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ZAMBEZI ERC Advanced Grant PhD Studentship
Funded PhD Studentship in Archaeobotany, Plant Use and Agricultural Practice in the Zambezi Valley University of Cambridge in United Kingdom
Degree Level
PhD
Field of study
Environmental Science
Funding
The 3-year studentship is funded through the ERC Advanced Grant ZAMBEZI project. It provides a stipend covering maintenance and fee costs. For successful applicants who are not UK citizens, immigration health surcharge and visa fees are covered. Fieldwork costs, selected conference attendance, and maintenance payments during parental leave are also covered.
Deadline
Dec 1, 2026
Country
United Kingdom
University
University of Cambridge
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About this position
The University of Cambridge invites applications for a 3-year funded PhD studentship in Archaeology starting in April 2027. The project, Zambezian Entanglements in the South-Central African Iron Age (ZAMBEZI), is funded through an ERC Advanced Grant and is based at the McDonald Institute for Archaeological Research.
The doctoral research will focus on archaeobotany, plant use, agricultural practice and landscape change. The successful candidate will analyse data generated through flotation of material from excavations at Ingombe Ilede in Zambia and neighbouring sites in Zambia and northern Zimbabwe. The project offers an opportunity to investigate second-millennium lifeways, agricultural systems and regional connections in the Zambezi Valley.
The student will be jointly supervised by Dr Alexander Weide and Professor Stephanie Wynne-Jones, with additional support from researchers in the Department of Archaeology, the McDonald Institute and external collaborators. ZAMBEZI is conducted in collaboration with the National Museum of Zambia and includes fieldwork and research across Zambia and Zimbabwe.
Applicants must meet the University of Cambridge requirements for a PhD in Archaeology and should be familiar with the archaeology of south-central Africa. The application requires standard materials and a cover letter of no more than two pages describing the applicant’s suitability and contribution to the team. Applicants should nominate both advertised supervisors and identify the ZAMBEZI project in the proposed title section.
The studentship provides a stipend covering maintenance and fee costs. It also covers fieldwork expenses, selected conference attendance, and parental-leave maintenance payments. For successful non-UK citizens, immigration health surcharge and visa fees are covered. The funding application deadline is 1 December 2026. Applications should quote reference JD51582.
Funding details
The 3-year studentship is funded through the ERC Advanced Grant ZAMBEZI project. It provides a stipend covering maintenance and fee costs. For successful applicants who are not UK citizens, immigration health surcharge and visa fees are covered. Fieldwork costs, selected conference attendance, and maintenance payments during parental leave are also covered.
What's required
Applicants must meet the University of Cambridge requirements for a PhD in Archaeology, be familiar with the archaeology of south-central Africa, and be highly motivated. Applicants must submit the standard application materials plus a cover letter of no more than two pages outlining their suitability and contribution to the project. The application should identify Dr Alexander Weide and Professor Stephanie Wynne-Jones as preferred supervisors and state that the applicant is applying for the ZAMBEZI project in the proposed title section. Applicants are encouraged to apply for all eligible additional funding, with international students especially encouraged to seek support for the difference between home and international fees.
How to apply
Apply through the University of Cambridge Applicant Portal for the PhD in Archaeology. Identify Dr Alexander Weide and Professor Stephanie Wynne-Jones as preferred supervisors, state that the application is for the ZAMBEZI project in the proposed title field, and upload a maximum two-page cover letter. Quote reference JD51582.
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Prepare your application
Review drafts and confirm requirements with the provider.
Make your next move.
Prepare your application
Review drafts and confirm requirements with the provider.