PhD: climate feedbacks and methane cycling in arctic lakes

‘CLIMET’ is a multidisciplinary project targeting the interactions of climate change and the CH4 cycling in the Kangerlussuaq region. We focus on dissolved organic matter accumulating in lakes and whose quality/quantity is shifting with Arctic greening. The second is wind-blown inorganic sediment which originates from the Greenland Ice Sheet outwash.

Your job

Both are consequential for the microbial community interactions that drive CH4cycling but are poorly understood. In the PhD project we will investigate terrestrial vegetation dynamics and lake properties including the aeolian deposits in lake sediments over the last ~1000 years, where the Little Ice Age and the Medieval Climate Anomaly are known to have affected climate. For this, you will study the mineralogy and quantify lanthanides in sediments to assess chemical weathering and apply high resolution, automated palynology for vegetation dynamics. Downcore sedDNA analysis will in parallel unravel the important responses of the microbial community structure to climate driven DOM and sediments.

To support academic and personal development, PhD candidates follow courses and assist in teaching Earth Sciences at Bachelor's and Master's level. Together these activities amount to twenty percent of the contracted time.

Your qualities

We look forward to your application if you have the following qualifications:

• an MSc in earth sciences, environmental science or a related field;
• affinity with (palaeo-)ecology, (palaeo-)limnology in arctic environments;
• prior experience in (paleolimnological) fieldwork, lake sediment analysis, palynology or geochemistry (REE);
• interested in interdisciplinary scientific challenges and interactions especially on the interface between biology and geosciences;
• enjoy working in the multidisciplinary team of PhD candidates, postdocs and senior staff from NIOO, Radboud University and Utrecht University that together contribute to the CLIMET project;
• excellent English language skills.

Our offer

• A position for one year, with an extension to a total of four years upon a successful assessment in the first year, and with the specific intent that it results in a doctorate within this period;
• a working week of 38 hours and a gross monthly salary between €2,901 and €3,707 (salary scale P 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.