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Job description
Project title: Modeling the phosphorus cycle in modern and ancient sediments: from dates to rates
Phosphorus (P) is a key nutrient for phytoplankton in the ocean. A strong positive feedback exists between marine P availability, primary production and ocean anoxia: increased production leads to ocean anoxia, which, in turn, decreases the burial efficiency of P in sediments and therefore increases the availability of P and production in the ocean. This study focuses on quantifying sedimentary P cycling and burial for various modern and ancient marine systems using reactive transport modeling.
The position is financed through the European Research Council (ERC) and is part of a Starting Grant awarded to Caroline Slomp on “Phosphorus dynamics in low-oxygen marine systems: quantifying the nutrient-climate connection in Earth’s past, present and future”.
Qualifications
We are looking for a highly motivated individual with experience in mathematical modeling and a PhD degree in geochemistry, geology, oceanography, environmental sciences or a related field. He/she should communicate easily in English, both verbally and in writing. Candidates should be able to work in a team, but independently.
Offer
The successful candidate will be offered a full-time postdoc position for 2.5 years.
Employment conditions are based on the Collective Labour Agreement of the Dutch Universities. The salary is dependent on experience and ranges between € 2,744.- and € 3,755.- gross per month. The salary is supplemented by a holiday allowance of 8% per year and a year-end bonus of 8.3% (salary rates per 1-10-2011). We also offer a pension scheme, a health insurance allowance and flexible employment conditions.
About the organisation
The Faculty of Geosciences offers education and research concerning the geosphere, biosphere, atmosphere and anthroposphere. With a population of 2,200 students (BSc and MSc) and 575 staff members, the faculty is a strong and challenging organisation. The faculty is organised in four Departments: Earth Sciences, Physical Geography, Innovation & Environmental Sciences, and Human Geography & Urban & Regional Planning.
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 an international group of about 100 PhD’s and postdoctoral researchers. It hosts a range of excellent laboratory facilities.
Additional information
For informal enquiries, contact dr. Caroline Slomp ( This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. ).
You may also wish to visit the websites of the Institute of Earth Sciences Utrecht at http://www.geo.uu.nl/ivau.

Further Information
Application Deadline : 28 November 2011

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