Ocean acidification

Closing Date

1^st April 2021*

Applicants should contact the primary supervisor, and submit their Expression of Interest (EOI) and Application as soon as possible.

*unless filled earlier

The Research Project

Humankind needs to remove 100-900 gigatons CO2 from atmosphere by the end of the 21st century to keep global warming below 2°C. This herculean task depends on the wide-ranging application of so-called negative emission technologies (NETs). Unfortunately, not a single NET has been proven to function at the gigaton-scale. One of the most promising ideas is to accelerate weathering reactions of minerals that consume CO2 when they dissolve (known as “Ocean Alkalinity Enhancement”). However, the desired consumption of atmospheric CO2 during dissolution would inevitably perturb the oceans with huge amounts of mineral dissolution products (alkalinity, Si, trace metals).

This PhD project will investigate if and how Ocean Alkalinity Enhancement could affect growth and metabolic rates of marine phytoplankton, which are responsible for ~50% of primary production on Earth. The candidate will conduct a range of laboratory incubation experiments and participate in at least one international ship-voyage in the South Pacific. This enables us to cover phytoplankton from different biomes including key functional types, such as diatoms, cyanobacteria and coccolithophores. The overarching goal is to contribute, significantly, to the assessment of Ocean Alkalinity Enhancement as a tool to counteract climate change.

Closing Date

1^st May 2021*

Applicants should contact the primary supervisor, and submit their Expression of Interest (EOI) and Application as soon as possible.

*unless filled earlier

The Research Project

Humankind needs to remove 100-900 gigatons of CO₂ from the atmosphere by the end of the 21^st century to keep global warming below 2°C. This herculean task depends on the wide-ranging application of so-called negative emission technologies (NETs). Unfortunately, not a single NET has been proven to function at the gigaton-scale. One of the most promising ideas is to accelerate weathering reactions of minerals that consume CO₂ when they dissolve (known as “Ocean Alkalinity Enhancement”). However, the desired consumption of atmospheric CO₂ during dissolution would inevitably perturb the oceans with huge amounts of mineral dissolution products (alkalinity, Si, trace metals).

This PhD project will investigate if and how Ocean Alkalinity Enhancement could affect growth and photosynthesis of marine phytoplankton, which are responsible for ~50% of primary production on Earth. The candidate will conduct a range of laboratory incubation experiments and participate in at least one international mesocosm study off the coast of Norway or the Canary Islands (Spain). Furthermore, the candidate will participate in an indoor mesocosm experiment where estuarine phytoplankton communities from Tasmania are investigated. The research within this project aims to test the “green or white ocean hypothesis”, which suggests that coccolithophores will be the winners when carbonate minerals will be used (white ocean), while diatoms and cyanobacteria will win when silicate minerals will be used (green ocean). The overarching goal is to contribute, significantly, to the assessment of Ocean Alkalinity Enhancement as a tool to counteract climate change.

Location: Mote Marine Laboratory – Elizabeth Moore International Center for Coral Reef Research and Restoration (IC2R3), Summerland Key, Florida

Primary Function:    The Coral Resilience Postdoctoral Researcher will primarily be responsible for overseeing the integration of resilience into Mote’s coral restoration pipeline, including conducting research on resilient traits, potential tradeoffs, and managing the thoughtful implementation of resilient traits into restoration practices.

Primary Duties:

• Assist in managing Mote’s coral resilience research efforts, specifically focused on quantifying heat tolerance, resilience to ocean acidification and resistance to disease of Mote’s restoration corals.
• Mentor Staff Biologist(s) on-site conducting day-to-day resilience research activities within Mote’s
• Climate and Ocean Acidification Simulator system.
• Be a leader in Mote’s coral research efforts by providing guidance, perspective and initiative for transformative research applications to keep Mote within the forefront of coral reef research and restoration science
• Oversee Mote’s coral resilience testing activities at IC2R3 and communicate findings to Mote’s coral restoration programs to facilitate the integration of knowledge
• Represent Mote’s Coral Health and Disease Program within workshops, partner meetings, and collaborative initiatives.
• Oversee data management of the coral resilience research deliverables and additional related research projects within the scope of funded grants
• Conduct data analyses, create reports and publish peer-reviewed articles on Mote’s coral resilience science
• Lead efforts to collate and manage phenotypic data into Mote’s trait database
• Liaise with partners and local managers associated with integrating resilience within coral restoration including, but not limited to, the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary and Florida Fish and Wildlife.
• Write grants for additional financial support that further Mote’s coral reef research efforts
  Additional duties, as assigned, related to the daily operation of a full-service marine laboratory, including outreach and education activities as needed.

The Ocean Acidification Program at Mote Marine Laboratory seeks a staff chemist with a minimum 2 years of experience in analytical chemistry including experimental seawater ocean acidification facilities and focus in carbonate chemistry. This position will be permanently located in Summerland Key, Florida at the Elizabeth Moore International Center for Coral Reef Research and Restoration (IC2R3). General duties to be performed include working with research-focused outdoor raceways and the CAOS (Climate and Acidification Ocean Simulator) at IC2R3. This includes sample collection, monitoring and analysis of total seawater alkalinity, dissolved inorganic carbon, spectrophotometric pH, and other water quality parameters. The staff chemist performs statistical data analyses to process carbonate chemistry data and disseminating that information to users of the CAOS system. Tasks also include maintaining the dry ocean acidification (OA) laboratory, maintaining the dry chemistry laboratory, keeping track of and ordering all supplies and materials, keeping all OA-related work organized, instrument maintenance, data entry, working with visiting scientists, some coral husbandry, and some field work.  The staff chemist will be responsible for managing and mentoring student interns year round. This position might longer days and weekend work.  Travel to the main lab in Sarasota, Florida is possible.  Must be able to lift up to 40 lbs. and must be able to work in a hot/outdoor environment.

