Position Announcement
PhD Position in Quaternary Geology or Physical Geography
The University Centre in Svalbard (UNIS)
Application Deadline: Thursday, 1 July 2004
For further information, please contact:
Hanne H. Christiansen
E-mail: hanne.christiansen [at] unis.no
Phone: +47 79 02 33 20
or contact:
Lasse Lonnum
E-mail: lasse.lonnum [at] unis.no
Phone: +47 79 02 33 05
OVERVIEW
The Department of Geology at the University Centre in Svalbard (UNIS),
Svalbard, Norway, invites applications for a PhD position in Quaternary
Geology and/or Physical Geography.
UNIS is a state-owned limited company. Norway's four mainland
universities are represented on the board. UNIS is located in a modern
facility in Longyearbyen, Svalbard, well supplied with both technical
and scientific equipment and laboratories. The institution has access to
infrastructure for both marine and terrestrial field research on
Svalbard. The studies at UNIS are marketed internationally, and all
classes are offered in English.
Svalbard's geographical location, at the northernmost end of the North
Atlantic Drift, makes it highly sensitive to regional North Atlantic
climate changes. For that reason, knowledge of physical environmental
changes in the Svalbard region, past and present, is important for
understanding present as well as future trends in this region.
Weichselian and Holocene terrestrial sediments, offer extensive
opportunities to study the Late Quaternary development of climate,
glaciation and periglaciation. With its extensive glacial cover, modern
Svalbard represents a unique natural laboratory for studying present-day
glacial processes, permafrost, periglacial processes and palaeocology as
well as linkages between climate, glaciers and geomorphic/geological
processes in the High Arctic. Studies of the terrestrial and aquatic
environments of Svalbard, and associated processes, sediments and
landforms, provide modern analogues to cold-climate environments during
past glaciations at lower latitudes.
POSITION INFORMATION
Any project within the fields of Quaternary Geology or Physical
Geography is welcomed, but especially field based projects attempting to
link modern day processes with Quaternary terrestrial records at
Svalbard are encouraged, as this will make full use of the scientific
competency represented at the department and will offer a unique
opportunity to learn about timing and nature of regional climate change
impacts as well as local, small-scale climate perturbations.
The successful applicant will be based at UNIS in Longyearbyen. He/she
is expected to contribute actively in ongoing scientific activities at
the department, taking part in teaching, seminars, and discussions with
colleagues, visitors, and students. We also expect the PhD student to
take an active part in the advancement of his/her field of research, and
he/she must also be willing to contribute to the development of UNIS in
a more general sense.
An expert committee appointed by the Director of UNIS will evaluate the
qualifications of the applicants. The committee will review the
applications in detail. The appointment will be made by the Board of
Directors based on the recommendation from the Director of UNIS.
The employment contract is for 3 years. Furnished, reasonably priced
housing is offered.
To apply, please submit three copies each of the following documents
(1) Curriculum vitae (including a full list of publications & previously
held grants)
(2) Project description for the suggested PhD research project,
including a tentative time schedule
Please send applications to:
The University Centre in Svalbard
PO Box 156
N-9171 Longyearbyen
Norway
Application Deadline: Thursday, 1 July 2004
Prior to applying, potential candidates are encouraged to contact the
following faculty staff members for further information and to discuss
the project:
Dr. Hanne H. Christiansen, Physical Geography
Email: hanne.christiansen [at] unis.no
Dr. Alex Wolfe, Quaternary Geology
E-mail awolfe [at] ualberta.ca