Doctoral Researcher (m/f/d) Reconstruction of Past Hydrothermal Activity at the East Pacific Rise...

Area of research:

Other

Job description:

GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel is a foundation under public law jointly financed by the Federal Republic of Germany (90%) and the State of Schleswig-Holstein (10%). It is one of the internationally leading institutions in the field of marine research.

Through our research and our commitment to the transfer of knowledge and technology, we contribute significantly to the preservation of the function and protection of the ocean for future generations.

The research unit Paleo-Oceanography of research division 1 “Ocean Circulation and Climate Dynamics” is offering the position of a Doctoral Researcher (m/f/d) Reconstruction of Past Hydrothermal Activity at the East Pacific Rise in the frame of the ERC Synergy-Grant "T-SECTOR", starting on June 1st 2025. The position offers the possibility to attain a doctoral degree in natural sciences.

Project Description

For the understanding of the Earth system a quantification of climate-solid Earth feedbacks is required. The global glacial/interglacial climatic changes of the past 1.5 million years led to the periodic waxing and waning of continental ice sheets and caused a vast mass transfer between the continents (ice load) and the oceans resulting in sea level changes of up to 140 m. Mid ocean ridges (MOR) where 80% of Earth’s volcanism occurs, are sensitive to such pressure changes, but their response to glacial cycles is largely unknown. Models of MOR response to sea level fluctuations predict changes in hydrothermal activity but comprehensive time series have so far not been accessible.

Carbonate-rich sediments of the MORs provide an archive of hydrothermal activity (radiogenic and stable isotope compositions of the authigenic seawater-derived sediment phases (in particular of Pb) and trace metal contents) that can be sampled by gravity coring. Through closely spaced new cores from MOR sections across the East Pacific Rise to be taken during an upcoming expedition, high-resolution time series of changes in hydrothermal activity of the past 1.5 million years can be achieved and directly linked to the climate record.

Job Description / Duties

The successful candidate will be part of the international team of researchers of the ERC Synergy Grant „T-SECTOR“. She/He will participate in the recovery of sediment cores and their sampling during the planned seagoing expeditions, carry out the element and isotope geochemical measurements in the laboratories of GEOMAR, and interpret them in terms of past changes in hydrothermal activity. For the interpretation of the data she/he will closely collaborate with the partners of the project, in particular the stratigraphers. In addition, she/he will be involved in the preparations for the expeditions. Further tasks include the scientific interpretation of the data, their presentation at national and international conferences as well as their publication in peer-reviewed scientific journals. The successful candidate will regularly communicate with the other team members and will contribute to the management of the project and the curation of the data.

Qualification

required:

• a Master of Science degree in Geosciences, Environmental Sciences, Oceanography or a related field
• Knowledge in paleoceanography, sedimentology, marine geochemistry or a related field
• willingness and capability to participate in sea-going expeditions
• very good English language skills (written and spoken)

desirable:

• Experience in working in a laboratory environment is desirable
• Experience in data analysis is desirable
• Experience in radiogenic isotope analysis is desirable

At a workplace, directly on the Kiel Fjord with many leisure and recreational opportunities, we offer you:

• Good conditions for work-life balance: We offer, among other things, the possibility of mobile working and individual working time arrangements, vacation courses for the children of our employees, and good support in finding a place in a daycare center at the Kiel site
• Support services for professional and personal life situations
• An exciting work environment with the opportunity to provide important impetus for the development of sustainable solutions
• Exciting topics in an international environment
• Work in the field of marine and climate research, a forward-looking area with social significance
• 30 vacation days + additional time off at Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve
• Company pension plan and capital-forming benefits

The position is funded for a period of three years and 6 months.

The salary depends on qualification and can be up to the class E13 TVöD Bund of the German tariff for public employees (TVöD Bund). This is a part-time position according to 75% of a full-time equivalent. The position cannot be split, flexible working time models are generally possible.

GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel seeks to increase the proportion of female scientists and explicitly encourages qualified female academics to apply. GEOMAR is an equal opportunity employer and encourages scientists with disabilities to apply. Qualified disabled applicants will receive preference in the application process.

Please send your application including a letter of motivation, CV and contact details of at least one referee for this post not later than March 19th 2025 under the following link:

Online application

As soon as the selection procedure will be finished, all your application data will be removed according to data protection regulation.

For further information regarding the position and research unit please contact Prof.Dr.MartinFrank (mfrank(at)geomar.de).

We will answer all your questions if you send us an e-mail to bewerbung(at)geomar.de. In doing so, please refer to the keyword “T-SECTOR - SEPR Hydrothermalism”.

For further information on GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel or the Helmholtz Association, please visit www.geomar.de or www.helmholtz.de.

GEOMAR is committed to an objective and non-discriminatory personnel selection. Our job advertisements address all people. We expressly renounce the submission of application photos.

This research center is part of the Helmholtz Association of German Research Centers. With more than 42,000 employees and an annual budget of over € 5 billion, the Helmholtz Association is Germany's largest scientific organisation.