Job description

The Department of Earth Sciences is looking for a highly-motivated applicant to fill a postdoctoral research position on ‘Methane dynamics in marine sediments’. Anaerobic Oxidation of Methane (AOM) prevents release of this potent greenhouse gas from aquatic sediments to the atmosphere. In sediments, AOM may be coupled to metal oxide reduction. At present, the geochemical pathways and microorganisms involved and their relevance in natural environments are not well-understood. The Postdoc will study the role of metal oxides in AOM through laboratory experiments with marine sediments collected from field locations. We will specifically target field sites with manganese- and iron-oxide-rich and methane-rich sediments. The Postdoc position is funded by the Netherlands Earth Systems Science Center (NESSC), which is a virtual research centre comprising experts from five research organizations in the Netherlands. Financial support for NESSC is provided by a Gravitation grant from the Dutch Ministry of Education, Culture and Science which supports excellent research.

The research team members for the current Postdoctoral position include Project Leader Prof. dr. Caroline P. Slomp (P.I.) at the Department of Earth Sciences, Utrecht University, The Netherlands, and Prof. dr. Mike Jetten at Radboud University, Nijmegen, the Netherlands. The Postdoc will be based at Utrecht University.

Qualifications

The successful candidate should have a PhD degree in Biogeochemistry or an equivalent degree. An interest in (geo)microbiology, and the willingness and capacity to interact in a multidisciplinary team, are essential. The candidate should be fluent in spoken and written English, since the host group is highly international in composition.

Offer

We offer a temporary position (1.0 FTE) for one year in an international working environment. The gross salary – depending on previous qualifications and experience – ranges between €3,282 and €3,821 (scale 10.3 – 10.7 according to the Collective Labour Agreement Dutch Universities) per month for full-time employment. Salaries are supplemented with a holiday bonus of 8% and a year-end bonus of 8.3% per year. In addition, Utrecht University offers excellent secondary conditions, including an attractive retirement scheme, (partly paid) parental leave and flexible employment conditions  (multiple choice model). More information about working at Utrecht University.

About the organisation

A better future for everyone. This ambition motivates our scientists in executing their leading research and inspiring teaching. At Utrecht University, the various disciplines collaborate intensively towards major societal themes. Our focus is on Dynamics of Youth, Institutions for Open Societies, Life Sciences and Sustainability.

Utrecht University’s Faculty of Geoscience   studies the Earth: from the Earth’s core to its surface, including man’s spatial and material utilisation of the Earth – always with a focus on sustainability and innovation. With 3,400 students (BSc and MSc) and 720 staff, the Faculty is a strong and challenging organisation. The Faculty of Geosciences is organised into four Departments: Earth Sciences, Human Geography & Spatial Planning, Physical Geography, and Sustainable Development.

The Department of Earth Sciences conducts teaching and research across the full range of the solid earth and environmental earth sciences, with activities in almost all areas of geology, geochemistry, geophysics, biogeology and hydrogeology. The department hosts a highly international tenured staff of over 45 scientists and more than 110 PhD students and postdoctoral researchers. Our research programme spans four intertwined themes: Climate & Life, Earth interior, Earth materials, and Environmental Earth Sciences. We house or have access to a wide variety of world-class laboratories.

The Geochemistry Group in the department focuses on the geochemistry of the earth’s surface, combining field data with experimental, modelling and theoretical approaches to elucidate biogeochemical cycles and mineral transformations along the aquatic continuum, e.g. from weathering of rocks to the biogeochemistry of deep-sea sediments. Biogeochemical processes are investigated from the nanometer to the global scale and the geological record is utilized to better project earth surface conditions in the future.

Additional information

For more information about this position, please contact: Prof. dr. ir. Caroline Slomp (Chair in Marine Biogeochemistry), via c.p.slomp@uu.nl

Apply

To apply, please send your curriculum vitae, including a letter of motivation via the ‘apply now’ link below. Evaluations and interviews are planned soon after the application deadline of June 26, 2022. The intended starting date is September 1, 2022 or a.s.a.p. thereafter.

APPLY NOW

The application deadline is 26 June 2022.

Online screening may be part of the selection. Commercial response to this ad is not appreciated.