Applications are invited for a PhD fellowship/scholarship at Graduate School of Natural Sciences, Aarhus University, Denmark, within the Geoscience programme. The position is available from May 2025 or later.
Title:
GreenTrace
Research area and project description:
The Paleoceanography and Paleoclimate Research Group at the Department of Geoscience of Aarhus University (https://geo.au.dk/paleo) is seeking to hire a PhD candidate in the GreenTrace project, funded by the Independent Research Fund Denmark.
The focus of the GreenTrace research project is on trace fossils in marine sediments around Greenland and their use as quantitative proxies in palaeoceanography. Trace fossils, or “footprints” that are left behind by benthic organisms such as bivalves or bristle worms moving along and digging below the ocean floor are imaged by computed tomography (CT) scanning of sediment cores. The GreenTrace project has access to more than 100 sediment core sections, from over 30 locations around Greenland.
One of the aims of the PhD project is to develop segmentation models to isolate the bioturbation structures from CT scans with the help of machine learning techniques. Once the trace fossils are identified, they can be used to reconstruct benthic ecosystems and their responses to climatic and environmental changes over thousands of years. Research questions can focus on biodiversity, palaeoceanographic applications, carbon sequestration, and dating techniques. Depending on the profile of the selected candidate and the chosen approach of the project, the PhD candidate will also apply other proxy analyses on the sediment core samples. This may include the study of microfossils, lipid biomarkers, isotopes, and physical properties of sediments.
The PhD candidate will work closely with project collaborators including researchers with expertise in Arctic palaeoceanography, benthic ecology, ichnology, and scanning techniques. The main place of work will be the Department of Geoscience of Aarhus University, but there will also be a 3-month research stay abroad to one of the international project partners. The project is fully funded, and PhD salary is secured for the entire PhD duration, including funding for attendance of conferences, workshops and short courses abroad.
For technical reasons, you must upload a project description. When - as here - you apply for a specific project, please simply copy the project description above, and upload it as a PDF in the application. If you wish to, you can indicate an URL where further information can be found.
Qualifications and specific competences:
Applicants must have a relevant Master’s degree or at least one year of a Master’s degree in natural science, including but not limited to geoscience, biology, ecology, engineering, or computer science.
The ideal candidate has an educational background and experience in one or more of the following topics:
- Arctic palaeoceanography and multi-proxy climate reconstructions
- Image segmentation using machine-learning techniques
- Arctic marine benthic ecosystems
- Ichnology
- Morphometric analysis
In the cover letter, applicants should state how their own specific research interests, background and experience fit into the GreenTrace project. There is freedom to steer the research direction of the project depending on the candidate’s individual background and these details will be discussed during the hiring process.
Place of employment and place of work:
The place of employment is Aarhus University, and the place of work is Department of Geoscience, Høegh-Guldbergs Gade 2, 8000 Aarhus, Denmark.
Contacts:
Applicants seeking further information for this project are invited to contact:
Associate Professor Christof Pearce, christof.pearce@geo.au.dk
Assistant Professor Henrieka Detlef, henrieka.detlef@geo.au.dk
Professor Marit-Solveig Seidenkrantz, mss@geo.au.dk
How to apply:
For information about application requirements and mandatory attachments, please see the Application guide. Please read the Application guide thoroughly before applying.
When ready to apply, go to https://phd.nat.au.dk/for-applicants/apply-here/ (Note, the online application system opens 1 December 2024)
Please note:
At the Faculty of Natural Science at Aarhus University, we strive to support our scientific staff in their career development. We focus on competency development and career clarification and want to make your opportunities transparent. On our website, you can find information on all types of scientific positions, as well as the entry criteria we use when assessing candidates. You can also read more about how we can assist you in your career planning and development.
Aarhus University’s ambition is to be an attractive and inspiring workplace for all and to foster a culture in which each individual has opportunities to thrive, achieve and develop. We view equality and diversity as assets, and we welcome all applicants. All interested candidates are encouraged to apply, regardless of their personal background.
