PhD student in Geology - Hiring in process/Finished, not possible to apply

Sediment Production: Lithological and Subglacial Hydrogeological controls (SPLASH)

Large areas of the northern hemisphere have repeatedly been covered by ice sheets during the last 2.4 million years. Scandinavia in particular contains many of the sediments formed underneath these ice sheets (i.e. subglacially). Understanding the production of these sediments and their properties is important (a) scientifically, for the prediction of future ice-sheet behaviour and (b) for society, due to numerous geotechnical and groundwater implications. Despite large amounts of research on subglacial processes, those relating to sediment production, and feedbacks with the overlying ice, have not been investigated in detail. SPLASH will contribute to filling this gap by integrating expertise and approaches from different disciplines, including glaciology, sedimentology, hydrogeology and geotechnical engineering. The PhD student employed on this project will work on two modern glacier forelands and in unique glaciological and geotechnical laboratories to gather important samples and real-time measurements that will for the first time help constrain the processes responsible for sediment production. In a second step, this database will be used to understand the formation and groundwater-implications of subglacial sediment-successions in Skåne (southern Sweden). This multi-disciplinary project will contribute towards integrating both modern and ancient sediments as well as pure and applied research approaches.

Job Assigment
The holder of the PhD position will collect, describe, interpret and analyse sedimentological, geomorphological and hydrogeological data in modern glacier forelands. These field data will be supplemented by laboratory data (glaciological, sedimentological, hydrogeological, engineering-geological) where applicable. This will be done to better understand the processes operating during sediment production underneath the ice, in particular near ice-marginal areas. The aim of the project is to link results from the different disciplines involved (glacial geology, hydrogeology, glaciology, engineering geology) and develop a more holistic understanding of how sediments are produced and how processes link to the final product’s properties from applied perspectives. This project is fieldwork-intensive and contains a substantial component of laboratory work following fieldwork. The project (and supervisory) team consists of experts in glacial geology, glaciology, hydrogeology and engineering geology, and is a collaboration between Lund University, Lund Technical University, the Norwegian Water and Energy Board and Portsmouth University.

The four-year studentship is sub-divided into three years of research and one year of PhD courses.

The PhD student is expected to take an active part in the institution’s teaching program and help out with educational tasks with up to 20% of full time work. These 20% are on top of the 4 years of PhD studies.

Qualifications
The position involves creative and varied work and the PhD student will become a member of a dynamic and multifaceted research group that spans both pure and applied research. The successful candidate will be a strongly motivated individual, devoted and keen to work with state-of-the-art geoscience research in both field locations and in the laboratory.

Mandatory:

• A university degree (MSc or equivalent) in geology, physical geography or environmental science (or equivalent).
• Documented knowledge and practical field experience (through courses, theses or equivalent) within the fields of Quaternary sedimentology or hydrogeology.
• The ability and willingness to carry out geological fieldwork (up to four weeks at a time each summer) and laboratory analyses (in autumn through to spring) both in a team and individually is essential.
• Demonstrated experience in scientific writing, such as publications (or equivalent) in English.

Desirable:

• Knowledge within the fields of glaciology and engineering geology.
• Experience with Geographical Information Systems and specialist software such as MatLab.
• A driver's license (B eligibility).

We are looking for an independent and creative person who thrives in a dynamic research environment. The project requires close collaboration with a multinational research team, and, accordingly, the applicant should be able to work both independently and collaboratively. Moreover, the applicant should be able to take responsibility for parts of the research project and in an independent way perform programming and laboratory tasks. Candidates will be invited to an interview before appointment.
 
Eligibility
Students with basic eligibility for third-cycle studies are those who- have completed a second-cycle degree- have completed courses of at least 240 credits, of which at least 60 credits are from second-cycle courses, or- have acquired largely equivalent knowledge in some other way, in Sweden or abroad.

The employment of doctoral students is regulated in the Swedish Code of Statues 1998: 80. Only those who are or have been admitted to PhD-studies may be appointed to doctoral studentships. When an appointment to a doctoral studentship is made, the ability of the student to benefit from PhD-studies shall primarily be taken into account. In addition to devoting themselves to their studies, those appointed to doctoral studentships may be required to work with educational tasks, research and administration, in accordance with specific regulations in the ordinance.

Type of employment
Limit of tenure, four years according to HF 5 kap 7§.