Postdoctoral Fellow in Bioarchaeology

Submitted: 09/24/2025
Submitted By: Susanne Cote
Department: Anthropology and Archaeology
Institution: University of Calgary
Job type: Postdoc
Apply by: 10/15/2025
Application Email: speric@ucalgary.ca
Application URL:

Position: Postdoctoral Fellowship in Bioarchaeology
Area: biological anthropology, bioarchaeology, human skeletal analysis, forensic anthropology, community-based research
Duration: Three years
Start Date: January 1, 2026, or negotiable
Salary:$65,000 salary + $5,000 research allowance

Job Description:
The Department of Anthropology and Archaeology and the Faculty of Arts at the University of Calgary are committed to collaboration with Indigenous and settler descendant communities on the repatriation of ancestral remains and cultural belongings, especially as they relate to the Calls to Action of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. To that end, we seek to hire a postdoctoral scholar in Bioarchaeology to contribute to the Faculty of Arts’ efforts for three years.

The postdoctoral fellow will be affiliated with the Department of Anthropology and Archaeology. The fellow’s workload will officially be divided in the following way: 60% of their time will be focused on repatriation work, while 40% will be focused on advancing the fellow’s own independent research program.

The postdoctoral fellow will be asked to:
– inventory and analyze ancestral remains housed in the Faculty of Arts;
– inventory and catalogue cultural belongings associated with burial contexts;
– investigate affiliation to descendant communities through collaborative archival,
community, and osteological research;
– engage in meaningful conversations with appropriate descendant communities to discuss
findings;
– write reports on repatriation work and findings for internal and external purposes;
– pursue independent research. That is, develop and conduct independent research projects
that align with the fellow’s academic interests and expertise;
– perform other duties as assigned.

The postdoctoral fellow should have:
– experience in the care, identification, analysis and inventory of human osteological collections, including fragmentary remains;
– experience in the managing and updating an inventory of osteological collections, or other database management experience;
– evidence of strong organizational skills and ability to successfully work as part of a team;
– evidence of effective written and verbal communication;
– evidence of project management skills, including experience planning and coordinating
multiple projects with changing and competing priorities, needs, and demanding
timeframes;
– experience working in and thorough knowledge of organizational processes, protocols
and procedures for large institutions such as a university, government agency, or
museum;
– experience working in a project/program requiring a high level of discretion, maintaining
confidentiality, and management of sensitive information;
– ability and willingness to understand Indigenous North American archaeological sites
from both an academic and Indigenous perspective.

Qualifications:
Candidates must have or expect to receive a PhD in Anthropology or a closely related field before the start of the appointment.
Additionally, candidates should have:
– a record of research, teaching, and service appropriate to time-since degree;
– demonstrated interest and experience in collaborative and/or transdisciplinary research
– commitment to collaborative engagement and the ability to build relationships with
descendant communities;
– knowledge of or willingness to learn about repatriation policy in Canadian or other
jurisdictions.

All applications must include:
1. Statement of Interest (maximum 2 pages) summarizing your relevant experience, career goals and description of how postdoctoral training would contribute to these goals;
2. Curriculum Vitae;
3. Writing Sample (published or unpublished, approximate 15-20 pages) that best
exemplifies your scholarly work;
4. Contact information for 3 referees who are familiar with your scholarly work.

Please submit all application documents in one PDF file to: speric@ucalgary.ca

Review of applications will begin on October 15th, 2025 and continue until filled. Only those applicants selected for interviews will be contacted further. In accordance with Canadian Immigration requirements, priority will be given to Canadian citizens and permanent residents of Canada, although others are encouraged to apply. For any questions about the position, please email: Sabrina Perić: speric@ucalgary.ca or Susanne Cote: scote@ucalgary.ca