The Department of Geosciences, Faculty of Science and Technology has a PhD position vacant on coastal glaciogenic sediment biogeochemistry. The position is affiliated to the newly funded Norwegian Centre of Excellence, iC3: Centre for ice, Cryosphere, Carbon and Climate.
The position is for a period of four years. The nominal length of the PhD programme is three years. The fourth year is distributed as 25 % each year and will consist of teaching and other duties for the department. This may include teaching (e.g. supervision and evaluation of student exercises) at various levels, as well as performance of other relevant duties. The objective of the position is to complete research training to the level of a doctoral degree. Admission to the PhD programme is a prerequisite for employment, and the programme period starts on commencement of the position.
The workplace is at UiT in Tromsø. You must be able to start in the position within a reasonable time after receiving the offer and latest 1st August, 2024. During the PhD the student will be expected to obtain 30 ECTs within the instruction component and 150 ECTs for the thesis component.
Centre of Excellence, iC3: Centre for ice, Cryosphere, Carbon and ClimateÂ
The PhD fellow will be part of a cohort of iC3 fellows to start in 2024 and benefiting from iC3´s dedicated impact Theme (iT-2) Training the Next Generation which will train and mentor early career researchers under iC3´s broad remit. iC3 is funded for 10 years (2023-2033, pending successful mid-way evaluation) and aims to fill a major research gap in polar science by quantifying the future impact of ice sheet change on the Earth’s carbon cycle over policy-relevant timescales. It will achieve this by uniting complementary world-leading expertise at UiT The Arctic University of Norway, the Norwegian Polar Institute, NORCE and a network of collaborators in an unprecedented research endeavour spanning both the Arctic and the Antarctic. Its integrated, interdisciplinary hub of experts studying the cryosphere, oceans, atmosphere and geosphere will close order of magnitude uncertainty in polar carbon budgets, addressing the hypothesis that changing ice sheets (and aligned cryosphere) profoundly impact Earth’s carbon cycle, directly affecting human societies via feedbacks to our future climate and invaluable polar ecosystems.
Project details
Glaciers are highly efficient agents of physical and chemical erosion, exporting large quantities of sediment and solute to downstream environments each year. Glacial meltwaters in coastal settings are often characterized by turbid and buoyant sediment plumes that can sometimes reach 10s of kilometres offshore. The solute and sediment carried by these plumes is thought to act as direct or indirect (after biogeochemical processing) nutriment to marine organisms, but the impact appears to be dependent on the hydrodynamics of the fjord/coastal environment and the bioavailability of the particulate phase.
One component of the ice-to-ocean system that is still poorly understood is the role of benthic diagenesis in the cycling of glacier and marine derived elements in coastal environments. Recent work in Svalbard has found intense benthic cycling of glacier-sourced iron and manganese in these reactive sediments, and global synthesis of fjord data indicates that these environments are globally relevant carbon burial hotspots and aquatic critical zones. However, our understanding of linked (e.g. via coupled cycling or mineral association) but often limiting macronutrients phosphorus and nitrogen is still poor due to a paucity of data. For example, a large portion of the phosphorus carried by glacial meltwater is bound in the mineral apatite, which is not immediately available for biological uptake, but may become bioavailable after dissolution in coastal sediments. Additionally, we do not know if glaciogenic sediments in active glaciated environments such as Svalbard, Greenland and Antarctica are carbon sources or sinks, and how carbon in these sediments might couple with other elemental cycles (e.g. via iron mineral association or clay mineral protection).
This PhD project will aim to contextualize the importance of glaciogenic marine sediments for carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus cycling in polar regions. The candidate will work on glacial flour (glacially ground rock) and coastal sediment biogeochemistry, including selective chemical extractions to identify phase speciation, mineral binding, and lability of nutrient/carbon pools. Glacial flour and coastal sediment cores are available from Svalbard, Greenland, and Antarctica, but there will be opportunities to collect new cores as part of iC3 associated field campaigns. The candidate will characterize both pore waters extracted from cores as well as the particulate phase in core material and in glacial flour to gain a detailed insight into systems inputs, particle-solute coupling, and benthic fluxes of nutrients into the water column. The project will look to help answer the question: how will nutrient and carbon cycling in these climatically sensitive environments change with waning glacier cover?
