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Fully funded PhD position "Unravelling past dryland hydroclimate"

Employer
Department of Geography and Environmental Sciences, Northumbria Univeristy
Location
Newcastle upon Tyne
Closing date
Feb 20, 2025
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Discipline
Geochemistry, Global Environmental Change, Paleoceanography and Paleoclimatology
Career Level
Student / Graduate
Education Level
Masters
Job Type
Internship
Relocation Cost
No Relocation
Sector Type
Academia

Unravelling past dryland hydroclimate

Project overview

Our planet's drylands are at the centre of an intriguing climate mystery.  These regions, which cover nearly half of Earth's land surface and support 2 billion people, are predicted to expand significantly as our planet warms. By 2030, Earth's atmospheric CO2 levels and global temperatures will match those of the Pliocene epoch, approximately 3 million years ago. This makes the Pliocene a great window into Earth's climate future. Yet, when scientists study Pliocene evidence, they find signs of a much wetter world than our models predict. This disconnect, between future projections and past evidence, represents a crucial gap in our understanding of Earth's climate system.

The successful applicant will join a large and active research group using innovative techniques to investigate this 'Dryland Hydroclimate Paradox.' Your work will help resolve one of climate science's most pressing questions: why do our best climate models disagree with evidence from Earth's past, and what does this mean for the future of our planet's drylands?

Research Approach

In this project you will study cave deposits (speleothems such as stalagmites and stalactites) to reconstruct ancient climates in Earth's drylands. Cave deposits are unique climate time capsules. Unlike other terrestrial climate records, they can be dated with exceptional precision and preserve multiple indicators of past climate conditions. They're also found in the regions we most need to understand - areas where people live today and will live in the future.

 This research will address three fundamental questions:

  •  What triggers humid periods in subtropical drylands?
  • How does dryland climate respond to changes in CO2 and temperature?
  • How do rainfall patterns and moisture sources change during humid periods?

Your Research Journey

As a PhD researcher, you will work in an international and interdisciplinary team with multiple opportunities for research visits abroad. In more detail you will:

  • Work with cutting-edge analytical techniques in world-class laboratories
  • Use multiple research approaches to build a comprehensive picture of past climates
  • Collaborate with experts across different fields, from geochemistry to climate modelling
  • Travel internationally for fieldwork and conferences
  • Develop skills in both well-developed and emerging research methods

 Professional Development and Training

As a Royal Society-funded PhD researcher at Northumbria University, you'll receive comprehensive training that prepares you for a successful career in either academia or industry.

 Technical Skills Development

  •  Advanced Laboratory Techniques
  •  Radiometric dating methods (U-Th and U-Pb)
  • Organic and inorganic geochemistry
  • Sample preparation and analysis
  • State-of-the-art analytical instrumentation
  • Field Research Skills
  • International fieldwork experience in Australia, Greece, and other locations
  • Cave sampling and monitoring techniques
  • Environmental monitoring and data collection
  • Field safety and risk assessment
  • Data Analysis and Modelling
  •  Statistical analysis of complex datasets
  • Data visualization
  • Time series analysis

Career enhancement and academic skills

  • Leadership development and project management skills
  • Scientific writing and publication
  • Grant writing
  • Conference presentation skills
  • Networking events with leading scientists

International Experience

  • Collaboration with research teams worldwide
  • Conference attendance and presentation
  • Research visits to partner institutions
  • Network building across multiple countries

For full details and links to apply please follow the below link:

https://www.findaphd.com/phds/project/unravelling-past-dryland-hydroclimate-rs25-ee-ges-markowska/?p181650

 

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