Postdoc in Historical Geobiology using high-stratigraphic resolution geochemical analyses for cyclostratigraphic analyses and paleoclimate reconstructions

The Dahl Group at the Globe Institute is offering a Postdoc position for an excellent, ambitious, and highly motivated candidate with background in experimental sedimentary geochemistry and reconstruction of Earth’s climatic and/or environmental history. The position is available for 2 years from 1 September 2023 (or soon thereafter).


The position is associated with the Section for Geobiology at the Globe Institute, and the Physics of Ice, Climate and Earth section at the Niels Bohr Institute. The successful candidate will have a degree in geoscience with strong experimental skills within geochemistry, geobiology and paleoenvironmental reconstructions. The candidate should have in-depth knowledge of Earth’s long-term environmental and biological history, and experience with geochemical analyses of sedimentary records. Experience and expertise with Earth system modeling is a plus.

Information on the department can be found at https://globe.ku.dk.

Our research
The Dahl group is working with numerous geochemical proxies aimed at unraveling the climate and redox dynamics of the Earth system even hundreds of million years back in time. The postdoc will work in an interdisciplinary project funded by the Villum Foundation focusing on using high-resolution core scanning XRF data and new advanced computational methods to refine the geological time scale by multi-dimensional cyclostratigraphic analysis. This will lay out timelines across past climate events in hitherto unprecedented detail, allowing us to elucidate the governing processes and rates of climate change in the past by combining geochemical proxies with dynamic Earth system models.

Your job
The work requires an ability to work focused and carefully with large geochemical data sets from drill cores through Paleozoic sedimentary archives. You will have demonstrated an aptitude to collect geochemical data and ability to work dedicatedly towards publication in peer-reviewed journals. Your daily work will include laboratory activities, characterizing sources of noise, optimizing XRF analyses and advancing cyclostratigraphic analyses in collaboration with mathematical geoscientists. The development will require in-depth knowledge of sediment genesis and diagenetic processes. Knowledge about specific past climate events where unsolved dynamic problems exist and access to sediment core material spanning relevant periods is a plus but not a necessity.

Profile
We are looking for a highly motivated and enthusiastic scientist with the following competencies and experience:

Essential experience and skills:

• You have a PhD in geoscience, geochemistry, geophysics, geology or equivalent
• You are highly experienced in collecting data from sedimentary records
• You have in-depth knowledge about early Earth history problems
• You have an active interest in developing new and more powerful tools for unravelling the history of life and the environment on Earth
• Proficient communication skills and ability to work in teams
• Excellent English skills written and spoken.

Desirable experience and skills:

• Experience in collecting geochemical data from sedimentary records
• Knowledge of early Earth problems
• Capable of managing time and respect deadlines
• Capable of leading research projects towards publication (e.g. first-author on peer-reviewed papers, grants, fellowships, prizes).

Place of employment

The place of employment is at the Section for Geobiology, Øster Voldgade 5-7, 1350 Copenhagen K, Denmark.

About Globe Institute
The Globe Institute is part of the Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences at the University of Copenhagen. The Institute’s main purpose is to address basic scientific questions through interdisciplinary approaches. The institute operates at the intersection of natural and medical sciences and the humanities. Information on the institute can be found at: https://www.globe.ku.dk/.

The Globe Institute is committed to creating an inclusive and diverse environment where employees and students can belong and thrive. See website for more information. All qualified applicants will receive full consideration. Candidates who, through their research, teaching, and/or service, contribute to diversity and competencies of our Institute are encouraged to apply. The University of Copenhagen strives to offer a family friendly and flexible working environment with a sustainable balance between work- and private life, including parental leave schemes (up to 47 weeks for both parents) and up to six weeks of paid holidays per year. Researchers that have not been tax liable in Denmark for the last 10 years can apply for a special (reduced) tax scheme. The university offers a variety of services for international researchers and accompanying families.

Terms of employment
The average weekly working hours are 37 hours per week.

The position is a fixed-term position limited to a period of 2 years. The starting date is on 1 September 2023 or after agreement.

Salary, pension and other conditions of employment are set in accordance with the Agreement between the Ministry of Taxation and AC (Danish Confederation of Professional Associations) or other relevant organisation. Currently, the monthly salary starts at 36,291 DKK/approx. 4,870 EUR (April 2023 level). Depending on qualifications, a supplement may be negotiated. The employer will pay an additional 17.1 % to your pension fund.

Foreign and Danish applicants may be eligible for tax reductions, if they hold a PhD degree and have not lived in Denmark the last 10 years.

The position is covered by the Job Structure for Academic Staff at Universities 2020.

Questions
Further information about the position can be obtained from Associate Professor Tais Wittchen Dahl, Globe Institute: tais.dahl@sund.ku.dk, or Prof. Klaus Mosegaard, Niels Bohr Institute: mosegaard@nbi.ku.dk

Foreign applicants may find this link useful: www.ism.ku.dk (International Staff Mobility).

Application procedure
Your online application must be submitted in English by clicking ‘Apply now’ below. Furthermore, your application must include the following documents/attachments – all in PDF format:

1. Motivated letter of application (max. one page).
2. CV incl. education, work/research experience, language skills and other skills relevant for the position.
3. A certified/signed copy of a) PhD certificate and b) Master of Science certificate. If the PhD is not completed, a written statement from the supervisor will do.
4. List of publications.

Deadline for applications: 31 May 2023, 23.59pm CET.

We reserve the right not to consider material received after the deadline, and not to consider applications that do not live up to the abovementioned requirements.

The further process
After the expiry of the deadline for applications, the authorized recruitment manager selects applicants for assessment on the advice of the hiring committee. All applicants are then immediately notified whether their application has been passed for assessment by an unbiased assessor. Once the assessment work has been completed each applicant has the opportunity to comment on the part of the assessment that relates to the applicant him/herself.

You can read about the recruitment process at https://employment.ku.dk/faculty/recruitment-process/

The applicant will be assessed according to the Ministerial Order no. 242 of 13 March 2012 on the Appointment of Academic Staff at Universities.

The University wishes our staff to reflect the diversity of society and thus welcomes applications from all qualified candidates regardless of personal background.