be considered in the assessment has more than one author, or is the result of a collective effort, it must be clearly specified which part(s) the applicant is responsible for. In the absence of a specification, the assessment committee will disregard said publication(s).

Applications must be submitted via the electronic recruitment system on the website of the National Museum of Denmark, namely and uploaded by 21 July 2026 . For submission of publication copies by post, please send to the following address: Nationalmuseet, Frederiksholms Kanal 12, 1220 København K, att. HR & Jura. Copies sent by post must be received by 21 July 2026 .

The National Museum will set up an expert Assessment Committee to evaluate the applications.

Qualified applicants will be invited to interviews in week 34.

For further information regarding the position, Head of Research Kristoffer Buck Pedersen (phone: Se telefonnummer på studerendeonline.dk, email: Se e-mailadresse på studerendeonline.dk )

Application deadline: Apply no later than 21. July 2026

Lokation: Brede, Kgs. Lyngby / Nationalmuseet i Brede