The Department of Environmental Science is one of the biggest departments at the Faculty of Science. The department consists of four units with more than 170 researchers, teachers, doctoral students and technical/administrative staff from over 30 countries. Our research and teaching spans from couplings between climate change, atmospheric science and biogeochemical cycles (atmosphere-land-ocean) to the sources, transport and effects of environmental contaminants. As an employee at the Department of Environmental Science you will be part of a dynamic environment with research in leading research areas and with a strong international profile. We are deeply engaged also in the Bolin Centre for Climate Research, a national center of excellence that facilitates research, teaching and outreach related to the Earth’s climate across disciplines. More information about us, please visit: the Department of Environmental Science.

Research in the Biogeochemistry Unit focuses on the dynamics of organic matter, methane, nutrients and trace metals and more on land, in the ocean and in the atmosphere, and their interaction with human activities and climate. The unit has a strong and long-standing research focus on Arctic biogeochemistry – climate interactions with the overarching goal to improve the systems understanding and thus future projections of carbon/methane-climate feedback processes in the Arctic.

We are now recruiting a PhD student to complement our growing team, with a focus on methane cycling in the Arctic Ocean and possibly beyond.

Project description

The thesis work will be conducted largely within the project “Observational constraints on Arctic Ocean methane systems as tipping elements and triggers of climate overshoot”, funded by the Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation. The project focuses on methane releases from thawing subsea permafrost and collapsing hydrates of the Arctic Ocean. Hotspots of high methane concentrations have been observed especially on the Eurasian Arctic Ocean shelves and slopes, but the sources, sinks, release processes, emissions to the atmosphere, and future trajectories are highly uncertain. The project aims to answer these questions by integrating observational and modelling tools. This post doc position will be associated with the research group of Örjan Gustafsson and will be part of a larger international research team working on Arctic Ocean subsea permafrost, hydrates and methane, including Stockholm University partner groups of Birgit Wild, WeiLi Hong and Christian Stranne.

The PhD thesis may focus on different aspects of the overarching theme of Arctic Ocean Methane within the framework and goals of the KAW project. Possibilities include, but are not restricted to, assessment of unpublished methane concentrations patterns along proposed methane hydrate systems of the Eurasian Arctic upper slope from several completed expeditions, measurements of source- and process-diagnostic isotopic composition in methane of slope water samples, and interpretations within a broad system framework including also water mass circulation, sediment geophysics and gas hydrate stability. It may also target a circum-arctic estimate of the sea-air fluxes of methane. We have a large collection of samples and data, especially from the Russian Arctic Ocean shelves/slopes, available at Stockholm University, as well as state of the art laboratory facilities for analyses of e.g. isotopic fingerprinting of methane (13C, 2H, 14C).

The position might include also field work and collaboration with modeling partners. The position might include also related applications/studies of methane releases in South Asia. A detailed project plan will be developed by the PhD student, with support by the main supervisor Örjan Gustafsson and other colleagues in the first three months of the position.

Qualification requirements

In order to be admitted to postgraduate education, the applicant must have the general and specific entry requirements. The qualification requirements must be met by the deadline for admission.

You meet general entry requirements if you have completed a second-cycle degree, or completed courses equivalent to at least 240 higher education credits, of which 60 credits must be in the second cycle, or have otherwise acquired equivalent knowledge in Sweden or elsewhere.

Specific entry requirements for doctoral studies in Environmental Science, is met if at least 45 of the credits at the second cycle is in one of the natural sciences (Biology, Chemistry, Earth Sciences, Physics, or Meteorology) including a 30 credits thesis project. The applicant should also have 30 credits in other natural science subjects different from the major.

Selection

The selection among the eligible candidates will be based on their capacity to benefit from the training. The following criteria will be used to assess this capacity:

documented knowledge in a relevant field of research
capacity for analytical and creative thinking
initiative
independence
ability to collaborate
written and oral proficiency in both English.

Admission Regulations for Doctoral Studies at Stockholm University.

About the employment

We offer a fixed-term employment as a doctoral student according to Chapter 5 of the Higher Education Ordinance (1993:100). The period of employment may not be longer than what corresponds to full-time doctoral education for four years. As a doctoral student, you should primarily devote yourself to your own doctoral education, but the employment may include work with education, research and administration to a limited extent (maximum 20 %).

A new employment as a doctoral student is for a maximum of one year, the employment is then renewed for a maximum of two years at a time.

Stockholm University strives to be a workplace free from discrimination and with equal opportunities for all.

Contact

For more information, please contact Professor Örjan Gustafsson, orjan.gustafsson@aces.su.se.

Application

Apply for the PhD student position at Stockholm University's recruitment system. Attach a personal letter and CV as well as the attachments requested in the application form. It is the responsibility of the applicant to ensure that the application is complete in accordance with the instructions in the job advertisement, and that it is submitted before the deadline.

The instructions for applicants are available at: How to apply for a position.

Stockholm University contributes to the development of sustainable democratic society through knowledge, enlightenment and the pursuit of truth.

PhD student in Environmental Science focusing on Arctic Ocean methane cycling