Paleoanthropology Fieldschool at Swartkrans Cave, South Africa. May 26 - June 22, 2012. This four week program offers students the opportunity to participate in a paleoanthropology fieldschool at the famous fossil hominin locality of Swartkrans, South Africa. Swartkrans, a cave site approximately twenty miles from Johannesburg, is recognized as one of the world's most important archaeological and fossil localities for the study of human evolution. The site's geological deposits span millions of years and sample several important events in human evolution. The oldest finds at the site date between 1.8 and 1.0-million-years-old, a time period during which our immediate ancestor, Homo erectus, shared the landscape with the extinct ape-man species Australopithecus robustus. In addition to fossils of these species, Swartkrans also preserves an abundant archaeological record of their behavior, in the form of stone and bone tools, as well as butchered animal bones, and possible evidence of the control of fire by early hominins.

Fieldschool participants will learn about these fascinating ancestors through a hands-on course that includes instruction in archaeological survey, site mapping, excavation, and field recording, as well as in artifact and fossil analysis (hominin and animal) and laboratory techniques. Fieldwork will be supplemented with occasional lectures, workshops and fossil locality tours with internationally recognized paleoanthropologists working at nearby sites.

The program is directed by Dr. Travis Pickering, Associate Professor of Anthropology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Over his fifteen years of working in South Africa, Professor Pickering has cultivated strong relationships with other researchers and institutions in the area, ensuring that students on this program will see original fossils and artifacts and receive site tours from the primary researchers in the field. The program is very comprehensive and expands beyond the bounds of simply excavating for four weeks at one site.

Richard Stockton College of New Jersey, Pomona, New Jersey, School of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, seeks a Tenure Track Assistant/Associate Professor for the Biology Program. We are seeking an outstanding broadly trained biologist dedicated to teaching and scholarship in a liberal arts environment to join us September 1, 2012. Academic experience with culturally diverse populations is desired. Ph.D. required and post-doctoral experience, a plus. Teaching load is 12 credit hours/semester, with most courses carrying 4 - 6 hours of teaching credit. Teaching responsibilities include undergraduate lecture/lab sections of Introductory Biology, a general education course, and additional upper level courses including (but not limited to) one or more of the following topics: vertebrate zoology, comparative anatomy, taxonomy, systematics, ecology, and histology.

Ph.D. required and post-doctoral experience, a plus. Teaching load is 12 credit hours/semester, with most courses carrying 4 - 6 hours of teaching credit. Teaching responsibilities include undergraduate lecture/lab sections of Introductory Biology, a general education course, and additional upper level courses including (but not limited to) one or more of the following topics: vertebrate zoology, comparative anatomy, taxonomy, systematics, ecology, and histology.

The successful candidate will also be encouraged to develop a research program supported by external grants and fostering faculty-mentored student collaboration. The College provides several competitive internal grant programs to provide project initiation. Existing research facilities include molecular and cell biology facilities, animal facilities, fossil/extant vertebrate and invertebrate collections, a Marine Science and Environmental Field Station ten minutes from campus, and on campus greenhouses/arboretum facilities. The Pine Barrens National Reserve provides opportunities for collaborative research with federal, state, and local agencies. The College works closely with a wide array of non-profit conservation organizations such as The Wetlands Institute, and the New Jersey Audubon Society as well as private consultants.

The Richard Stockton College of New Jersey is an innovative liberal arts and sciences college and is currently ranked among the top public Masters institutions in the northeast. The college is located in the Pinelands National Preserve in southern New Jersey on 1600 acres about one hour from Philadelphia, two hours from New York City, three hours from the Baltimore/Washington area, and 20 minutes from Atlantic City. The College has a diverse array of undergraduate programs, and the School of Natural Sciences and Mathematics has a wide breath of undergraduate degree offerings, including BA/BS degrees in Biology, Biochemistry/Molecular Biology, Environmental Science, Sustainability, Marine Science, as well as a Professional Science Masters degree in Environmental Science and a MS in Computational Science. Stockton provides vast opportunities for interdisciplinary academic, scholarly, and pedagogic development in the sciences and mathematics.