The project objectives are as follows:
- Determine the sources, sinks, mineral association and associated lability of C, N and P in fjord sediments
- Investigate environmental controls on fjord benthic C, N and P cycling across an ice to shelf transect
- Develop a spatial dataset of C, N and P concentrations and fluxes from sediments across Arctic and Antarctic field sites
Opportunities: the project offers a wide range of lab, field, and computer-based numerical modelling opportunities dependent on the candidate’s interests. Initial work will be carried out on existing cores taken from Svalbard, Greenland and Antarctica, but there is potential for Arctic fieldwork in Svalbard (Kongsfjorden), and/or west/south Greenland to retrieve new sediment cores for porewater and sediment analysis as part of iC3. The student will have access to cutting-edge instrumentation in Norway (via UiT) and the United States (via U Penn), including ICP-MS/MS, nutrient (e.g. SFA), and carbon analysers (dissolved, total, thermal characterisation, and optical characterisation), have opportunities to apply for experimental time at synchrotron facilities in Europe and North America (e.g. for C, N and P speciation via scanning x-ray microscopy, x-ray absorption near-edge structure spectroscopy and x-ray fluorescence elemental mapping at the nano scale), and a wide range of institutional and collaborator accessible instrumentation for sediment particle characterization (e.g. SEM, TEM, FIB and XPS) and high resolution organic matter compositional analysis (e.g. via FT-ICR MS). This project comes with the possibility of a secondment to University of Pennsylvania (Philadelphia, USA) for lab work and data analysis (via Dr Hawkings), and/or Universite Libre de Bruxelles (Brussels, Belgium) for training in diagenetic reaction-transport modelling (via Dr Arndt).
The position’s field of research
While the candidate is a member of the iC3 Centre of Excellence, they will be employed at the Department of Geosciences, at UiT´s Faculty of Science and Technology. The research activities at the department are mainly focused around three research groups: Solid Earth Sciences, Mineral Resources and Geohazards, Geophysics, Glaciology and Oceanography and Sedimentary Systems, Paleoclimates and Environments.Students and staff within the department work on land and at sea, using a diverse range of methods and technologies to collect data. The department is a major user of the new ice-breaking research vessel “Kronprins Haakon”, as well as UiT’s research vessel “Helmer Hanssen” and has excellent laboratory facilities for geoscience research, including the new custom-built ICOM: ICe Oceans and cliMate laboratory for the study of biogeochemistry and microbiology in polar environments.
The applicants must present a description outlining the academic basis of the PhD project. The project description shall not exceed 1-2 pages, literature references included. It must include a description of the topic, research question(s) and a reasoning of the choices. It should also indicate the methodologies to be used. The final project description will be developed in cooperation with the supervisor.
Qualifications
This position requires:
- A BSc, MSc or equivalent in Environmental Science, Geoscience, (Bio)Geochemistry, Chemical Oceanography, Physical Geography, or a related field
- Demonstration of strong numerical and statistical skills
- A willingness to participate in remote fieldwork in the Arctic involving time on coastal research vessels
- Previous experience working in a geochemistry, chemistry, or biology lab
- A master’s thesis (see specifications below)
- Fluency in English
It is considered an advantage if you have:
- Experience in sampling and analysing elemental/compound concentrations and/or or speciation and/or sediment mineralogy (e.g. plasma spectrometry, spectrophotometric analysis, liquid chromatography, x-ray fluorescence/diffraction etc…)
- Basic knowledge of a programming language (e.g. R, python or Matlab)
- Experience of working in a team
- A national and/or international research network that you can refer to
- Publications and/or reports
- Working knowledge of Norwegian or a Scandinavian language
Qualification with a master’s degree is required before commencement in the position. If you are near completion of your master’s degree, you may still apply and submit a draft version of the thesis and a statement from your supervisor or institution indicating when the degree will be obtained. You must document completion of your degree before commencement in the position. You must still submit your transcripts for the master’s degree with your application
In the assessment, the emphasis is on the applicant’s potential to complete a research education based on the grades in the master programme, the master’s thesis or equivalent, and any other scientific work. The project description will also be considered.In addition, other experience of significance for the completion of the doctoral programme may be given consideration, e.g. working experience.
Applicants must document fluency of in English and be able to work in an international environment. Nordic applicants can document their English capabilities by attaching their high school diploma.  Working knowledge of Norwegian or a Scandinavian language is also beneficial. It is expected that the successful candidate is willing tolearn Norwegain within two years.
We will also emphasize motivation and personal suitability for the position. We are looking for candidates who:
- Have good collaboration skills
- Have good communication and interaction with colleagues and students
- Wants to contribute to a good working environment
As many people as possible should have the opportunity to undertake organized research training. If you already hold a PhD or have equivalent competence, we will not appoint you to this position.
Admission to the PhD programme
For employment in the PhD position, you must be qualified for admission to the PhD programme at the Faculty of Science and Technology and participate in organized doctoral studies within the employment period.
Admission normally requires:
- A bachelor’s degree of 180 ECTS and a master’s degree, or an integrated master’s degree.
UiT normally accepts higher education from countries that are part of the Lisbon Recognition Convention.
In order to gain admission to the programme, the applicant must have a grade point average of C or better for the master’s degree and for relevant subjects of the bachelor’s degree. A more detailed description of admission requirements can be found here.
If you are employed in the position, you will be provisionally admitted to the PhD programme. Application for final admission must be submitted no later than two months after taking up the position.
