Postdoc Position in Marine Palynology

The department of Earth Sciences is looking for a highly motivated postdoctoral researcher with a background in palynology, micropaleontology, organic geochemistry and/or oceanography. You will work on the project “Ice-ocean interactions in West Antarctica during rapid transitions in past warm climates”. In this position, you map out in detail the geographic distribution of dinoflagellate cyst species and organic geochemical biomarkers around West Antarctica and the Antarctic Peninsula.Your job

You are expected to generate organic-walled dinoflagellate cyst assemblage data from surface sediment samples available at the British Antarctic Survey. In addition, the project involves the generation of organic geochemical biomarker data from the same surface sediment samples, both with the aim of improving their accuracy as proxy for surface oceanographic conditions. Alongside this, there are opportunities to generate sedimentological and inorganic geochemical data as well, which are indicative of both ocean and ice dynamics. Towards the end of the project, you will contribute to the application of the improved proxies to reconstruct surface ocean change during prominent deglaciation phases in West-Antarctica.

The position is part of a larger interdisciplinary project, that includes a PhD candidate that focuses on the paleoceanographic reconstructions during the Pleistocene and Pliocene, with whom you will closely collaborate. Both positions are funded by the Dutch National Science Foundation NWO in a special call of the Polar Programme in collaboration with the British Antarctic Survey. The positions are based in the Marine Palynology & Paleoceanography group at the Department of Earth Sciences in Utrecht, NL. Regular visits to the British Antarctic Survey in Cambridge, UK, are foreseen.

Your qualities

We are looking for a candidate with commitment to overcome the challenges faced in working with complicated material from close to Antarctica. This project really seeks a problem-solver, someone who isn’t let down by the first disappointment. You demonstrate the capability to contribute yourself to the planning and organisation of your work as well as that of the PhD, with a keen interest in taking initiatives for the direction in which the projects develop.

You must have successfully completed a PhD programme in Earth Sciences, Environmental Sciences, Biology, micropaleontology, palynology or a related discipline by the time the position starts. You have:

• experience in palynology/micropaleontology, including microscope work (required);
• experience in working in a laboratory (required);
• evident passion for teamwork, and willingness to travel (also abroad);
• adequate social/verbal/communication skills.

Preferably, you also have:

• a strong interest in paleoclimate/paleoceanography;
• experience in proxy development;
• experience in (in)organic geochemistry.

Due to the international character of our research, good command of spoken and written English is essential. We highly encourage applicants from all members of our community and of diverse backgrounds to join us.

Our offer

We offer:

• a position initially for one year, with an extension to three years in total upon a successful assessment in the first year;
• a working week of 38 hours and a gross monthly salary between €3,720 and €4,332 in the case of full-time employment (salary scale 10.3-10.7 under the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities (CAO NU));
• 8% holiday pay and 8.3% year-end bonus;
• a pension scheme, partially paid parental leave and flexible terms of employment based on the CAO NU.