Screening will begin in mid-January 2012. Send a letter of application, a resume, brief statements about your teaching and learning philosophy, and your research interests, and have three letters of recommendation sent to Dean Dennis Weiss (Dennis.Weiss@stockton.edu), School of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, The Richard Stockton College of New Jersey, 101 Vera King Farris Drive, Galloway, NJ 08205-9441. The College is an equal opportunity institution encouraging a diverse pool of applicants.

For more information, contact Search Chair, Mike Lague (Michael.Lague@stockton.edu) or Program Chair, Margaret Lewis (Margaret.Lewis@stockton.edu).

Official job description can be found here.

Field School in Paleoanthropology at the Drimolen Hominin Site, South Africa.

The joint University of Victoria-University of Johannesburg Field School in Paleoanthropology at the Drimolen fossil hominin site will be held from June 23 - July 14, 2012. The field school is hosted at the fossil hominin site of Drimolen, South Africa and students receive credit for two archaeology courses. We are currently taking applications - deadline February 15, 2012. More information can be found at: http://anthropology.uvic.ca/undergraduate/field_schools.php

The site of Drimolen was discovered in 1992 near Swartkrans and Sterkfontein in the "Cradle of Humankind" World Heritage Site. It is one of the richest fossil hominin sites in southern Africa, having produced over 100 hominin fossils representing Paranthropus robustus and early Homo. The Drimolen fossil site is unique in that has produced some of the youngest infant hominin fossils ever discovered in Africa. The site dates to approximately 1.5 million years ago and is incredibly rich in primate fossils. Fossil hominins have been recovered during most field seasons.

PALEOANTHROPOLOGY (PHYS ANTH) POSITION AT AMERICAN MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY

The Division of Anthropology, American Museum of Natural History (AMNH) seeks an Assistant or Associate Curator in physical/ biological anthropology. This is a tenure track position with the duration of review for tenure negotiable depending on the candidate's degree of professional experience and accomplishment. Candidates should have a strong background in paleoanthropological research and welcome the challenge of working with one of the world's most comprehensive collections in this area as well as interacting with colleagues at AMNH across the biological and physical sciences. AMNH curatorships are defined as research positions: prior experience with museum collections and an active and productive field program are not absolute requirements, though would be considered strongly positive attributes. AMNH curators are expected to maintain a high level of productivity in original research, to seek extramural funding, and to assume oversight responsibility for the management of Museum collections relevant to their areas of expertise. Other responsibilities may include advising graduate students and postdoctoral fellows, offering courses in the Museum's Richard Gilder Graduate School, serving on committees, and participating in Museum-sponsored exhibits and educational programs. Candidates should have completed the Ph.D. degree before the expected employment start date (July 1, 2012). The American Museum of Natural History is committed to the principles of Affirmative Action and encourages applications from women and minority candidates. Interested candidates should submit the following materials:

a) cover letter with name, address and current position of the applicant including a description of the candidate's research interests, accomplishments, and plans.

b) list of dissertation advisors, committee members, co-authors and co-PIs on grants that have received funding during the preceding five years.

c) detailed curriculum vitae, complete bibliography, copies of up to five relevant publications (pdf versions preferred).

d) names, positions, institutional affiliations and contact information for no more than three referees regarding the applicant's professional qualifications.

Electronic submission of all materials is strongly encouraged but materials may also be sent by mail or courier (not fax) to: Anthropology Search Committee, Division of Anthropology, American Museum of Natural History, Central Park West at 79th Street, New York, NY 10024-5192. Email submissions should be directed to: anita@amnh.org (attention, Anthropology Search Committee). To receive the fullest consideration, applications should be received no later than January 30, 2012.

Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology- Post-Doctoral Position in Human Palaeontology

The Department of Human Evolution of the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Leipzig (Germany) invites applications for a post-doctoral position in Human Palaeontology. In the department, a series of research projects are developed within a multidisciplinary environment involving three main groups of scientists: biological anthropologists, Palaeolithic archeologists, and archaeological scientists/geochronologists. More information about the Department of Human Evolution may be found at http://www.eva.mpg.de/evolution.

This position is a research post. We expect the successful candidate to conduct research on the Plio-Pleistocene African hominin fossil record. The selected candidate will have a Ph.D. and a significant track record of research. The initial length of the appointment is two years but the contract is extendable. The Max Planck Society is committed to employing more handicapped individuals and to increasing the share of women in areas where they are underrepresented, and therefore expressly encourages applications from such qualified individuals.

