[Coral-List] Ph.D./Postdoc Research Opportunity – Development and Application of the Boron Isotopic Proxy of Seawater pH for Coralline Algae

Ries, Justin j.ries at neu.edu
Thu Dec 24 06:32:47 EST 2015


The Ries Lab (http://nuweb2.neu.edu/rieslab/) in the Department of Marine and Environmental Sciences at Northeastern University’s Marine Science Center (MSC) and the Williams Lab (https://sites.google.com/site/branwenw/home) at W.M. Keck Science Department of Claremont McKenna College, Pitzer College, and Scripps College seek a graduate student/postdoctoral researcher interested in conducting federally funded research focused on the calibration and application of the boron isotope proxy of seawater pH for coralline algae, to begin fall 2016.  Research will include calibrating the boron isotope seawater pH proxy for two species of crustose coralline algae and applying these calibrations to the millennial scale reconstruction of seawater pH from long-lived algae obtained from high latitude water—for which we are presently lacking high-resolution records of seawater pH.  This opportunity affords access to newly acquired state-of-the-art analytical equipment at the MSC, including a laser ablation inductively-coupled plasma mass spectrometer for trace element analysis, a powder x-ray diffractometer for mineralogical characterization, and a scanning electron microscope with energy dispersive spectrometry and electron backscatter diffraction for micro-imaging and elemental/mineralogical mapping of skeletal ultrastructure, and a 72-tank array for conducting ocean acidification experiments.  The selected graduate student/postdoc will receive interdisciplinary training in ocean acidification research, carbonate geochemistry, coralline algal biomineralization, boron isotope analysis (via multi-collector ICPMS), and paleo-pH reconstruction. The graduate student will be based at Northeastern University’s MSC (http://www.northeastern.edu/marinescience/), located on the shores of Massachusetts Bay on the Nahant tombolo (13 miles north of downtown Boston).  The renovated MSC features a state-of-the-art flow through seawater facility, direct access to classic New England rocky shore intertidal study sites, an in-house SCUBA program, and small-craft research vessels.  There will be opportunities for travel to the Claremont Colleges and Southampton University for lab work. Suitable backgrounds for applicants include geology, chemistry, and/or biology.  Highly motivated and creative individuals with strong writing and analytical skills are encouraged to apply.  Individuals interested in the graduate research position should apply to Northeastern’s Department of Marine and Environmental Sciences’ Ph.D. program (http://www.northeastern.edu/mes/academics/graduate-degrees/eemb/) at https://neugrad.askadmissions.net/emtinterestpage.aspx?ip=account.  Individuals interested in the postdoctoral research position should contact Prof. Justin Ries (j.ries at neu.edu<mailto:j.ries at neu.edu>) and Prof. Branwen Williams (BWilliams at kecksci.claremont.edu<file:///C:/Users/Justin/Desktop/Desktop_Germany_2015/Graduate%20Students/AppData/Local/Temp/BWilliams@kecksci.claremont.edu>).  Applications are due January 15, 2016.

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Justin B. Ries, Ph.D.

Hanse Fellow
Hanse-Wissenschaftskolleg
Lehmkuhlenbusch 4, 27753 Delmenhorst, Deutschland

Visiting Scientist
Leibniz Zentrum für Marine Tropenökologie
Fahrenheitstraße 6, 28359 Bremen, Deutschland

Associate Professor
Department of Marine and Environmental Sciences
Marine Science Center
430 Nahant Rd
Northeastern University
Nahant, MA 01908 USA
j.ries at neu.edu<mailto:j.ries at neu.edu>
cell: +1 781-990-6699
web: http://nuweb2.neu.edu/rieslab/



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