2 PhD positions: Palaeobiology of Teratologic Microfossils 864 views

The Department of Geology at Ghent University is inviting applications for two three-year PhD researcher positions investigating the palaeobiology of teratologic microfossils during respectively Silurian (project 1) and Jurassic (project 2) extinction events. The positions are funded by the Human Frontier Science Program (HFSP) and form part of a series of new hires by an international consortium, involving researchers at the universities of Ghent, Nottingham, Utrecht and California-Berkeley.

About the project:

• The successful candidate will undertake analysis of organic walled microfossils (palynomorphs) that display aberrations in morphology and texture associated with mass-extinction events in the fossil record, combined with a study of their modern analogues in experimental and field settings.
• The deep time perspective of the research programme is provided by these two PhD projects, directed by Ghent University and Utrecht University, and focusses on selected Palaeozoic and Mesozoic events.
• Key analytical techniques include optical microscopy, SEM, LA-ICPMS, FTIR and Synchrotron-XRF.
• The successful candidate will have opportunities to undertake training in transferable skills, to gain experience in mentorship, and to participate in fieldwork. The successful candidate will work closely with the PIs and other members of the team.

Responsibilities:

• to engage in appropriate training and professional development opportunities as required by the PI or University in order to develop research skills and competencies;
• to engage in the dissemination of the results of the research in which they are engaged, as directed by, with the support of and under the supervision of the PIs;
• to become familiar with the publication process;
• to acquire generic and transferable skills (including project management and postgraduate mentoring/supervision);
• to engage in the wider research and scholarly activities of the research group.

Requirements:

• Applicant must hold excellent scholarly results obtained during an M.Sc in Geology, Earth Sciences, Biology, Palaeontology, (Geo)Chemistry, or an equivalent degree in related fields pertinent to the research project.
• Good analytical and laboratory skills
• Ability to work as part of a(n international) team combined with an ability to manage tasks independently
• Excellent problem solving skills; excellent communication skills, particularly in English
• Strongly motivated and ambitious attitude

How to apply

Candidates should apply, in confidence, by submitting a single application document to Thijs.vandenbroucke@ugent.be and this application should contain the following items, merged into a single .pdf document:

• A cover letter
• CV
• The contact details of two referees (actual letters of support are accepted but not required at this stage)
• A copy of diplomas and the full transcripts of the scores/results have obtained during your degree(s)
• Students currently in their final year of their MSc are invited also to include a progress statement by their current academic supervisor