For further information please contact Professor Jean-Jacques Hublin (hublin@eva.mpg.de). Applications, including cover letter, curriculum vitae, reprints of selected publications, a short statement of research interests, and the names of three referees should be sent before the 28th of February, 2012 by e-mail to Diana Carstens (carstens@eva.mpg.de) and by mail to:

Jean-Jacques Hublin
Department of Human Evolution
Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology
Deutscher Platz 6
D-04103 Leipzig (Germany)

GRADUATE TRAINING IN EVOLUTIONARY ANTHROPOLOGY --- OPEN HOUSE JANUARY 30, 2012

The graduate program in Evolutionary Anthropology at Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey (New Brunswick, New Jersey) is currently seeking applicants for our integrative Ph. D. program. We welcome students to apply to our program who have interests in early hominins and fossil nonhuman primates, zooarchaeology, geoarchaeology, historical archaeology, human behavioral ecology, paleoanthropology, evolutionary morphology, evolutionary genetics and primate behavioral ecology. Rutgers Evolutionary Anthropology applies a diversity of perspectives to research on human evolution and the biological bases of human behavior. Rutgers evolutionary anthropologists apply tools from archaeology, geology, paleontology, primatology, behavioral ecology, and evolutionary and experimental biology.

The program is guided by the principle that research and training in human evolutionary studies are most successful when conducted in a multidisciplinary mode. For this reason, the Evolutionary Anthropology program maintains strong links with other Rutgers programs such as Quaternary Studies and Ecology and Evolution. We encourage our students to conduct field work as part of their dissertation research and have connections with several resource faculty and facilities worldwide. For more details visit http://anthro.rutgers.edu/graduate-program/evolutionary-anthropology.

We offer graduate students a competitive, fully-funded package guaranteed for 4-years with the possibility of obtaining additional funding through teaching and university fellowships. Candidates with exceptional experience and GRE scores will be competitive for the Rutgers Presidential Fellowship. In addition, we have had several students from developing countries who have received Baldwin Fellowships in the past. A wonderful resource available to Evolutionary Anthropology students is the multidisciplinary Center for Human Evolutionary Studies (http://evolution.rutgers.edu/), which provides graduate students with funding for pilot studies and conference travel. We provide graduate students with diverse training in human evolutionary studies in their first two years of graduate studies as they develop their dissertation thesis projects. A wealth of field opportunities exist for our students including the Rutgers run Koobi Fora and the Primate Behavior field schools (both run in Kenya), Dr. Harris' field site in Koobi Fora, Dr. Blumenschine's field site at Olduvai Gorge, Dr. Palombit's Project Papio which involves baboon research in Kenya, Dr. Vogel's Tuanan Orangutan Research Project in Central Kalimantan, Indonesia, Dr. Trivers's Rutgers Jamaican Symmetry Project, Dr. Scott's paleontological work in Turkey, Dr. Feibel's research in the Turkana Basin, and Dr. Schrire's research in South Africa. We also have strong connections that facilitate research with the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History, The Center for Advanced Studies of Hominid Paleobiology at The George Washington University, The Anthropological Institute in Zürich, and the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology (Leipzig).

We encourage advanced undergraduate students with research experience or students completing M.A.'s to apply to our program. If interested, please visit our website (http://anthro.rutgers.edu/). Students are encouraged to directly contact professors they are interested in working with. For general questions about graduate program, please contact the director of the Anthropology Graduate Program (Dr. Daniel Goldstein - dgoldstein@anthropology.rutgers.edu). Applications for the program are due January 2, 2012. We encourage all prospective students to visit our open house on January 30, 2012 from 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM. If interested, contact Penny Burness, Graduate Secretary (rhmurphy@rci.rutgers.edu).

Ph.D. studentship: "Plant foods in hominin prehistory" The Research Group on Plant Foods and Hominin Dietary Ecology in the Department of Human Evolution (http://www.eva.mpg.de/plants/) is seeking one or more Ph.D. students to study plant microfossils and/or plant biomarkers as a record of plant foods in human prehistory. The project may involve developing novel methods for recovering evidence of plant food consumption, or collecting dental calculus and other samples for analysis of plant microremains. Other projects focusing on the role of plant foods throughout hominin evolution may also be considered.

