PhD position

A three-years PhD position is open for an enthusiastic young researcher to work in the paleolimnology research group at the Oeschger Centre for Climate Change Research, University of Bern, Switzerland, with the topic:

“Calibrating and validating scanning VIS Reflectance Spectroscopy data (380 – 730 nm) from minerogenic and biochemical varves: improving climate reconstructions from lake sediments”.

The project deals with quantitative, high-resolution climate reconstructions from annually laminated lake sediments in the Swiss Alps and Poland. Besides standard geochemical proxies and proxy-climate calibration, the methodology of scanning reflectance spectroscopy and hyper-spectral imaging of lake sediments will be explored.

The ideal candidate has a strong background (MSc) in geosciences, environmental chemistry, paleoecology, environmental physics or remote sensing and is experienced in analytical laboratory work (sedimentology, geochemistry) and multivariate statistics. Proficient language skills (English and German) are a further asset.

The successful candidate will participate in the PhD programme of the Graduate School Climate Sciences, University of Bern, Switzerland.

Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Martin Grosjean, Oeschger Centre & Institute of Geography, University of Bern, Switzerland
Salary: Swiss NSF PhD Fellowship (41,000 to 47,000 CHF, 100%).
The position is available from June 1, 2011 (for 36 months).

The review of applications has started and continues until the position is filled. Applications of females are strongly encouraged.

Visit the following websites for more information about the paleolimnology research group and the Oeschger Centre for Climate Change Research:

http://cmslive3.unibe.ch/unibe/philnat/giub/content/forschungsgruppen/lake_sediments_and_paleolimnology/
http://www.oeschger.unibe.ch

Informal enquiries should be made and applications (ONE pdf with CV, letter of motivation, transcript of MSc with grades, publication list, names and addresses of three referees) should be sent to:

Prof. Dr. Martin Grosjean
Oeschger Centre
University of Bern
Zähringerstrasse 25
3012 Bern, Switzerland
martin.grosjean@giub.unibe.ch
Tel +41 31 631 31 47