PhD student in North Greenland Marine Micropaleontology

The Department of Geological Sciences is part of the Faculty of Science at Stockholm University. It consists of approximately 80 teachers, researchers, doctoral students, and technical/administrative staff.  The department conducts a wide range of fundamental and applied research within marine geology and geophysics, geochemistry and classical geology. 

More information about us, please visit: The Department of Geological Sciences.

Project description

This PhD employment aims to reconstruct the evolution of ocean circulation, sea ice, and marine-terminating glaciers on the North Greenland margin, Arctic Ocean, over the past ~140,000 years, spanning the deglaciation and Holocene. To achieve this, the project will integrate quantitative analyses of calcareous microfossils—including benthic and planktonic foraminifera, and ostracods—with sedimentological, geophysical, and chronological constraints.

The successful candidate will work with marine sediment cores collected from past expeditions in underexplored regions of North Greenland and will likely have the opportunity to collect new records on an upcoming Arctic expedition aboard the Swedish icebreaker Oden.

This employment is part of a project (THAWING) funded by the Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation, which investigates the influence of Atlantic Water inflow into the Arctic Ocean on North Greenland’s marine-based glaciers. As a PhD student, you will join a collaborative research team focused on unraveling ocean-ice interactions along the North Greenland margin. https://kaw.wallenberg.org/inflode-av-atlantvatten-i-arktis-hotar-gronlands-isar.

As part of this four-year employment, you will receive training in Arctic foraminifer and ostracod taxonomy while applying quantitative micropaleontological techniques to develop palaeoceanographic reconstructions. Your work will integrate microfossil records with broader insights into Arctic Ocean climate evolution, contributing to new interpretations alongside geochemical proxy methods. Additionally, you will gain expertise in marine sediment sampling methods and geochemical analysis, provide data on oceanic variable useful for testing ocean-climate models. The employment will be based at Stockholm university and the student should be willing and capable of spending research stays at international universities and potentially, as well as participating in a 6-7 week-long expedition to the central Arctic Ocean.

Qualification requirements

In order to be admitted to postgraduate education, the applicant must have the general and specific entry requirements. The qualification requirements must be met by the deadline for applications.

You meet general entry requirements if you have completed a second-cycle degree, or completed courses equivalent to at least 240 higher education credits, of which 60 credits must be in the second cycle, or have otherwise acquired equivalent knowledge in Sweden or elsewhere.

Specific entry requirements are described in the general syllabus for doctoral studies in the field of Geology stipulates that the applicant must normally have:

• At least 90 credits in geosciences
• At least 30 credits in mathematics, physics, chemistry and/or biology depending on the chosen subject area within marine geology
• In addition, at least 60 credits at the advanced level, including 30 credits of independent work in geosciences.

Special qualifications also have the person who acquired in a different order within or outside the country, essentially equivalent knowledge. 

For some specializations within the Marine Geology education at the postgraduate level, students who have undergone their main level education in related science subjects such as physics, chemistry, mathematics or biology may also be accepted.

Selection

The selection among the eligible candidates will be based on their capacity to benefit from the training. The following criteria will be used to assess this capacity:

• the candidate’s documented knowledge of micropaleontology and paleoceanography
• written and oral proficiency in English
• the capacity for analytical thinking, the ability to collaborate
• creativity, initiative, and independence
• the candidates potential to succeed demonstrated in a brief research (max 2 pages) proposal submitted with the application outlining how they would meet the project goals using relevant micropaleontological technique.

The assessment will be based on previous experience and grades, the quality of the degree project, references, relevant experience, interviews, and the candidate’s written motivation for seeking the employment. Experience with working with microfossils, or other microorganisms, and their taxonomy and ecology, is considered highly desirable.

Admission Regulations for Doctoral Studies at Stockholm University.

About the employment

We offer a fixed-term employment as a doctoral student according to Chapter 5 of the Higher Education Ordinance (1993:100). The period of employment may not be longer than what corresponds to full-time doctoral education for four years. As a doctoral student, you should primarily devote yourself to your own doctoral education, but the employment may include work with education, research and administration to a limited extent (maximum 20 %).

A new employment as a doctoral student is for a maximum of one year, the employment is then renewed for a maximum of two years at a time.

Stockholm University strives to be a workplace free from discrimination and with equal opportunities for all.

Contact

For more information, please contact Prof. Helen Coxall, helen.coxall@geo.su.se

Application

Apply for the PhD student position at Stockholm University's recruitment system. Attach a personal letter and CV as well as the attachments requested in the application form. It is the responsibility of the applicant to ensure that the application is complete in accordance with the instructions in the job advertisement, and that it is submitted before the deadline.

The instructions for applicants are available at: How to apply for a position.