ISMER_Isotope Biogeochemistry

The projects are focused on the application of compound-specific radiocarbon analysis to quantify biospheric and petrogenic terrestrial OC fluxes as well as microbial remineralization of this OC pool in different fjord systems along a N-S gradient from northern Baffin Bay to the Saguenay. The compound-specific ¹⁴C isotope composition of terrestrial and marine biomarkers will be used to define the (permafrost) soil and phytoplankton end members in bulk OC and deconvolve the biospheric and petrogenic terrestrial OC fluxes using Monte Carlo simulations. Compound-specific ¹⁴C analysis of viable biomarkers will be used to quantify microbial remineralization of the buried biospheric and petrogenic terrestrial OC. Complementary biomarker proxies will be used to reconstruct the paleoenvironmental conditions (SST, MAAT, vegetation type, pH etc) and link them to changing OC fluxes in marine and land-terminating fjord systems. 

Both projects will be carried out in collaboration with Dalhousie University and are embedded in the CFREF-funded Transforming Climate Action program, which comes with many additional funding, international exchange, and professional development opportunities. Funding for the PDF position is available for 2 years with potential for extension; candidates with a solid background in organic geochemical methods (especially with preparative GC and LC-MS/MS) are strongly encouraged to apply. Funding for the PhD position is available for 3 years.

For further information and to apply, please contact stephanie_kusch(at)uqar.ca – applications should contain your CV and a brief motivation letter (one pdf). Positions open until filled.

We post any open positions here. At times, positions may not be available. However, if you are interested in working with us, we welcome and support your initiative to obtain scholarship grants (e.g., NSERC, FRQNT).