The recently funded NSERC Discovery Grant proposal entitled OCEANic organic carbon dynamicSIN the PhanerozoiC (OCEAN SINC) is a multi-year hypothesis-driven approach to understanding ancient oceans and Earth system processes and feedback to climate and environmental change. Our lack of comprehension of how oceanic dissolved organic carbon (DOC) interacts with the atmosphere, biosphere, and hydrosphere severely limits our understanding of how oceans influence climate and environments at timescales of 100’s to 10,000’s of years. Furthermore, our poor grasp of paleo-DOC dynamics makes it difficult to forecast how carbon cycle dynamics will change at civilizational timescales.
Dr. Ricardo L Silva from the University of Manitoba and Dr. Jamie Wilson from the University of Liverpool (UK) are searching for a highly motivated MSc student to conduct a research study on oceanic organic carbon dynamics during several Mesozoic carbon cycle perturbations. The successful MSc student will work on problems related to the processing of oceanic organic carbon and DOC in oceans and assess global paleoenvironmental constraints on regional to global oceanographic processes.
The successful candidate has a 4-year Bachelor's degree in Geology, Earth Sciences, or Oceanography (or equivalent experience) and a solid background in sedimentology and paleoceanography. Experience with Earth system modelling (or awareness of its uses in a paleoceanographic context) and an Honours thesis on these topics is an asset. The successful candidate should have a GPA > 3.0 out of 4.5 (University of Manitoba scale). The position is fully funded via an NSERC Discovery Grant awarded to Dr Silva, and the student will integrate the BETY Lab of the PaleoSed+ Research Group at the Department of Earth Sciences, Clayton H. Riddell Faculty of Environment, Earth, and Resources, University of Manitoba.
Duties and responsibilities
Fieldwork, laboratory work, data analysis, thesis writing, course work, and dissemination (conference participation).
Skills and benefits
The student will be trained in sedimentology and computational Earth system modelling, and the mix between these two components will be flexible and dependent on the successful candidate's skills. The student will also gain experience in project management, report and manuscript preparation, and oral presentation. Graduates from this program are trained for careers in industry, government, or further academic studies.
To apply, please send a CV and a letter outlining your interest in this position to Dr. Ricardo L. Silva at [email protected]. Applications will be reviewed starting May 1st and will continue until the position is filled.
For more information: https://umanitoba.ca/environment-earth-resources/earth-sciences/graduate-programs-earth-sciences