PhD - Marine geology

Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research

Texel, The Netherlands

 

Description

 

Massive amounts of dust (~1 Billion Ton) are blown from the Sahara into and over the Atlantic Ocean every year. This dust has numerous influences on the earth´s environment: it strongly alters the atmosphere through blocking incoming solar radiation and trapping outgoing heat that was reflected at the earth’s surface. In addition, aerosols carry huge amounts of metals and nutrients that can boost marine life, but also vast amounts of microbes, spores, and pathogens that are harmful for both marine- and terrestrial (including human!) life. The net effect of cooling/warming and ocean fertilisation/poisoning is presently far from understood as it depends on a complex set of parameters related to dust emission, dispersal, and deposition. In order to quantify these parameters, a team of scientists is developing and applying a novel approach to study the transatlantic flux of Saharan dust and its environmental effect on the ocean by studying a transect of five ocean moorings with two dust-collecting surface buoys below the Saharan dust plume from NW Africa to the Caribbean. For this multi-disciplinary team we are looking for a PhD student with a solid background in geochemistry to study the source-to-sink changes in nutrient composition of Saharan dust and the bio-availability of associated nutrients and their potential fertilisation of the photic zone. Will you be the one to answer the billion-€ question: “can we influence climate with desert dust?”. You will be working in close collaboration with a post-doctoral researcher, both of you focussing on work package II, which is dealing with the quantification of compositional changes of aerosols after deposition in the ocean, the marine environmental effects of dust fertilisation in relation to the carbon pump, and the export of organic material from photic zone to sea floor by dust ballasting. Tasks include:

 

- Comparison of the dust collected by the atmospheric samplers on the buoys (N=2) and the export of both dust and organic matter to the seafloor which is intercepted by the subsurface sediment trap directly below— allows for a quantification of nutrient fluxes to the ocean.

- Quantification of the dust-ballasting effect on the export of carbon to the ocean floor by comparing deposition of organic matter during dust and non-dust periods. Another question to assess is how much of the organic matter contained in dust particles is derived from the scavenging and transport from the water column in opposition to the organic load present beforehand.

- Production of dust using soil material from various Saharan sources under varying moisture conditions. Focus will be on which metals are taken up by the dust particles and are made bio-available after entering the ocean.

 

Requirements

 

We are looking for a highly motivated and bright individual with a solid background in geochemistry, with interest in biology, and hands-on experience with field work. Experience in analytical techniques such as geochemical analyses is appreciated. An open and communicative attitude as well as a cooperative spirit are requirements for success in this multidisciplinary project, which will also include sea-going expeditions.

 

More information and applications

 

We offer a fulltime position for 4 years, a pension scheme, a yearly 8% vacation allowance, year-end bonus and flexible employment conditions. Conditions are based on the Collective Labour Agreement of Research Centers. The position will be located on Texel. Cost of relocation and help with housing is provided by NIOZ. Additional information about this project can be obtained from: Dr. Jan-Berend Stuut: jan-berend.stuut@nioz.nl

Additional information about the procedure can be obtained from Jolanda Evers, HR advisor: jolanda.evers@nioz.nl

 

Applicants should send a cover letter with motivation, CV and two references to the HRM Department, Jolanda Evers, NIOZ Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research, P.O. Box 59, 1790 AB Den Burg, the Netherlands, or preferably by E-mail to: jobs@nioz.nl. Please quote vacancy number 2013-009 in your application. Applications in English are preferred, applications in Dutch will also be accepted. Closing date: Applications can be submitted until March 1st 2013