The aim of the project is to investigate the influence of sea ice, glaciers, and ice sheets on the composition of phytoplankton and zooplankton communities and their vertical flux in Svalbard and the Southern Ocean. The project offers a wide range of laboratory and field opportunities.
The applicant for this PhD position must have a Master's degree or equivalent in marine environmental science, marine biology/ecology, biological oceanography, or a similar subject area. Competence in identifying plant or animal plankton, laboratory experience in chemistry or biology, and numerical and statistical skills are essential.
Tasks will include:
- Investigate the composition of the plant and zooplankton community along one fjord transect over an entire annual cycle, including the possibility of looking at summer plankton data from Kongsfjorden (Svalbard) for the period 2010-2023;
- Determine the composition and size of the vertical flux in relation to the proximity of the glacier in Kongsfjorden; and
- Determine the composition and size of the vertical flux in the coastal Southern Ocean, outside Queen Maud Land (Antarctica), in relation to changes in the sea ice cover and runoff from the Antarctic ice sheet in the period 2019-2025.
Application deadline: 31 May 2024
For more information, go to:
Full position description
For questions, contact:
Philipp Assmy
Email: philipp.assmy@npolar.no