PhD Position in Remote Sensing of Vegetation and Archaeological Records in the Mariana Islands Spanish Council for Scientific Research in Spain

This PhD position at the Instituto de Ciencias del Patrimonio (Incipit), part of the Spanish Council for Scientific Research (CSIC), offers an exciting opportunity to investigate the relationship between vegetation and the archaeological record in tropical environments, specifically focusing on the Mariana Islands. The project is embedded within the Marie Curie Doctoral Network 'PacificPeopleForest,' which aims to assess the long-term impacts of early European colonialism on Pacific Island peoples and forests. The successful candidate will develop non-invasive, holistic remote sensing tools to analyze the structure of current landscapes, particularly in forested areas of Rota Island, and explore how vegetation history relates to the distribution of ancient economic and settlement remains.

The research involves high-resolution field data collection, advanced remote sensing, and interdisciplinary collaboration across archaeology, botany, and environmental science. Fieldwork will be conducted in the Pacific, with secondments at Naturalis (Netherlands) and the Forestry Section of the Department of Land and Natural Resources (Rota, CNMI). The candidate will also engage with European partners, publish in peer-reviewed journals, and present at international conferences.

The position offers a gross monthly salary of €3,495 (or €3,990 with family), a one-year contract extendable up to three years, public pension, paid leave, equipment allowance, and access to state-of-the-art facilities and a vibrant academic community. The PhD degree will be awarded by the University of Jaén (Spain). Applicants must hold a relevant MA/MPhil (or equivalent) with experience in remote sensing, demonstrate strong English proficiency, and possess collaborative and organizational skills.

Experience in tropical fieldwork, GIS, and interests in archaeology and botany are advantageous. The application requires a CV, degree certificates, and a motivation letter (2-3 pages) with referee contacts, submitted as a single PDF to [email protected] by November 23, 2025. For further information, contact [email protected] or [email protected].

This position is ideal for candidates eager to contribute to pioneering, interdisciplinary research on cultural heritage and environmental change in a supportive, international setting.