OPPORTUNITIES

LATEST OPPORTUNITIES AT GARG AND ELSEWHERE

PHD SCHOLARSHIP OPPORTUNITY : ISOTOPES AND TRACE ELEMENT IN HUMAN REMAINS

DESCRIPTION

Seeking expression of interest for a fully funded PhD scholarship to work in the field of archaeogeochemistry, in particular improving our understanding of hominid exposomes using LA-ICPMS/LA-MC-ICPMS on fossil remains. The PhD will contain both robust methodological and palaeoanthropological components. Several projects are available and shortlisted candidates will be offered specific projects, depending on skills and interests. We welcome candidate with particular human evolution interest to develop their own PhD proposal.

The PhD student will work alongside scientists from Australia, USA, Germany, France, China and/or South Africa depending on the research topic, and who will contribute and provide guidance on characterisation techniques, trace element and isotopic analyses, dental anatomy, and/or human evolution.

The PhD candidate will be based in Australia, at Southern Cross University Lismore campus, (Northern NSW, close to Byron Bay), in the Faculty of Science and Engineering and will be part of the Geoarchaeology and Archaeometry Research Group.

The position is open to all domestic applicants and international applicants currently based in Australia. International applicants currently based overseas are welcomed to apply, however, current Australian Government border restrictions may impact on their application.

Scholarship funding is in the form of a 3-year scholarship with a minimum stipend of $28,106 AUD (tax-free) per year and payment of student fees. In addition, research-related expenses and research equipment will be supported.

Shortlisted candidates will be notified within two weeks of the closing date.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact Associate Professor Renaud Joannes-Boyau.

ELIGIBILITY

Candidates should have a BSc (Hons) or MSc degree with a research component, in either Earth science, chemistry, environmental science or related fields, and be proficient in written and spoken English. Ideally, candidates will have some experience in geochemistry and either knowledge or a strong interest to work on human/primate evolution problematic. Candidate with experience with LA-CIPMS or Multicollector ICPMS from a different field of research are also welcomed to apply. Candidates with experience with matlab, R or similar packages is a plus.

APPLICATION DOCUMENTS

Please include the following with your application:

·       a full C.V. (with the contact details of three referees)

·       a copy of any relevant academic transcripts (i.e. list of completed courses with grades)

·       an accompanying letter of application detailing how your experience, background and qualification are suited to this position

Yearly round of scholarship at GARG starts around end of August with a submission deadline for the application in late October. Contact us if you want to discuss current projects or if you have a project in mind.

Make sure to look here after ARC announcement of Discovery projects around mid-November, as we will post all scholarships available around Australia in the discipline.

2 x PhD students to work on projects using pollen to reconstruct UV radiation history over Holocene time frames.

Both positions are fully funded (PhD stipend of NZD $27.5k for 3 years, fees paid and research costs covered).
More details can be found in the attached, or here: https://www.massey.ac.nz/massey/admission/scholarships-bursaries-awards/scholarship-bursary-award_home.cfm?id=8A9FF69C-1E27-464A-93C4-F4BE040E37E2

4-year fully funded PhD position based at the Czech Academy of Sciences Geophysical Institute and the Department of Physical Geography & Geoecology, Charles University, Prague.

The project: Unveiling the First Great Eurasian Ice Sheets will set out to apply a newly developed cosmogenic nuclide-based burial dating method to reveal the history of the first major glaciations in Eurasia.

Cosmogenic nuclides are produced by cosmic rays bombarding Earth’s surface. Measurement of these rare nuclides in rock and sediment has revolutionised the study of how climate and tectonics have shaped landscapes through time. Earth’s climate has changed dramatically over geologic time, and knowledge of what drives those changes is fundamental to understanding our planet and its future. It is well known that vast ice sheets have advanced and retreated across northern Eurasia many times over the past few million years. For instance, ~20,000 years ago the maximum extent of the last ice sheet covered the northern parts of Germany and Poland. Prior to that, however, the glaciations are poorly understood, and geologists have spent the past century trying to resolve how the distribution of ice sheets has varied over time. This research project will set out to apply a newly developed set of dating and modelling tools to unveil the history of the Early to Middle Pleistocene glaciations in Eurasia (i.e. before 130,000 years ago).

The advisory team will comprise: John Jansen (Czech Academy of Sciences), Martin Margold (Charles University), and Mads Faurschou Knudsen (Aarhus University).

The candidate will be involved with 1) collecting field samples at sites stretching from NW to NE Europe, 2) laboratory analysis, 3) mathematical modelling with cosmogenic nuclides, and 4) presentation of results at international conferences. A significant period will be spent at Aarhus University, where candidates will develop skills in modelling and the art of preparing samples for cosmogenic nuclide analysis.

Applications are invited from those with interests in mathematical modelling, glacial geomorphology and Quaternary sciences. Applicants should hold a Master’s degree or be in the final year of their studies and be able to present their Master’s degree at the beginning of their PhD candidature Applications will be viewed in light of principles of equity, diversity and inclusion.

The starting date is 1st Oct 2021, and remuneration will be competitive, allowing for a good standard of living in Prague.

For more information about the PhD project and instructions on how to apply, please follow the link:
https://stars-natur.cz/phd-positions/geography/unveiling-the-first-great-eurasian-ice-sheets?back=nmzq4

Applications should include:
1) A cover letter including your name, academic status and contact details, as well as the names and contact details of two faculty advisors from whom confidential letters may be sought.
2) A statement of interest including research interests and long-term academic ambitions.
3) A short resume/CV, including a list of courses taken, and grades.
4) A self evaluation of your research strengths and weaknesses; skills you particularly want to develop, and likes and dislikes associated with research and modelling.

For informal inquiries please contact:
John Jansen
GFU Institute of Geophysics, Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague
jdj@ig.cas.cz

POSTDOCTORAL POSITIONs

Every year GARG is seeking to support strong applicants for a ARC DECRA proposal, talk to us if you are interested to apply with us.

November-2018 Postdoctorate Researcher at UOW
The Wollongong Isotope Geochronology Laboratory (WIGL) is looking for a postdoctoral researcher. WIGL is an isotope geochemistry research group at the University of Wollongong (Wollongong, NSW, Australia). The candidate will have access to world-class cleanroom facilities, automated chromatography (ESI prepFAST), a laser ablation system (NWR193), 2 quadrupole ICP-MS (Agilent 7500cs and Thermo iCAP-Q) and a multi-collector ICP-MS (Thermo Neptune Plus). Click here for more info and how to apply