PhD Position in Quaternary Geology, Stockholm University

Overview

A PhD position/utbildningsbidrag in Quaternary Geology within the topic "Climate dynamics during the Eemian Interglacial (MIS 5e) in the North Atlantic region inferred from a unique sediment sequence at Sokli (northern Finland)" at the Department of Physical Geography and Quaternary Geology. Reference number SU 463-123-11. Deadline for application: November 20, 2011.

The Department of Physical Geography and Quaternary Geology is one of the major departments within the Faculty of Science at Stockholm University. The department has approximately 120 employees and educates approximately 1500 students annually. The main research areas are “Climate, environment and landscape”, “Landscape analysis and geomatics”, “Glacier and polar environments” and “Land and water resources”. Education is oriented towards geography, biology-earth sciences, geosciences and environmental protection.

Project description
We seek to recruit a candidate for a PhD position in Quaternary Geology with emphasis on palaeo-environmental reconstruction. The PhD student to be appointed here will make a proxy-based climate reconstruction for the last interglacial period (Eemian or MIS 5e at around 120 kyr BP) by means of fossil and geobiochemical analyses on a for the North Atlantic region unique sediment sequence preserved at Sokli in northern Finland. The nine meters of Eemian lake sediments recently cored at Sokli allow for a reconstruction of climate at a decadal time-scale in a region where sediments pre-dating the Holocene have been very sparsely preserved. The project will focus on

1) the magnitude of warming at the peak of northern summer insolation at ~125 kyr,

2) the possible occurrence of short-term, major cooling events, and
3) the climate regime at the closing phase of the interglacial at ~115 kyr. The project involves fieldwork in northern Finland, extensive microscope work including the analysis of diatoms and a second biotic proxy (i.e. macrofossils or chironomids), an integration of biotic and abiotic proxy data, and publishing in scientific journals and a thesis. The candidate will conduct part of the fossil analyses abroad in close collaboration with specialists.

The position is financed by a project with the Swedish Nuclear Fuel and Waste Management Co (SKB) and will provide information for the safety assessment of deep-repositories of nuclear waste in Fennoscandia on glacial-interglacial time-scales.

Qualifications
The candidate should either have obtained a MSc, or acquired a total of 240 higher education credits (of which at least 60 at advanced level), or acquired in some alternative fashion the equivalent knowledge in Earth Sciences or a related topic. Preference will be given to those with a background in Quaternary geology, ecology, limnology, chemistry, palaeo-climatology and diatom analysis. Experience with fieldwork, extensive laboratory (core sub-sampling and sample preparation) and microscope work (fossil analysis), multi-proxy analysis and team work are considered advantageous. Candidates should be self motivated, committed and enthusiastic about working in the laboratory and about conducting fieldwork in remote areas. The PhD dissertation will be written in English.

Terms of employment
The 4-year PhD program includes at least 3 years of research and at most one year of course work. The position may be extended by up to 1 year if up to 20 % teaching assistance or administration is included in the contract. The position is financed by a faculty studentship during the first 12 months, amounting to about 15.500 SEK per month during this period. Upon satisfactory progress, the PhD-student can apply for a PhD-employment from the second year with a salary currently starting at 22.600 SEK per month.

Envisioned starting date is January 1, 2012 (although this can be negotiated).

Information
For further information, contact Associate prof. Karin Helmens (main supervisor), telephone +46-(0)8-16 4775, karin.helmens@natgeo.su.se, or Prof. Peter Kuhry (co-supervisor), telephone +46-(0)8-16 4806, peter.kuhry@natgeo.su.se.

Practical information about the application is available from the personnel administrator, Susanna Blåndman, susanna.blandman@natgeo.su.se.

Union representatives
Bo Ekengren (SACO) and Lisbeth Häggberg (Fackförbundet ST), telephone
+46-(0)8-16 2000 (switch board), and Gunnar Stenberg (SEKO), telephone +46-(0)70-316 43 41.

Applications
Your application should include one page statement of interest in and suitability for this doctoral project, curriculum vitae, copies of degree certificates and transcripts of academic records (all attested), a list of two persons who may act as references (with telephone numbers and e-mail addresses), and one copy of your Master Thesis and applicable articles in which you are co-author.

Applications labelled with the reference number SU 463-123-11 should be posted and postmarked no later than November 20, 2011, to:
Stockholm University
Department of Physical Geography and Quaternary Geology
Susanna Blåndman
SE-106 91 STOCKHOLM
SWEDEN.

Further information on the web
Stockholm University: www.su.se/english
The handbook for postgraduate students: www.doktorandhandboken.nu/english

http://www.su.se/english/about/vacancies/phd-studies/a-phd-position-utbildningsbidrag-in-quaternary-geology-1.30885

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