Outline

Requirements

1. MSc degree (or equivalent) in chemistry (preferred), oceanography, environmental protection or related disciplines.

2. Knowledge on carbon cycling in the environment.

3. Experience in laboratory work and chemical analyses.

4. Knowledge of potentiometric titration methods, elemental analysis, pH measurements

5. Very good written and spoken English.

6. Experience in fieldwork, public presentations and preparation of scientific manuscripts will be an additional advantage.

Task description

Permafrost is a very important element of the global carbon cycle. It is estimated that its surface layer contains 1035 ± 150 Pg (Pg = 1015 g) of organic carbon (OC), which is about 50% of the total OC stored in surface soil layers. Climate change, which is particularly intense in the Arctic, leads to the permafrost thawing. Remineralization of the organic matter released in that way and the resulting CO2 emissions, although still not fully quantified, have been identified as an important mechanism affecting the climate and global carbon cycle. Much less attention is paid to research on the composition and chemical structure of organic compounds released from permafrost deposits, and in particular to assessing their acid-base properties.

The main goal of the doctoral dissertation will be to characterize bioavailability (lability) of the organic matter released from permafrost and to assess its acid-base properties. Field studies will be conducted in Spitsbergen and Greenland, while the analytical part in the laboratories of the Institute of Oceanology of the Polish Academy of Sciences in Sopot. The PhD student's tasks will include: (1) preparation and conducting fieldwork and participation in research cruises (2) performing experiments to assess the acid-base properties of organic matter released from permafrost, (3) conducting incubation experiments to characterize bioavailability (lability) of organic matter, (4) performing statistical analyzes and interpretation of the obtained results, (5) preparing scientific articles, (6) presenting the obtained results at national and international scientific conferences.

What is funded

One scholarship in the amount of 4 000 PLN per month throughout the entire period of the study (4 years).

Duration

4 years (8 semesters), from October 2020

Eligibility

The scholarship wil be paid as a part of the PROSPECTOR project (PROSPECTOR: do Permafrost-Released OrganicS amPlify ocEan aCidificaTiOn in the aRctic?) funded by the Polish National Science Centre and conducted at the Institute of Oceanology of the Polish Academy of Sciences in Sopot. The Principal Investigator (PI) of the PROSPECTOR project is Assoc. Prof. Karol Kuliński, prof. IO PAN; kroll@iopan.pl; Institute of Oceanology Polish Academy of Sciences, Sopot.

Required documents:

1) Motivation letter,

2) Detailed CV,

3) Copy of the Master’s diploma,

4) Consent clause

Required documents should be sent by e-mail to PI: Assoc Prof. Karol Kuliński, kroll@iopan.pl and the Secretary of IO PAN: office@iopan.pl .

Additional questions can be sent to the project PI: Assoc. Prof. Karol Kuliński, kroll@iopan.pl

Selection process:

Application deadline: 27th August 2020

Initial interview with PI: 1st September 2020

The settlement of the competition: 30th September 2020

Important information:

According to this position Candidate must become a PhD student at the International Environmental Doctoral School associated with the Centre for Polar Studies at the University of Silesia in Katowice (IEDS).

Title of PhD project: Characteristics of organic matter released from permafrost.

Information about applying procedure at IEDS is available on the sites:

1) International Environmental Doctoral School - Proposed PhD topics 2020/2021: https://www.mssd.us.edu.pl/en/candidate-of-ieds/proposed-topics/

1) Offer: https://www.mssd.us.edu.pl/en/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2020/05/IEDS_2…

2) Requirements and regulations: www.mssd.us.edu.pl/kandydat-mssd/

3) Registration: www.irk.us.edu.pl

Please include signed document with the following consent clause:

I hereby consent to have my personal data processed by the Institute of Oceanology Polish Academy of Science pursuant to Article 6 paragraph 1 letter a of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), for the purpose of carrying out a recruitment process for the position of PhD scholarship I also declare that I have read the information on the processing of personal data provided by the Institute in accordance with Article 13 GDPR.

.................................................    ................................................

(place and date)                             (signature of the declarant).

INFORMATION ON THE PROCESSING OF PERSONAL DATA:

http://www.iopan.gda.pl/praca/INFORMATION_ON_THE_PROCESSING_OF_PERSONAL…