PhD Fellow in Palaeo-perspectives on Arctic cryosphere and marine ecosystem changes, iC3

Stig Brøndbo
5th February 2024
Languages
English

• English

English
Faculty of Science and Technology
PhD Fellow in Palaeo-perspectives on Arctic cryosphere and marine ecosystem changes, iC3 
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The position and iC3 Centre of Excellence

The Department of Geosciences , Faculty of Science and Technology has a PhD position vacant on Palaeo-perspectives on Arctic cryosphere and marine ecosystem changes. 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 Climate  

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 

The last deglaciation to Holocene time period was characterized by carbon-cycle and ocean circulation perturbations linked to past ice sheet loss. This PhD project aims to document and understand how marine ecosystems and ocean circulation responded to changing glacial ice dynamics along an ice-fjord-open ocean transect on Svalbard and Greenland. Contemporary to recent past (the last two centuries) observations will be integrated and linked to dynamical changes in biological and physical Arctic settings. Analogue process studies during past warmer-than-present climate states (e.g. the Holocene Thermal Maximum) will be performed by using existing palaeo-records. A multi-proxy database will be created and used to quantitatively analyze biodiversity changes, shifts in marine productivity, and ocean circulation perturbations in response to ice sheet dynamics on Svalbard and Greenland.

The project objectives are as follows:

1.       Understand modern ecosystem response to present-day cryosphere melting inferred from climate proxy data

2.       Reconcile the response of marine ecosystem and circulation changes from novel geochemical tracers (e.g. Nd isotopes) over the last two centuries

3.       Perform analogue process studies on Arctic marine biodiversity changes and ocean circulation perturbations during past warmer-than-present climates (i.e. Holocene thermal maximum)

Opportunities: this PhD project offers a unique opportunity for a candidate to work across several scientific disciplines, including biology, oceanography, biogeochemistry, and cryospheric science, supported by a team of supervisors with a broad spectrum of relevant expertise. The appointed person will learn to analyse and interpret climate proxy data derived from sedimentary records from Arctic fjords and adjacent seas during recent past (i.e. the last two centuries) and potential analogues of future climate states (i.e. the Holocene thermal maximum). The candidate will also assess the carbon storage potential of Arctic fjord and shelf settings by applying various geochemical models and machine learning algorithms. Laboratory work is planned together with EAWAG/ETH Zurich, Switzerland and the University of Cambridge, UK. Organic carbon storage assessments will be done in collaboration with the Department of Geosciences Environment and Society at the Université libre de Bruxelles (working with Professor Sandra Arndt) and the Geological Survey of Norway.

The position’s affiliation and 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. 

Contact

For further information about the position, please contact the supervisors, detailed as follows:

• Primary Supervisor: Dr Mohamed Ezat UiT the Arctic University of Norway (Centre for Ice, Cryosphere, Carbon and Climate, Department of Geoscience), Mohamed, Mohamed Mahmoud Ezat Ahmed | UiT, Email [email protected]
• Co-Supervisor: Dr Jochen Knies NGNU Norges Geologist Undersøkelse and UiT the Arctic University of Norway (Centre for Ice, Cryosphere, Carbon and Climate, Department of Geoscience), Knies, Jochen Manfred | UiT, Email [email protected]
• Co-Supervisor: Professor Sandra Arndt (Department of Geosciences Environment and Society, Université Libre de Bruxelles and Department of Geosciences, UiT), https://biogeomod.ulb.behttps://biogeomod.ulb.be, Email [email protected]

For information about iC3 and any general enquiries, please contact:

• The iC3 Centre Manager: Dr Terri Souster, [email protected]

Jon Terje Hellren Hansen, Ingun A.Mæhlum via Unsplash Jon Terje Hellren Hansen, Ingun A.Mæhlum
Qualifications

This position requires:

• A master's degree in Geoscience, Geochemistry, Paleoclimatology, Environmental Science, Oceanography, or related
• Experience of working with (paleo)oceanographic or (bio)geochemical problems
• A master's thesis (see specifications below)
• Fluency in English

It is considered an advantage if you have:

• Experience of working with polar (paleo)oceanography.
• Experience of working in clean laboratories and using mass spectrometers.
• 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 to learn 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.

via Unsplash
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: https://uit.no/staffmobility

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. 

Eallju - Developing the High North

UiT The Arctic University of Norway is a multi-campus comprehensive university at the international forefront. Our vision is to be a driving force for developing the High North. The Northern Sami notion eallju, which means eagerness to work, sets the tone for this motive power at UiT. Along with students, staff and the wider community, we aim to utilise our location in Northern Norway and Sápmi, our broad and diverse research and study portfolio and interdisciplinary advantage to shape the future.

Our social mission is to provide research-based education of high quality, perform artistic development and carry out research of the highest international quality standards in the entire range from basic to applied. We will convey knowledge about disciplines and contribute to innovation. Our social mission unites UiT across various studies, research fields and large geographical distances. This demands good cooperation with trade and industry and civil society as well as with international partners. We will strengthen knowledge-based and sustainable development at a regional, national and international level.

Academic freedom and scientific and ethical principles form the basis for all UiT’s activities. Participation, co-determination, transparency and good processes will provide the decision-making basis we need to make wise and far-sighted priorities. Our students and staff will have the opportunity to develop their abilities and potential. Founded on academic integrity, we will be courageous, committed and generous in close contact with disciplines, people and contemporary developments.

We will demonstrate adaptability and seek good and purposeful utilisation of resources, so we are ready to meet the expectations and opportunities of the future. We will strengthen the quality and impact of our disciplines and core tasks through the following three strategic priority areas.

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Deadline

5th February 2024

Employer

UiT The Arctic University of Norway

Municipality

Tromsø - Romsa

Scope

Fulltime (1 positions) Fulltime (%)

Duration

Fixed Term

Place of service
Hansine Hansensveg, 9019 Tromsø

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