Paleonet: Junior Research Fellowships (Marine palaeoclimatology), VU University Amsterdam

[Norman MacLeod]

The Faculty of Earth and Life Sciences, department of Earth Sciences of the
VU University Amsterdam is offering:

2 junior research fellowships in marine palaeoclimatology (ESR Fellowships)

The fellowships are sponsored by the 7th Framework Programme of the European
Community as part of the Marie Curie Initial Training Network “GATEWAYS”.

The ESR fellows will be embedded within the section marine Biogeology of the
Faculty of Earth and Life Sciences. The ESR fellowships (Early Stage
Research fellowships) are directed towards establishing the variability of
the greater Agulhas Current regime off southeast Africa under contrasting
climates of the past, and the dynamics of the water transport from the
Indian Ocean to the Atlantic during these times. Analytical methodologies
will comprise micropalaeontology, stable isotope and trace element
geochemistry. The main research challenges will be to reconstruct past
Agulhas gateway geometry and sea-water characteristics, such as temperature
and salinity, for periods of different climate states during the Late
Pleistocene. This in order to obtain a systematic and consistent view of the
transient development of glacial to inter-glacial inter-ocean exchange
dynamics. The junior research fellows will develop and apply quantitative
microfossil and geochemical indices / proxies for past Indian-Atlantic water
exchange.

Eligibility. Following EU recruitment and mobility regulations you are
eligible to apply for the fellowships at the VU University Amsterdam if:

• you are a Dutch national and have legally resided and had your main
activity outside The Netherlands and the EU (i.e., in a non-associated third
country) for at least three of the last four years immediately prior to your
appointment; 

• you are not a Dutch national and have not resided or carried out your main
activity in The Netherlands for more than 12 months in the 3 years
immediately prior to their appointment (short stays such as holidays are not
taken into account);

• you hold a Master degree in a relevant field, with experience in at least
one of the fields of palaeo-oceanography, marine biology or marine
chemistry, and are in the first 4 years (full-time equivalent) of your
research career, including the period of research training, starting at the
date of obtaining the degree which formally entitles you to enter a
doctorate;

Duration of contract: Each fellowship appointment will be 1,0 fte for a
period of 36 months. ESR fellows are expected to achieve a PhD degree during
their fellowship.

Salary: The salary is according to the standards for Masters level
researchers (Researcher 4) minimum € 2.379,- (salary scale 10), gross per
month, based on a full-time employment. You can find information about our
fringe benefits of employment at www.vu.nl/vacatures

Application documents: Applicants submit, with reference to the vacancy
number, a letter of interest, their curriculum vitae, and the name, address,
email and telephone number of two referees. Send your application, either by
mail or email, to the VU University Amsterdam, attn. Dr. J.M.R.M.
Neutelings, Managing Director, Faculty of Earth and Life Sciences, De
Boelelaan 1085, 1081 HV Amsterdam. Applications by email should be send to:
falw- vacatures at falw.vu.nl

Contact: More information about the department of Earth Sciences can be
found at www.falw.vu.nl. Information on the fellowship positions can be
obtained from Dr. Frank Peeters, Faculty of Earth and Life Sciences, section
Marine Biogeology, VU university Amsterdam, The Netherlands. Tel. +31 (0)20
5987419. email:  frank.peeters at falw.vu.nl

Application deadline is 30 September 2009

The VU university Amsterdam and the GATEWAYS project employ an equal
opportunity policy and particularly invite women to apply.