We are currently looking for a PhD candidate to join our research team in the examination of feral cat distribution in Australia using ancient DNA (aDNA) techniques. The primary focus of this role is to investigate the impact of feral cats on the Australian ecosystem during the Anthropocene, the current geological age characterised by significant human impact on the planet. This project includes analysing aDNA from cat remains obtained from various archaeological and palaeontological sites across Australia to reconstruct the historical distribution and genetic diversity of feral cats. Success in this role requires collaboration with interdisciplinary experts in archaeology, genetics, and palaeoecology, as well as with Indigenous communities to ensure the ethical and respectful use of cultural heritage materials.This project will be undertaken through the Australian Research Centre for Human Evolution (ARCHE), with cross supervision from the Griffith Centre for Social and Cultural Research (GCSCR) and the Department of Archaeology, Max Planck Institute of Geoanthropology, Germany. ARCHE is a world leader in research and education on all aspects of human evolutionary studies. We provide a dynamic and cooperative research environment that seeks to understand how humans and their societies across the globe evolved over time. We emphasise the study of the biological and cultural evolution of humans and our place in the natural world, with a growing focus on Indigenous peoples of Australia, Asia, and the Pacific.
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