University of Southampton, Ocean and Earth Science

Program: Competition Funded PhD Project (European/UK Students Only)

Contacts: Dr S Loucaides , Dr A Nightingale , Dr Stathios Papadimitriou , Dr S Fowell

Deadline: Monday, January 04, 2021

About the Project

Continue reading ‘PhD Project: Keeping tabs on ocean acidification: Using novel technologies to monitor carbonate chemistry from polar to tropical waters’

Multiple internships:

1) Applied Radiotracer Techniques in Ocean Acidification and

2) Marine Plastic Research

Organization: IAEA Environment Laboratories in Monaco

Primary Location: Monaco-IAEA Environment Laboratories in Monaco

Application Deadline: 14 October 2020

Duration: 12 months

Main Purpose: The internships will focus on the development and application of radiotracers, to better understand the organismal impacts of subtle effects of ocean acidification and marine plastics.
Under the guidance of tutor in the Radioecology Laboratory, the interns will learn and apply novel laboratory techniques and experimental aquaria for the collection, preparation, analysis and interpretation of a suite of radiotracers to quantitatively assess the transport and impacts of these two pervasive marine stressors: ocean acidification and marine plastic. The interns will utilize this new information to better understand the metabolic impacts of these two stressors on key-stone marine species.

Continue reading ‘Internship opportunity: applied radiotracer techniques in ocean acidification and marine plastic research’

The Ocean Foundation, Programs Department, Washington, District of Columbia 

Do you love the ocean? Are you ready to be part of a team to strengthen, support, and promote global organizations dedicated to preserving ocean environments around the world? The Ocean Foundation, a DC-based non-profit international community foundation is looking for a Senior Program Associate to join our team!

The position will be a member of our Core Programs and Consulting team and will directly support the International Ocean Acidification Initiative. This position can be based in either Seattle or Washington, D.C., however, until normal business operations resume per COVID-19 precautions this position may work remotely. This position offers opportunities for growth and promotion to a Manager level based on performance.

This position will be responsible for providing technical and operational support to TOF Core Programs, including the International Ocean Acidification Initiative. Job responsibilities include the development of technical training materials related to ocean acidification and coastal restoration, programmatic budgeting, fundraising, program implementation including the design and delivery of training workshops, general operations, strategic partnership development, and communications. In addition, this position shall support efforts to foster greater diversity, equity and inclusion in the design and execution of all TOF programs.

The Senior Associate’s work will include the development of technical training tools for ocean acidification including lab procedures, field guides, training videos, and template data reporting forms. The Senior Associate will also assist with the delivery of technical training programs, management of the Pier-2-Peer Scholarship fund and other grant-making programs, fundraising and strategic partnership development, including proposal drafting and preparation, and the development of communications and marketing materials.

Continue reading ‘Job opening: Senior Program Associate, International Ocean Acidification Initiative’

Organization: NAEL-Radioecology Laboratory

Primary Location: Monaco-IAEA Environment Laboratories in Monaco

Application Deadline: 14 October 2020

Main Purpose: As a member of a team reporting to the Laboratory Head and Project Manager of the Peaceful Uses Initiative (PUI) project “Ocean Acidification International Coordination Center (OA-ICC)”, the Associate Project Officer (Radioecology Laboratory) provides assistance in project management, reporting and analytical support within the different working areas, with the objective of effective, efficient, and timely implementation of the project.

Continue reading ‘Job opportunity: OA-ICC Associate Project Officer’

Application Deadline:: July 31, 2020

Position Overview: The Department of Geography in the Faculty of Arts invites applications for a Research Assistant. This Full-time Fixed Term position is for approximately 19 months (based on length of grant funding), with the possibility of extension.

This position reports to the Principal Investigator, and will support the activities of the Canadian Ocean Acidification Community of Practice, a MEOPAR initiative. The Research Assistant will ideally be located in Calgary, although a remote location outside of the Province of Alberta may be considered (which would necessitate an independent contractor arrangement). Applicants who are located in Calgary (or intend to relocate) as well as those interested in working outside of the Province of Alberta are both encouraged to respond to this job posting.

Qualifications / Requirements: Undergraduate or Graduate (preferred) degree in marine science, including social science
Research experience in a field related to ocean acidification or climate change; existing connections to the Canadian ocean acidification research community is an asset
Strong organizational and communication skills, initiative, writing ability, and the ability to work independently
Experience with data management, research outreach, and/or communications would be an asset

Continue reading ‘Job opportunity: research assistant, Ocean Acidification Community of Practice coordinator, University of Calgary’

Organization: NAEL-Radioecology Laboratory

Primary Location: Monaco-IAEA Environment Laboratories in Monaco

Recruitment will be on a LOCAL BASIS only; the applicant must legally reside in France or Monaco

Application Deadline: 15 July 2020

Main Purpose: As a member of a team reporting to the Project Manager (Section Head of the Radioecology Laboratory) of the Peaceful Uses Initiative (PUI) project “Ocean Acidification International Coordination Centre (OA-ICC)”, the Project Assistant maintains the OA-ICC news stream and bibliographic database, and provides communication and logistical support (e.g. preparation of communication products, and support of meeting organization) within the different working areas of the OA-ICC, with the overall objective of developing, implementing, and continuously improving a successful communication and dissemination strategy and tools. The Project Assistant also supports the coordination of the IAEA-supported Global Ocean Acidification Observing Network (GOA-ON) in collaboration with staff based at IOC-UNESCO and the NOAA Ocean Acidification Program.

Continue reading ‘Job opportunity: ocean acidification project assistant’