Ocean acidification

The University of Exeter and the University of Queensland are seeking exceptional students to join a world-leading, cross-continental research team tackling major challenges facing the world’s population in global sustainability and wellbeing as part of the recently launched QUEX Institute.

Project Description

Coral reefs are biologically and societally critical ecosystems, which are perhaps uniquely sensitive to climate change (Perry et al. 2012). Tools to monitor and understand contemporary drivers of reef change are becoming increasingly sophisticated (e.g. eReefs, ReefMod), yet our ability to predict coral reef futures – fundamental to planning protection strategies – remain extremely limited. The challenge of linking contemporary reef monitoring and modelling to future climate projections arises from the spatial-scale and complexity disconnect between the information that state-of-the-art climate models provide (e.g., Kwiatkowski et al. 2013, 2014, 2015), and that required to model individual coral reefs (e.g. Kennedy et al., 2013; Mumby et al. 2014).

This project aims to:  

1) Take statistical downscaling techniques typically applied to terrestrial precipitation questions, and translate them to provide reef-scale climatic and biogeochemical data from the IPCC-focused CMIP5/6 (Climate Model Intercomparison Project) model projections.

2) Build a simple ocean carbon-chemistry (ocean acidification) model to account for the local scale (e.g. reef lagoon) chemical buffering/amplification of the open-ocean chemical conditions simulated by the IPCC-focused models.

3) Build a novel set of 21st Century climate-change driven coral reef projections, and identify potential hotspots/refugia.

This project would be undertaken in two parts, first at the University of Exeter with a focus on climate modelling and carbon chemistry, then at the University of Queensland with a on focus reef-scale modelling and pioneering new coral reef projections which build on existing carbonate budget data (ReefBudget). Frequent Australia/UK visits would be required throughout the project.

Continue reading ‘Funded PhD: “Coral reef futures under climate change and ocean acidification, geography”’

The Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory of Columbia University invites applications for an Associate Research Scientist to study ocean acidification and ocean warming across the last deglaciation, using geochemical signatures of boron isotopes and Mg/Ca in fossil shells of planktic foraminifera.

Requirements

– Candidates should have a PhD in Earth Sciences with at least two years of relevant employment experience after having been awarded a PhD.
– Experience in planktic foraminifera identification and geochemical analysis using TIMS and ICP-MS is preferred.
– A record of publications in scientific literature.

Logistics

Appointments are made on a fiscal year basis and are eligible for renewal each 1 July, contingent upon performance and funding.

The proposed start date is 1 September 2017.

Continue reading ‘Associate Research Scientist, ocean acidification and warming, Palisades, USA’

Deadline: 31 August 2017!

Job description

STEMM-CCS (http://www.stemm-ccs.eu/) is a multi-disciplinary EU-funded project concerned with Carbon dioxide Capture and Storage (CCS). CCS has been identified as an important mitigation strategy to reduce anthropogenic carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions and thereby combat the rising levels of atmospheric CO2 responsible for global climate change and ocean acidification.

The task of the advertised position is to assist in the development of monitoring strategies of CO2 seepage from seafloor using benthic lander measurements in combination with water column observations (e.g. geochemistry, current regimes). Results will be used to help define baseline scenarios for best practice methodologies and tools for baseline environmental monitoring relevant to offshore CCS. Spatial and temporal variability at all relevant scales with respect to physical, chemical and biological parameters will be determined.

Qualifications

The applicant requires a MSc degree and a PhD degree preferably in marine biogeochemistry. Ideally, the applicant should be experienced in the marine carbonate system dynamics and dissolved gases, hydrodynamics and its effects on solute distributions. Knowledge of Matlab or Mathematica or similar programming language is desirable. Excellent written and oral communications skills in English are essential. We expect the candidate participate in research expeditions at sea.

Continue reading ‘Postdoc: “Geochemistry of marine Carbon Capture and Storage”, GEOMAR, Germany’

Affiliation: Alfred-Wegener-Institute Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research Biosciences, section Integrative Ecophysiology

Start date: Immediately

Background:

We use physiological, biochemical and molecular methods to study how temperature and ocean acidification acutely and chronically affect hormonal regulation of moulting and growth in Decapod crustaceans. We focus on cellular signalling mechanisms within tissues that control the moulting cycle, and on mechanisms that are involved in the cross-talk between organs.

