Postdoctoral position on marine primary production and ecosystem functioning Published 10.12.2020

Applications are invited for a postdoctoral position offering applicants an exciting opportunity to join a new research project entitled: ‘The future of Arctic coastal ecosystems – Identifying transitions in fjord systems and adjacent coastal areas (FACE-IT)’.

The position is available from 1st of February 2021 or as soon as possible hereafter.

About the position
The Greenland Climate Research Centre (GCRC), a department at the Greenland Institute of Natural Resources (GINR) has a 3-year postdoc position available in Nuuk, Greenland.
This postdoc position is funded by and will be focused on the work tasks of the EU funded research project: ‘The future of Arctic coastal ecosystems – Identifying transitions in fjord systems and adjacent coastal areas (FACE-IT)’ https://cordis.europa.eu/project/id/869154. The postdoctoral researcher will be situated in Nuuk during the 3 year period, but travels for fieldwork and meetings are expected.

Work description
We are looking for a motivated postdoctoral researcher with a strong ecological background, preferably with experiences in marine ecosystems, particularly the lower trophic levels (e.g. plankton or bacteria).

The postdoctoral researcher will have a key role in a task of the FACE-IT project on: ‘Quantifying the impacts of glacier retreat on pelagic primary production and ecosystem functioning’. This task will focus on a comparison of pelagic primary production with key ecosystem parameters such as temperature, salinity, light intensity, and nutrient concentrations in specific fjords, either dominated by land-terminating glaciers or tidewater glaciers. Existing datasets and time series combined with transect data on pelagic primary production and key ecosystem parameters will form the basis for data and correlation analyses. Novel sampling and experimental work will be implemented to supplement gaps in the existing data sets. The key questions are:

1. How do key ecosystem parameters affect primary production between the two types of fjord systems, i.e. fjords dominated by land-terminating glaciers with high discharge of turbid meltwater affecting light intensities and spectral composition, and fjords dominated by tidewater glaciers with less discharge of turbid water and upwelling of nutrient-rich bottom water (i.e. subglacial discharge)?
2. How may these fjord systems change considering that present tidewater glaciers may retreat and become land-terminating glaciers with increased warming in the Arctic? Both fjord types are found in Greenland and Svalbard.

In addition, the postdoctoral researcher will also partake in the other tasks of FACE-IT project on identifying key drivers, biodiversity, and ecosystem function changes, as part of the GCRC project team. The postdoctoral researcher is also expected to participate in relevant teaching on graduate courses offered in Nuuk as part of the ‘Arctic Science Study Programme (ASSP)’ https://gcrc.gl/education/assp/

Your profile

• You have a PhD in biology, biochemistry, or related fields
• You have experience in data and time-series analysis, e.g. trend analysis of biogeochemistry data
• You have experience in planning and conduction of field marine work (i.e. ship-/boat-based sampling)
• You have experience in analytical laboratory work commonly used in marine studies
• You have experience in peer-reviewed publication
• You have experience in project management and coordination
• You have excellent English skills, both written and spoken

The candidate must be able to demonstrate good communication and teamworking skills while maintaining a focus and ability to work independently in an interdisciplinary field of research.

The successful candidate is offered:

• A diverse and exciting position in an international working environment
• Access to a well-established research environment and infrastructure
• A possibility to contribute to ongoing research activities and develop new research
• A possibility to get involved in supervising BSc, MSc, and PhD student projects
• A possibility to obtain teaching experience
• A workplace targeting both national stakeholders and the international science community
• A workplace characterized by professionalism and a healthy work-life balance

Application deadline: 11th of January 2021

Place of work
Greenland Institute of Natural Resources
Greenland Climate Research Centre
PO Box 570, Kivioq 2
3900 Nuuk
Greenland

Further information
For further information about the postdoctoral researcher position please contact:
Senior Scientist Thomas Juul-Pedersen, (+299) 361200, thpe@natur.gl.

See more about the position and how to apply on Naalakkersuisut