Postdoc in rare earth elements and Nd isotope cycling in the Antarctic, University of Minnesota–Twin Cities, USA
The School of the Earth, Ocean and Environment at the University of South Carolina and the Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences at the University of Minnesota invite applications for a jointly supported Postdoctoral Research Associate to work on an NSF-funded, collaborative research project associated with marine cycling of rare earth elements and neodymium (Nd) isotopes near the Amundsen Sea sector of the Antarctic continental margin. This research is part of the U.S. GEOTRACES program, and all samples for this project were recently collected during the U.S. GEOTRACES GP17-ANT cruise (https://usgeotraces.ldeo.columbia.edu/content/gp17-ant).
The postdoctoral researcher will be primarily based at the University of Minnesota–Twin Cities (https://isotopes.esci.umn.edu) but will work closely with research teams at both institutions. Occasional travel to the University of South Carolina is expected. The appointment is for one year, with the possibility of renewal for a second year based on performance and funding availability.
Position Responsibilities:
(1) Conduct high-precision analyses of Nd isotopes and REE concentrations on seawater, particles, sediments, and other samples collected during the GP17-ANT cruise.
(2) Interpret results in the context of polar oceanography and marine biogeochemical cycling, and lead or contribute to peer-reviewed publications
(3) Provide mentorship to graduate and undergraduate students involved in the project, as appropriate
Required Qualifications:
- Ph.D. in chemical oceanography, low-temperature isotope geochemistry, or a closely related field by the time of appointment
- Demonstrated experience with clean lab protocols for sample preparation–preferably for seawater – and with trace element and isotope analyses using ICP-MS and MC-ICP-MS
- Proven track record of research productivity, including peer-reviewed publications and scientific presentations on relevant topics
- Excellent communication and organizational skills
Application Instructions:
To apply, please send the following materials as a single PDF to Xinyuan Zheng (zhengxy@umn.edu) and Michael Bizimis (mbizimis@geol.sc.edu):
- Cover letter describing your research background and interest in the position
- Curriculum vitae, including publication list
- Contact information for three professional references
Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled.
The preferred start date is as soon as possible, with flexibility depending on the candidate’s availability.
For questions, please contact zhengxy@umn.edu.