Applicants should hold a Master's degree or equivalent in biology, anthropology, evolutionary ecology, or a related field. A good basic knowledge of the hominin fossil and archaeological record, and of common analytical methods, including statistics, is important. The fellowship is limited to 3 years. The student will receive a fellowship according to the funding guidelines of the Max Planck Society. The working environment of the institute is English-speaking. Accepted students will be a part of the International Max Planck Research School (http://imprs.eva.mpg.de/start.html). Candidates should apply directly through the IMPRS website by 31 January 2012. For further information, contact Amanda Henry (amanda_henry@eva.mpg.de).

Research Position in Biological Anthropology- Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology. Leipzig, Germany. The Research Group on "Plant Foods and Hominin Dietary Ecology" in the Department of Human Evolution of the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Leipzig (Germany) invites applications for a post-doctoral researcher in biological anthropology. The research group is committed to exploring the relationships between the plant component of hominin diets and aspects of their biology, behavior, and evolution. More information about the Plant Foods group can be found at http://www.eva.mpg.de/plants/

The position is a research-only post, with no teaching obligations. The initial contract, which is two years and may be extended, will begin March 2012 at the earliest. The project will provide substantial support in a highly stimulating environment. We offer a salary according to German public service regulations (TVöD-Bund). The successful candidate will work on aspects of plant foods in the dietary ecology of later hominins and modern humans, and will be expected to assist in current projects and to bring novel research foci to the group.We are particularly interested in candidates with a strong background in one or more of the following: analysis of residues using mass spectrometry; human or primate dietary ecology; plant microfossil research; but will consider any suitably qualified candidate in a related field. The selected candidate must have a PhD and ideally will have post-doctoral experience with a strong track record of research.

The Max Planck Society is committed to employing more handicapped individuals and to increasing the percentage of women in areas where they are under-represented, and therefore expressly encourages applications from such qualified individuals.

Applications should be sent by email as a single PDF including: a cover letter, curriculum vitae, reprints of selected publications, short statement of research interests (2pg maximum), and the names of three referees, to Amanda Henry (amanda_henry@eva.mpg.de). Reviews of applications will begin December 15, 2011 and will proceed until the position is filled.

Field school in Paleoanthropology and Paleolithic Archaeology
Credits: 6
Dates: June, 26 - July, 26 2012

The course is available to 3rd and 4th year undergraduate students, and graduate students. The course is offered through The University of Winnipeg. Applications from graduate and upper level undergraduate students from other universities are welcome. Among the applicants from outside The University of Winnipeg, priority is given to students with a career interest in Paleoanthropology, Paleolithic Archaeology and Paleontology.

Students will participate in the survey of the Gorge, excavation of Mala Balanica, Velika Balanica and Pesturina caves, processing of soil samples and artifacts and documentation and basic analysis of the sample. In addition, there will be several formal lectures in different aspects of the project by specialists working on the project and distinguished visitors. Students will be supervised by a team member, each of whom will be responsible for providing instruction and support for four students at any time during the field work.

Lectures and workshops in data recording, lithic technology, human osteology and quaternary paleontology will be held throughout the field season. Spontaneous discussions and expression of individual interests are particularly encouraged.

Excursions to the paleolithic caves in Eastern Serbia, Monastery complex in Manasija, and a free day in Nis are planned for the duration of the Field School.

For more information go to http://www.uwinnipeg.ca/index/anthro-field-school-index or contact m.roksandic@uwinnipeg.ca

Researchers are cordially invited to submit a manuscript for this inaugural special issue of the new on-line, open access, journal, Human Origins Research. The journal focuses on publishing high quality contributions of modest length, with rapid turnaround. All articles are peer-reviewed and the journal is indexed on major databases such as Scopus. Reasonable publishing charges normally apply, but vary depending on individual circumstances, affiliations and geographic location, and include professional language editing.

Further enquiries: please contact Darren Curnoe, d.curnoe@unsw.edu.au or Nadia Moscato, nadia.moscato@pagepress.org

Journal webpage: http://www.humanoriginsresearch.net