PhD in Paleoceanography and Ocean Circulation at Durham University

Durham University is offering a fully funded PhD position in paleoceanography, focusing on investigating past changes in Greenland melting and its impacts on ocean circulation, particularly the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC). This project aims to address critical gaps in our understanding of how freshwater input from Greenland and the Arctic has influenced ocean currents and climate, using marine sediment cores and a suite of geochemical, sedimentary, and biological proxies. The research will reconstruct meltwater run-off, iceberg fluxes, and the response of the Subpolar North Atlantic to freshwater input across the Holocene. The student will analyze sediment cores from the East Greenland margin and the Eastern Labrador Sea, employing methods such as trace metal and stable isotope chemistry in foraminiferal calcite, foraminiferal assemblage counts, and grain size analysis to infer past ocean conditions. The project is supervised by Dr Paola Moffa-Sanchez (Durham University), Dr Louise Callard (Newcastle University), Prof Jerry Lloyd (Durham University), and Prof Camilla Andresen (GEUS, Denmark). The student will benefit from close collaboration with GEUS, including secondments to Copenhagen, and will join the Sea Level, Ice and Climate Research Cluster at Durham. Training will be provided in state-of-the-art laboratories, with additional opportunities for skills development through the Durham Centre for Academic Development and the IAPETUS DTP framework. Applicants should have a strong background in Earth Science, Environmental Science, Geography, Geology, or related fields, with experience or interest in paleoceanography, geochemistry, or marine sediment analysis. The position is fully funded, covering tuition and a stipend, with support for research, training, and conference attendance. The application deadline is November 15, 2024. For more information and to apply, visit the IAPETUS DTP website or contact Dr Paola Moffa-Sanchez at [email protected].