Doctoral student in Climate extremes during the Bronze Age (PA2021/2422)

Lund University was founded in 1666 and is repeatedly ranked among the world’s top 100 universities. The University has around 44 000 students and more than 8 000 staff based in Lund, Helsingborg and Malmö. We are united in our efforts to understand, explain and improve our world and the human condition.

The Faculty of Science conducts research and education within Biology, Astronomy, Physics, Geosciences, Chemistry, Mathematics and Environmental Science. The Faculty is organized into nine departments, gathered in the northern campus area. The Faculty has approximately 1500 students, 330 PhD students and 700 employees.

The Department of Geology has a long and successful history of research with an international reputation throughout the entire geological field and offers nationally leading undergraduate programmes at Bachelor’s and Master’s levels. About 40 researchers/teachers and 20 research students are active at the department, which consists of two sub-departments: Quaternary Sciences and Bedrock Geology.

Subject description

Several dramatic changes in climate and environment during prehistoric time have been detected in tree-ring data and archaeological records. Despite ever improving methods for palaeoclimatic and archaeological studies, the exact timing, causes and effects of many extreme events are poorly known. In this project, a PhD student will work in a multidisciplinary research group of dendrochronologists, archaeologists, geologist, palaeoclimatologists. The PhD student will apply a novel combination of dendrochemical methods to tree-ring records from subfossil trees. The analyses will be based on Energy-Dispersive X-ray Fluorescence (ED-XRF) and Laser Ablation Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS), a combination which will enable detection of trace elements from, e.g., volcanic eruptions and anthropogenic activities as metal fabrication. Following detection and dating of the events, stable carbon- and oxygen-isotope ratios as well as tree-ring density and growth anomalies will be explored to gain information on climatic and environmental responses. To clarify the societal responses to extreme events, the PhD student and collaborators will compare our data with large archaeological datasets with palaeodemographic data from burials, settlements, and ritual deposits. Combined such data will provide supportive information on natural and anthropogenic responses. The research project will focus on extreme events observed in the tree-ring records as well as periods when major volcanic eruptions may have influenced the climate in Scandinavia during the mid-Holocene (7000-3000 years before present).

Main collaborators in the project: Department of Geology at Lund University, Department of Cultural Sciences at Linnaeus University, Department of Historical Studies, University of Gothenburg, and Department of Archaeology and Ancient History at Lund University. The project will also involve collaboration with the Department of Physical Geography at Stockholm University, The National Museum in Copenhagen, and University of Geneva.

Work duties

The main duties of doctoral students are to devote themselves to their research studies, which includes participating in research projects and third-cycle courses. The work duties can also include teaching and other departmental duties, including work at the Laboratory for Wood Anatomy and Dendrochronology (no more than 20%). Department work is compensated with an extension of the doctoral position.

Principal supervisor in the project is Dr. Johannes Edvardsson (Department of Geology, Lund University), co-supervisors are Senior lecturer Peter Skoglund (Department of Cultural Sciences, Linnaeus University), Dr. Christian Horn (Department of Historical Studies, University of Gothenburg), and prof. Dan Hammarlund (Department of Geology, Lund University).

Admission requirements

A person meets the general admission requirements for third-cycle courses and study programmes if he or she:

• Has been awarded a second-cycle qualification, or
• Has satisfied the requirements for courses comprising at least 240 credits of which at least 60 credits were awarded in the second cycle, or
• Has acquired equivalent knowledge in some other way in Sweden or abroad

The successful applicant is expected to hold a Master of Science degree (or equivalent) in Earth Sciences/Geology, Environmental Sciences, Archaeology (Master of Arts for Archaeology), or related field. Documented experience and interest in dendrochronology, palaeoclimatology, and geochemical methods (e.g., ICP-MS analytical methods), together with good oral and written proficiency in English are strongly desired. Ability to work well independently and with others is a necessity, as well as ability and interest to participate in field work and in performing experimental work.

We offer one full-time PhD position for 4 years with Swedish social security benefits. The position will be located at the Department of Geology, Lund University. The application for the advertised position must include:

• Letter of interest that describes the applicant’s background, interests, and ambitions in relation to the project (one page)
• CV comprising date of birth and complete listing of BSc and MSc grades
• Academic transcripts
• A PDF file (or link for downloading) listing publications including Master’s and/or Bachelor’s theses, and other scientific publications
• Name and contact details of at least two references

Eligibility

The employment of doctoral students is regulated in the Swedish Code of Statues 1998: 80. Only those who are or have been admitted to PhD-studies may be appointed to doctoral studentships. When an appointment to a doctoral studentship is made, the ability of the student to benefit from PhD-studies shall primarily be taken into account. In addition to devoting themselves to their studies, those appointed to doctoral studentships may be required to work with educational tasks, research and administration, in accordance with specific regulations in the ordinance.

Terms of employment

Limit of tenure, four years according to HF 5 kap 7§.

The candidate will be employed by Lund University according to standard University rules.

Only those admitted to third cycle studies may be appointed to a doctoral studentship. Third cycle studies at LTH consist of full-time studies for 4 years. A doctoral studentship is a fixed-term employment of a maximum of 5 years (including 20% departmental duties). Doctoral studentships are regulated in the Higher Education Ordinance (1993:100), chapter 5, 1-7 §§.