[Aqualist] PhD project: East Asian Monsoon variability during the last 70, 000 years: isotope palaeoclimatology and Japanese varved lake sediments

Wed Aug 1 14:54:08 AEST 2018

Dear All,

we are seeking an excellent PhD candidate to work on a project to
reconstruct variability in the East Asian Monsoon during the last
glacial-interglacial cycle, under the supervision of myself (Jonathan
Tyler), John Tibby and Melanie Leng (Nottingham Uni), with close
collaboration with Profs. Takeshi Nakagawa (Ritsumeikan Uni) and Yusuke
Yokoyama (Tokyo Uni). The project will focus on the sediments of Lake
Suigetsu, Japan, which is an exceptional site with annual laminations
(varves) that extend to ~70,000 years before present. As a result, the Lake
Suigetsu chronology provides important constraints on the global
radiocarbon calibration curve (see www.suigetsu.org for more details).

Lake Suigetsu has been the focus of intensive research for over a decade,
involving a global team of collaborators. In this project, we will aim to
reconstruct millennial scale hydroclimate variability during key climate
transitions using oxygen isotope analysis of biogenic silica (diatoms),
authigenic siderite and cellulose. The data will be interpreted in concert
with complementary palaeoenvironmental data (pollen, diatoms,
sedimentology) and proxy system modelling of lake-climate interactions.

The PhD candidate will have access to both established and newly installed
mass spectrometry equipment in the Department of Earth Sciences, University
of Adelaide, including a new ARC funded facility for isotope analysis of
silicates. We have a large and thriving palaeoenvironments group at
Adelaide, with expertise in lake sediments, isotope geochemistry,
palaeontology and Quaternary geochronology, all under the umbrella of the
Sprigg Geobiology Centre.

The candidate will be encouraged to apply for a University of Adelaide
Beacon scholarship (see link below), which provides a *four year
scholarship*, including a *period of 12-18 months residency at the
University of Nottingham* and British Geological Survey, U.K. This
residency is an excellent opportunity to broaden horizons and work in world
class laboratories under the co-supervision of Prof. Leng, a world leader
in isotope palaeoclimatology. The candidate will also get the opportunity
to travel to Japan, and interact with a large international research
network.

This opportunity is primarily open to Australia or New Zealand domestic
applicants, particularly for the Beacon Scholarship, although candidates
with other countries and a competitive track record are also welcome to get
in touch.

Candidates must apply to Dr. Jonathan Tyler (jonathan.tyler at adelaide.edu.au)
by September 14th 2018, providing a c.v., academic transcript and cover
letter. We will select the best candidate(s), and put them forward to the
University for formal consideration, the deadline for which is October 31st
2018. We reserve the right to not select anyone if a suitable candidate
can't be indentified.

Of course, please feel free to make contact before those dates with any
questions. Also, please pass on this message to any students who you think
might be interested.

best wishes

Jonathan

Useful links:

Jonathan Tyler

https://researchers.adelaide.edu.au/profile/jonathan.tyler
<https://researchers.adelaide.edu.au/profile/jonathan.tyler%23my-research>

Suigetsu Varves project website

www.suigetsu.org

Adelaide Beacon Scholarships

https://www.adelaide.edu.au/graduatecentre/scholarships/
research-international/beacon-scholarships/

Adeide Postgraduate Research Scholarships

https://www.adelaide.edu.au/graduatecentre/scholarships/

-- 
Dr. Jonathan J. Tyler
Department of Earth Sciences
University of Adelaide
South Australia 5005
Australia
+61 (08) 8313 2810
http://researchers.adelaide.edu.au/profile/jonathan.tyler

CRICOS provider code 00123M