Who We Are
Anthropology, in the College of Arts and Sciences, is the study of what it means to be human in the broadest sense, through an examination of culture and society (sociocultural and linguistic anthropology), the biology and evolution of humans and our closest relatives (biological anthropology) and the study of past human communities and material culture (archaeology). Students develop an appreciation of the value of physical and cultural differences at the local, national, and global levels, and learn critical thinking skills that support them in their careers.
What We Want
For the Center for the Study of the First Americans, Texas A&M University, the Postdoctoral Research Associate will undertake research on the submerged archaeological landscapes of the Gulf of Mexico, under the U.S. Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) funded project ‘Reevaluating BOEM’s Guidelines for Identifying Submerged Pre-Contact Archaeological Sites in the Gulf of Mexico: a Geoarchaeological Approach’. The selected candidate will use legacy survey data made available by project partners, as well as new data, to support project partners’ and BOEM’s ongoing work to update and refine methods for detection and examination of submerged landscapes across the Gulf of Mexico. Full-time effort will be dedicated to actively formulating, analyzing, and testing scientific predictions on the preservation and discovery of submerged terrestrial sites in collaboration with project partners, including Tribal entities. This work consists of empirical methods (utilizing legacy and new remote sensing data) and theoretical modeling (mathematical, statistical, and computational).
What You Need to Know
Salary: compensation will be commensurate based on the selected candidate’s education and experience.
Special Note: Due to this position’s salary having all or a portion of it being funded by grants or contracts, the continuing salary and overall employment is contingent upon availability of these funds in the future.
Travel: Ability for periodical travel for Tribal consultation meetings and to obtain legacy data.
Required Education
- Ph.D. in Anthropology, Archaeology, or a related field, such as Geology, Geophysics, or Oceanography
- Consideration will be made for current applicants who are designated “All But Dissertation” status, but the selected candidate must have their PhD by the time of their start date
Preferred Qualifications:
- Strong track record of journal article publications, external funding, and experience in geophysical data analysis
- Previous experience with sub-bottom profiler data facility with SonarWiz, Kingdom Suite, or ArcGIS
- Experience with writing and utilizing R code for modeling purposes experience with indigenous consultation
Responsibilities:
- GIS Landscape Modeling: Develop updated/refined regional paleolandscape reconstructions to identify the aerial extent and below-seabed depth of areas in the GOM with the potential to contain preserved pre-Contact archaeological remains as well as those areas with low or no potential.
- R Survey Modeling: Assess BOEM survey guidelines and methodologies for identifying preserved paleolandforms and potential pre-Contact archaeological sites.
- Tribal Consultation: With project partners, engage tribal communities to seek their perspectives on the purpose, design, and results of this study and incorporate these perspectives into the landscape and survey models.
- Data Management: With project partners, make sure that new data and legacy data are properly maintained with metadata kept to international standards.
- Report and Article Preparation: Provide support with project team on quarterly and annual reports, prepare articles on findings.