Inclusion and diversity
UiT The Arctic University of Norway is working actively to promote equality, gender balance and diversity among employees and students, and to create an inclusive and safe working environment. We believe that inclusion and diversity are a strength, and we want employees with different competencies, professional experience, life experience and perspectives.
If you have a disability, a gap in your CV or immigrant background, we encourage you to tick the box for this in your application. If there are qualified applicants, we invite at least one in each group for an interview. If you get the job, we will adapt the working conditions if you need it. Apart from selecting the right candidates, we will only use the information for anonymous statistics.
We offer
- Involvement in a cutting-edge research project within an interdisciplinary Centre of Excellence
- A vibrant and interdisciplinary academic environment with dedicated colleagues
- Good career opportunities, and high employability after successful graduation
- Flexible working hours and a state collective pay agreement
- Pension scheme through the state pension fund
- A stunning Arctic landscape and diversity of outdoor activities
- PhD Fellows are normally given a salary of 532 200 NOK/year with a 3% yearly increase
Norwegian health policy aims to ensure that everyone, irrespective of their personal finances and where they live, has access to good health and care services of equal standard. As an employee you will become member of the National Insurance Scheme which also include health care services.
More practical information about working and living in Norway can be found here.
Application
Your application shall include:
- Cover letter explaining your motivation , research interests, skills you bring to the position and your ideas for the development of this PhD project (max. 2 pages)
- CV
- Diploma for bachelor’s and master’s degree
- Transcript of grades/academic record for bachelor’s and master’s degree
- Explanation of the grading system for foreign education (Diploma Supplement if available)
- Documentation of English proficiency
- Documentation of proficiency in Norwegian or a Scandinavian language (if applicable)
- Contact information for three references
- Master’s thesis, and any other academic works
- Project description (1-2 pages)
Qualification with a master’s degree is required before commencement in the position. You may still apply if you are in the final stages of the master’s degree, but the master’s thesis must be submitted for evaluation within the application deadline. You must submit the thesis and transcript of grades for the master’s degree with your application.
All documentation to be considered must be in a Scandinavian language or English. Diplomas and transcripts must also be submitted in the original language, if not in English or Scandinavian. If English proficiency is not documented in the application, it must be documented before starting in the position. We only accept applications and documentation sent via Jobbnorge within the application deadline.
General information
The appointment is made in accordance with State regulations and guidelines at UiT. At our website, you will find more information for applicants.
The engagement is to be made in accordance with the acts relating to Control of the Export of Strategic Goods, Services and Technology. Candidates who by assessment of the application and attachment are seen to conflict with the criteria in the latter law will be prohibited from recruitment.
Remuneration for the position of PhD Fellow is in accordance with the State salary scale code 1017. A compulsory contribution of 2 % to the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund will be deducted. You will become a member of the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund, which gives you many benefits in addition to a lifelong pension: You may be entitled to financial support if you become ill or disabled, your family may be entitled to financial support when you die, you become insured against occupational injury or occupational disease, and you can get good terms on a mortgage. Read more about your employee benefits at: spk.no.
A shorter period of appointment may be decided when the PhD Fellow has already completed parts of their research training programme or when the appointment is based on a previous qualifying position PhD Fellow, research assistant, or the like in such a way that the total time used for research training amounts to three years.
We process personal data given in an application or CV in accordance with the Personal Data Act (Offentleglova). According to the Personal Data Act information about the applicant may be included in the public applicant list, also in cases where the applicant has requested non-disclosure. You will receive advance notification in the event of such publication, if you have requested non-disclosure.
Contact
For further information about the position, please contact the supervisors, detailed as follows:
- Primary Supervisor: Associate Professor Jon Hawkings, University of Pennsylvania (Department of Earth and Environmental Science) and UiT (Department of Geosciences), https://earth.sas.upenn.edu/people/jon-hawkings, Email hawkings@sas.upenn.edu
- Co-Supervisor: Professor Jemma Wadham, UiT (Department of Geosciences), https://www.jemmawadham.com, Email jemma.l.wadham@uit.no
- Co-Supervisor: Dr Guillaume Lamarche-Gagnon, UiT (Department of Geosciences), https://uit.no/ansatte/person?p_document_id=773898, Email guillaume.lamarche-gagnon@uit.no
- Co-Supervisor: Professor Sandra Arndt, Universite Libre de Bruxelles (Geosciences, Environment and Society Department), https://biogeomod.ulb.be, Email sandra.arndt@ulb.be
- Co-Supervisor: Dr Pedro Duarte, NPI (Ecotoxicology), https://www.npolar.no/en/people/pedro.duarte,Email Pedro.Duarte@npolar.no
For information about iC3 and any general enquiries, please contact:
- The iC3 Centre Manager: Dr Terri Souster, iC3manager@uit.no
For more information about this opportunity, please follow this link.