Eugene Costello

University College Cork is inviting applications for a Post-Doctoral Researcher in Early Modern History to join the DeepCattle project, a 5-year ERC Consolidator Grant led by Professor Eugene Costello in the School of History and Radical Humanities Laboratory . DeepCattle is an interdisciplinary project in global environmental history that investigates the pre-industrial origins of commercial cattle farming across Europe, c.1240-1840 AD. The project examines how the expansion of beef and dairy production in rural Europe supported trade networks and urban growth, while also reshaping rural society and biodiversity. Its core study areas include Ireland, Scotland, and Sweden, with additional comparative work in the Alps and Hungary. The advertised post focuses on early modern Scotland and Ireland (c.1450-1700). The researcher will analyse manuscript and administrative sources to trace the growth of commercial cattle droving and dairying, and to study associated changes in farming practices, landholding, trade, and the wider rural economy. The post is ideal for a historian interested in archival research, agrarian change, and the social and economic history of livestock economies. The successful candidate will work as part of a collaborative, interdisciplinary team that combines historical research with archaeological and palaeoecological fieldwork. The role offers the opportunity to build an international research network and develop a strong interdisciplinary profile within a high-profile European research project. The position is a 36-month fixed-term, whole-time post with a salary in the range of €47,273–€53,925 per annum (IUA PD1 Salary Scale), subject to public sector pay policy. The post is based at University College Cork in Ireland and is full-time (39 hours per week). Eligibility highlight: applicants must hold a PhD or equivalent in History or a related field. Garda vetting and/or an international police clearance check may be required. Application deadline: 20 November 2026 at 12:00 noon (Irish local time). Applications must be submitted online through the University College Cork vacancy portal. Informal queries may be directed to Professor Eugene Costello at [email protected], and application-process queries to [email protected].

University College Cork is offering a 36-month fixed-term, full-time Postdoctoral Researcher position in Palaeoecology within the School of Archaeology and the Radical Humanities Laboratory. The post is part of the DeepCattle project, an ERC Consolidator Grant-funded research programme that investigates the deep history of commercial cattle farming in Europe. DeepCattle aims to trace the origins and expansion of beef and dairy production in rural Europe, and to understand how these changes shaped trade, urban growth, society, and biodiversity. The project combines historical and archaeological research with palaeoecological approaches, particularly palynology and sedimentary ancient DNA, to reconstruct the expanding environmental footprint of cattle farming from the Middle Ages onward. The successful candidate will join an interdisciplinary team led by Prof. Eugene Costello, in collaboration with Dr. Benjamin Gearey at UCC and Dr. Peter Heintzman at the Centre for Palaeogenetics, Stockholm University. The researcher will assist with lake and peatland coring in Ireland, Scotland, and Sweden, conduct palynological analysis of collected cores at UCC, and contribute to sedimentary ancient DNA analysis in collaboration with the Centre for Palaeogenetics in Stockholm. This role is especially suitable for candidates with expertise in palaeoecology and palynology who are eager to work across disciplinary boundaries and develop advanced skills in sedimentary ancient DNA at a world-class facility. The project is highly interdisciplinary and will appeal to researchers interested in environmental history, archaeology, landscape change, and the long-term ecological consequences of agricultural intensification. The position is based at University College Cork in Cork, Ireland. It is a research post funded through the EU Horizon Europe / ERC framework, with salary on the IUA PD1 Research Salary Scale (€47,273-€53,925 p.a.). Applicants must hold a PhD or equivalent in a relevant field. Garda vetting and/or an international police clearance check may be required. Applications must be submitted online via the UCC vacancy portal. Candidates should apply in confidence before 12 noon (Irish local time) on Friday, 20 November 2026. Informal enquiries may be directed to Prof. Eugene Costello at [email protected], and queries about the online application process can be sent to [email protected].

University College Cork is advertising two 3-year postdoctoral positions on Professor Eugene Costello’s ERC project DeepCattle , which investigates the emergence of commercial cattle farming in Europe and its impacts on the economy and the environment. The first role is in Early Modern History , with a focus on archival manuscripts in Scotland and Ireland . The second role is in Palaeoecology , with a focus on pollen analysis and sedaDNA , and includes collaboration with the Centre for Palaeogenetics, Stockholm University . This is a research opportunity for candidates with strong backgrounds in history, environmental research, palaeoecology, or related interdisciplinary fields. The post specifies a deadline of midday Irish time on 20 November . Interested applicants should use the vacancy details links in the post to access the relevant application pages and submit before the deadline.