Graduate Student Internship

Support for Visiting Doctoral Students in the Archaeometry Lab at MURR

[Student worker weighing out samples for NAA]

The Archaeometry Laboratory at the University of Missouri Research Reactor (MURR) supports visiting doctoral candidates in archaeology for periods of 3–4 months (e.g., Winter from January – April; Summer from May – August; or Fall from September – December). Applicants must be graduate students from colleges, universities, and institutes in the USA. The purpose of this program is to provide exceptional students with the opportunity to include archaeometric analysis in their dissertation research projects. Besides access to neutrons for instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA), the Archaeometry Laboratory has gamma-ray detector systems, sample grinding equipment, petrographic microscopes, ultrasonic disaggregation equipment, a programmable furnace, and a variety of computing facilities. Other analytical equipment includes a high-resolution magnetic sector ICP-MS system with laser ablation, a quadrupole ICP-MS system, and an energy-dispersive XRF spectrometer.  Projects appropriate for the program would include chemical and petrographic characterization of pottery, chemical sourcing of obsidian and chert, and selected studies of other material types. Participants will receive guidance in all aspects of the analysis and interpretation of data.

The program pays a stipend of up to $1000 per month while participants are in residence. Additionally, participants have free access to neutrons, analytical equipment, computers, and office space. Certain expendable supplies, primarily high-purity quartz vials consumed in NAA, must be paid for out of the stipend or other funding sources, at costs ranging from $20–$40 per sample, depending upon the types of samples and the analytical method(s) employed.

Eligible advanced graduate students (PhD candidates only) from U.S. academic institutions, and will have completed the necessary fieldwork and identified a specific problem to which the analyses proposed for completion at MURR will make an important contribution. Materials to be analyzed must be in-hand upon the participant's arrival at MURR. Application is by means of a ten-page research proposal. The proposal should contain the following:

  1. An outline the project's problem orientation and background information;
  2. A description of the collection(s) to be analyzed, including numbers and types of samples involved;
  3. A description of analytical techniques to be employed;
  4. A specific statement of why MURR is the best place to accomplish the research; and
  5. A statement that funding exists to cover the costs for supplies consumed on the project, or describe a plan for obtaining this funding.

Other supporting documentation includes a curriculum vita and letters of reference from the major advisor and one other individual. Applications will be accepted on a continuous basis, but advance scheduling is imperative since the Archaeometry Lab can support only one visitor at a time. Applications from women and members of other under-represented groups are especially encouraged. Interested students should call or send a letter of intent with brief project description to either Dr. Glascock at the address listed below.

Previous Interns and Their Projects

Foreign Visitors to the Archaeometry Lab

Future Visitors Planned

Recent research reported by the Archaeometry Lab at MURR after June 2005 is based on support by the National Science Foundation under our current grant number 0504015.
Earlier research was supported by several NSF grants, including the following numbers: 8801707, 9102016, 9503035, 9802366, 9977237, 0102325, and 0405042.  Any opinions, findings and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation.

Last Updated June 2, 2008
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