FW: Postdoc vacancy, Bristol, UK : Isotopes and paleoclimate

[Katherine HARLE]

-----Original Message-----
From: David Richards [mailto:David.Richards at bristol.ac.uk] 
Sent: Wednesday, February 06, 2002 2:28 AM
To: Paleoclimate List
Subject: Postdoc vacancy, Bristol, UK : Isotopes and paleoclimate


Apologies for cross postings..

______________________________________________

Vacancy for Postdoctoral Research Assistant -
Isotope Geochemsistry and Geochronology
at School of Geographical Sciences, 
University of Bristol, UK
______________________________________________

Purpose: To undertake research on past variations in atmospheric 14C in 
relation to paleoeclimate and calibration of the radiocarbon 
time-scale.

Staff Category: NERC RA1A spine point 6.  Salary: from £19,486 per 
annum. Fixed contract 3 years.

Duties and Responsibilities: We have previously developed a record of 
past atmospheric 14C concentrations (delta14C) spanning the interval 
45-10 ka from a Bahamas speleothem [Beck et al ( 2001) Science 292, 
2453-2458]. The purpose of this new research is to improve resolution 
and continuity of this record, and to confirm the timing and magnitude 
of the dramatic shifts in D14C observed. The possible association of 
changes in delta14C with changes in the strength and location of deep 
ocean ventilation (perhaps NADW) will be investigated by 
derivation of a subtropical climate proxy record (d13C,  d18O and trace 
element composition of calcite) for the same well-dated speleothems. 
Carbon-cycle modelling will be used to constrain possible rates, 
duration and amplitude of climate and ocean change, and also potential 
geomagnetic or cosmic ray flux events.

 The post will involve archiving, selection and subsampling of 
speleothems, and mass-spectrometric uranium series dating, trace 
element analysis by laser ablation ICPMS, stable isotope analysis and 
14C and 10Be analysis by accelerator mass spectrometry. Comparable 
analyses of modern cave drip waters will also be conducted. Field work 
in Turks & Caicos Islands and UK is proposed.

Line Manager and Organisation: The research is funded by a NERC grant 
to Professor Peter Smart in collaboration with Dr David Richards 
(School of Geographical Sciences), Professor Chris Hawkesworth (Earth 
Sciences). Both departments were awarded 5* grade in the recent UK 
Research Selectivity Exercise, and have state of the art provision for 
mass spectrometry (UK Thermo Finigan MAT Triton T1 and Neptune) and 
laser ICPMS. Other analytical work will be undertaken in collaboration 
with Dr Dave Mattey (automated laser ablation stable isotope analysis, 
Geology Department, Royal Holloway, University of London) and Dr Warren 
Beck (accelerator mass-spectrometric 14C and 10Be analysis, NSF AMS 
Facility, Department of Physics, University of Arizona). It will be 
necessary to undertake short residential research visits to the 
collaborating laboratories.

  Selection Criteria: The applicant should already have a PhD in stable 
isotope geochemistry, paleoclimate studies, geochronology or a related 
field (or to be awarded such a degree in the immediate future). They 
should have experience of mass-spectrometry and automated geochemical 
analysis of solids in an Earth Science context, of data compilation and 
analysis techniques (including curve fitting and time series analysis), 
and the preparation of manuscripts for publication.

Good written and spoken English, and the ability to work interactively 
in an interdisciplinary research group are essential, together with 
proven ability to prepare papers for conference presentation and 
publication.

For further details see,
http://www.ggy.bris.ac.uk/karst

For application form,  see 
http://www.bris.ac.uk/Depts/Personnel/recruit.htm

Deadline for application is February 
26th 2002

To start as soon as possible thereafter.  


David Richards

----------------------------------
School of Geographical Sciences
University of Bristol
Bristol
BS8 1SS
UK

http://www.ggy.bris.ac.uk/karst
Tel: +44 117 9289828
Fax: +44 117 9287878




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