PhD student in Arctic Aeolian Processes and Paleoclimate

The Department of Geological Sciences is part of the Faculty of Science at Stockholm University. The department 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 project aims to understand the connections between aeolian processes, carbon accumulation and fires in Arctic Fennoscandinavia. Although cool and wet climates are often overlooked in mineral dust research, the presence of loess and sand dune systems in these regions highlights the existence of dust dynamics even at high latitudes. Dust plays a complex role in the Earth’s climate and is an important pathway for nutrient transport, and thereby, ecosystem productivity. Climate change in the Arctic is occurring at a much faster rate than elsewhere on Earth, and fires are expected to increase in frequency – this enhances aeolian activity and dust production. The consequence of this on northern peatlands, which currently store a third of the world’s soil carbon, is at present uncertain. This project will integrate elemental and mineralogical information from mid-Holocene aged peat-based paleorecords with proximal loess and sand dune records to examine changes in dust (source and quantity), fire activity and any consequent changes in carbon and peat accumulation rates in the surrounding peatlands.

The successful candidate will work with different types of glacigenic sediments as well as peat sequences. This will involve several field campaigns in northern Fennoscandinavia. As part of this four-year project, you will receive training on a range of geochemical methods from sample preparation and clean room procedures to mass spectrometric and scanning electron microscope techniques. Macrofossil analyses are also planned.

The project is hosted at Stockholm University but includes key collaborators at Uppsala University, Sweden and the University of Santiago de Compostela, Spain.

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 Geochemistry 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 geochemistry
• 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 geochemistry 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 techniques

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 position. 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 Dr. Malin Kylander, malin.kylander@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.