The Department of Earth Sciences at Royal Holloway University of London (RHUL, http://www.rhul.ac.uk/Earth-Sciences)

Research Assistant in Palaeoclimatology/Palaeoceano-graphy/Geochemistry for 3 years as an early stage Researcher (ESR) at the PhD student level.

Salary £35,381 or £38,526 (dependant on mobility allowance - £436 per month without family or £699 per month with family) per annum plus travel allowance. These costs include employer’s national insurance and superannuation costs as applicable.

The fellowship is part of the Marie Curie Initial Training Network “THROUGHFLOW”, funded by the 7th Framework Programme of the European Community (http://ipaeg.org/throughflow).

The research project at RHUL will focus on extracting reliable palaeoclimate / palae­oceanographic proxy data using (isotope) geochemical techniques. Specifically, well-preserved molluscs, corals and foraminifera - sampled in close collaboration with the Natural History Museum (NHM, London) and the Nationaal Natuurhistorisch Museum Naturalis (NNM, Leiden) - will be utilized to reconstruct past sea-surface temperatures (SST), sea-surface salinity (SSS), variations in riverine runoff, or palaeo-pH. Using high-spatial resolution sampling via laser-ablation mass spectrometric analysis (LA-ICPMS), the time-series contained in corals, mollusks or foraminifera can be extracted at very high-time resolution, thus providing seasonality of key palaeoceanographic parameters. Examples include combined Sr/Ca ratio and oxygen isotope records from coral time series to disentangle effects of SST and rainfall, or Mg/Ca ratios of single foraminiferal chambers to constrain the temperatures of either top or bottom ocean waters (planktonic or benthic foraminifera).
Training in analytical techniques will be provided via our regular PG training course in geochemistry and via individual project-specific training sessions. Furthermore, RHUL Earth Sciences run a tailored PG induction programme for each year’s new PhD student cohort.

The successful candidate will have a sound background in (isotope) geochemistry and palaeontology, experience with geological or biological fieldwork, ideally previous experience with in-situ analytical techniques such as LA-ICPMS and demonstrated ability to work as part of a team. The successful candidate should have a command of spoken and written English, strong quantitative and computing skills, and demonstrated ability to present scientific information to specialist and more general audiences.

Eligibility: following the EU recruitment and mobility regulations you are eligible to apply for the Research Assistant at the Department of Earth Sciences at Royal Holloway University if;

• You are a UK national and have legally resided and had your main activity outside the UK and the EU (i.e. in a non-associated third country) for at least 3 of the last 4 years immediately prior to your appointment;
• You are not a UK national and have not resided or carried out your main activity in the UK for more than 12 months in the 3 years immediately prior to their appointment (short stays as holidays are not taken into account);
• You hold a Master degree in a relevant field and are in the first 4 years (full-time equivalent) of your research career, including the period of research training, starting at the date of obtaining the degree which formally entitles you to enter a doctorate;

Contact: Informal inquiries can also be directed to Dr Wolfgang Müller w.muller@es.rhul.ac.uk

Applications: Further details and an application form are available to download below or contact Human Resources on 01784 414241 Email: recruitment@rhul.ac.uk. Please submit your application form to this email address.

Application deadline: 30 March 2010.

We positively welcome applications from all sections of the community

Safe receipt of all emailed application forms will be acknowledged

Unfortunately the time and cost involved means that it is not possible to acknowledge each application but if you require an acknowledgement please include a stamped addressed envelope. Only short listed candidates will be notified of the outcome of their applications; if you have not heard within six weeks of the closing date please assume that you have not been successful on this occasion.