Different life history stages of species from temperate and subpolar latitudes may vary in their capacities for growth, hormonal, acid-base and ion regulation. This may contribute to different thermal tolerances and sensitivities to climate change scenarios.

Continue reading ‘Two master projects in biology/zoology/molecular biology: “Effects of climate change factors on Decapod crustaceans”, Alfred Wegener Institut, Bremenhaven, Germany’

In the framework of the project CARIOCA (Coral reef acclimatization to ocean acidification at CO2 seeps) we collected corals living at two CO2 seeps in Papua New Guinea and at control stations. We also reciprocally transplanted for four months these corals, which seems to be less sensitive to high pCO2 (the winners), and some others which where only found at control stations (the losers). Our main goal is to associate both long- and short-term studies in gene expression together with changes in organism physiology.

We are seeking to appoint an accomplished and motivated candidate to the position of Postdoctoral Research Fellow to work during 15 months on this unique new project. The post-doc will have in charge to analyse the coral transcriptomic data. She/he will have to annotate and compare gene expression between resident and transplanted corals (intra- and inter-species comparisons) and perform de novo transcriptomes for non-model species. Using her/his knowledge in cell functioning and cell genetics, the candidate has to explore the paradigm of adaptability versus acclimatization and to puzzle out the pathways that might drive the corals sensitivity and resistance to ocean acidification.

Continue reading ‘Application open for a Postdoctoral Research Fellow position, “Coral reef acclimatization and adaptation to ocean acidification: comparative transcriptomics after reciprocal transplant experiment at CO2 seeps”, ENTROPIE, New Caledonia’

Deadline for applications: 17 February 2017!

Applications are invited from suitably qualified candidates for a full time, fixed term position as a Research Assistant with the Ryan Institute at the National University of Ireland, Galway. This position is funded by the Marine Institute and is available from March 2017 for 3 years.

The Ryan Institute is the National University of Ireland, Galway’s hub for Environmental, Marine and Energy research and contributes to some of the most important national and international, long-term, environmental, marine and energy research issues. Staff from a range of disciplines and schools across the University contribute to research in the Institute. The research project to which this post will be linked includes staff from the School of Natural Sciences (disciplines of Earth & Ocean Sciences and Botany) and from the School of Physics.

Job Description:

The successful candidate will be involved in day to day support for a range of research activities involving physical, chemical and biological studies related to ocean acidification (OA). The post will be based partly at NUI Galway’s Ryan Institute and partly at the Marine Institute in Rinville, Oranmore, Co. Galway, as different phases of the project are undertaken. The project involves a considerable amount of fieldwork which will involve travel and some out of hours work, and will include seagoing work. Training for specific skills will be given where required. Candidate will have the opportunity to become involved in the development of a CPD module in ocean acidification and biogeochemistry suitable for persons involved in environmental monitoring.

Continue reading ‘Deadline approaching: Research Assistant – Ocean Acidification & Biogeochemistry, Ryan Institute, College of Science, NUI Galway, Ireland’

Deadline for applications: 15 February 2017!

GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel is a foundation of public law jointly financed by the Federal Republic of Germany (90%) and the state of Schleswig-Holstein (10%) and is one of the internationally leading institutions in the field of marine sciences. Currently GEOMAR disposes over an annual budget of approx. 72 million Euro and has approx. 950 employees.

The GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel is offering a Scientist position in Climate change and Stress Biology of marine invertebrates starting on October 1st, 2017 and ending on March 31st, 2021
in the research unit “Benthic Ecology” of the research division “Marine Ecology”.

Job Description / Duties

Climate change will not only shift environmental means but will also increase the variability around these means. This project should investigate the role of increased variability vs. increase in mean stress (from e.g. ocean warming, ocean acidification, desalination, hypoxia) for marine Baltic Sea invertebrate species and its consequences at the population level of species. This research project will make use of novel computer-controlled indoor mesocosm facilities simulating various pattern of environmental variability.

Continue reading ‘Deadline approaching: Scientist position in climate change and stress biology of marine invertebrates, GEOMAR, Kiel, Germany’