PhD position: Examining the thresholds in past Atlantic ocean circulation using stalagmite geochemistry

100%, Zurich, fixed-term

If you are intruigued by study of past climate, enjoy having your hands on samples in the lab and generating new geochemical data, and are a quantitative thinker, you might be interested in this PhD project. The Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC) is a major artery of global heat transport affecting European and global climate, which has substantially weakened dozens of times in the last several hundred thousand years and then recovered within centuries to millennial. This PhD position contributes to our ongoing research to diagnose the causes for these abrupt weakenings and the factors which allowed AMOC to recover. The project is generating new geochemical records from stalagmites which grew in coastal caves, to reconstruct the phasing of changes in the North Atlantic salinity relative to AMOC variations, and interpreting them with the aid of process models and experiments with tracers in atmosphere- ocean general circulation experiments.

Job description

• As a PhD candidate, you will plan, generate, and interpret new research data; you will present data to scientific colleagues in workshops and conferences, and you will prepare your research findings for publication in scientific journals
• You will collaborate with a research team at ETH and at other institutions
• For the research, you will travel abroad for research stays to conduct U/Th dating of stalagmites, and for training in model-data comparisons
• Additionally, you will increase your training by taking the required courses (12KP) in disciplinary and transversal skills
• Finally, a department requirement is that all PhD candidates must dedicate up to 10% of employment time to service to the department, generally by contributing to department teaching activities; this responsibility also builds communication and management skills of PhD candidates

Profile

• You have completed a Master’s Degree relevant to Paleoclimate study (e.g Earth Science, or Atmosphere and Climate study in Physics or Geography realm)
• You have prior course experience in paleoclimate
• You have prior course and research experience in geochemistry laboratory analysis, including generating isotopic or trace element data
• You have strong quantitative skills and comfort with coding, and good analytical thinking
• You are committed to working in an interdisciplinary team blending climate modeling, geochemical process models, and new geochemical data
• You have strong skills and committment to growth in academic writing

Workplace

We offer

This PhD project provides the opportunity to gain a broad training in leading geochemistry laboratory, developing and working with process models, and working with results from general circulation models of climate, as part of an international team working on pioneering methodology. ETH offers access to outstanding analytical resources with excellent technical support. Regular co-writing and writing retreats provide support in the challenging tasks of original scientific writing.

Working, teaching and research at ETH Zurich

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Curious? So are we.

We look forward to receiving your online application with the following documents:

• A personal statement describing your motivation for applying for this specific PhD project and detailing how your previous educational and research experiences prepare you well for this project. This statement should convey sufficient details and anecdotes to communicate your scientific personality.
• A current CV including any participation in scientific conferences or publications
• A copy of your Masters Degree transcript
• The names and contact information (email) of at least two references who know your qualifications well and who have agreed to be listed.

Further information about the Climate Geology can be found here . Questions regarding the position should be directed to Prof. Heather Stoll at heather.stoll@ eaps.ethz.ch (no applications).

Please note that we exclusively accept applications submitted through our online application portal. Applications via email or postal services will not be considered. Applications will be reviewed as they are received. The first review of applications will close on April 8th.

We would like to point out that the pre-selection is carried out by the responsible recruiters and not by artificial intelligence.

Apply online now

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