PhD Candidate - Significance of acari as location and time makers of buried corpses and mass graves

Bachelor Degree or equivalent,

• Minimum Bachelor degree or equivalent in Biology or related discipline


• Knowledge of Acarology


• Expertise in Taxonomy


• Experience in forensic science research or relevant interdisciplinary projects.


• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and communication skills.


• Ability to work effectively both independently and as part of a multidisciplinary team


• Language: English, fluent


• The candidate must meet the University's PhD entry requirements


Specific Requirements


• It is mandatory that the DC does not hold a doctoral degree at the recruitment date.


• Candidates can hold any nationality. It is mandatory that the DC should have no residency or main activity (work, studies, etc.) in the United Kigdom for more than 12 months in the 36 months before the recruitment date.


• Applicant should be willing and able to carry out simulated mass grave experiments in San Juan and La Rioja, Argentina, and be seconded for 3 months or more to human mass grave studies in Jujuy, Argentina and/or elsewhere.


Languages
ENGLISH

The project investigates the forensic information carried by micro-arthropods of buried corpses with a focus on mites and mass graves. These micro-arthropods originate from several sources; the soil surrounding buried corpses, the corpses themselves, and traces associated with the corpses. Micro-arthropods of the corpses might inform about the environment and condition while the person was still alive. The traces might contain arthropods from previous locations or manipulations where victims might have been held or tortured or killed and from previous places of decomposition or burial. The challenge is that the micro-arthropods from the different sources will admix, but their biology might reveal their varied origins. Micro-arthropod data will provide information about: 1) the decomposition process, which is different in mass graves compared to individual graves, 2) time since death and time since buried, especially for layered mass graves where corpses have been deposited over an extended
period of time, 3) relocation of corpses, 4) circumstances during death. The work will aid the development of new methods to collect and analyse forensic evidence of biological traces.

Secondment: a placement/secondment will take place for 3-12 months during the 3^rd year of PhD (2026-2027) at the Laboratorio de investigaciones en Derechos Humanos y Procesos Sociales (LIDeProJ), National University of Jujuy, Argentina.,
• Relevant Tuition fees covered


• Competitive Salary


• International mobility and training programme covered


Selection process

After June 21st, 2024, shortlisted candidates will be interviewed (during July-early August).
Additional comments

3 year programme
Starts September 1st, 2024. Ending of contract: August 31st, 2027

This is part of a Horizon Europe, Marie S. Curie Doctoral Network: Natural Traces in forensic investigations - how the analysis of non-human biological evidence can solve crime