Postdoc in Deep-Sea Biogeochemistry and Environmental Assessment

The University of Gothenburg tackles society’s challenges with diverse knowledge. 58 000 students and 6800 employees make the university a large and inspiring place to work and study. Strong research and attractive study programmes attract researchers and students from around the world. With new knowledge and new perspectives, the University contributes to a better future.

The Department of Marine Sciences, University of Gothenburg (https://www.gu.se/en/marina-vetenskaper), combines extensive scientific competence with unique infrastructure to provide the most complete environment for marine science and education in Sweden. It is one of only a few such organizations in Europe. By integrating advanced research infrastructure with a strong link to societal needs and challenges, the Department contributes new solutions to global ocean challenges.

The Department of Marine Sciences conducts research, education, and innovation related to the science of the ocean and its resources. Its activities are based in Gothenburg, at two research stations (Kristineberg Center for Marine Research and Innovation, and Tjärnö Marine Laboratory), and on the research vessel Skagerak. The Department has an interdisciplinary scope that encompasses marine biology, marine chemistry, marine geology, and physical oceanography, working in all marine habitats from shallow bays and coastal seas to the open oceans. Our scientists and students often play leading roles in international collaborative research, including expeditions to Polar regions and the great seas of the world, as well as in our newly built laboratories with advanced equipment and complex analytical techniques. The Department also offers a wide range of undergraduate courses, a Bachelor’s degree, three Master’s degrees, and a PhD programme, all within marine sciences.

Subject area 

Marine Biogeochemistry

Subject area description 

Deep-sea mining is emerging as a consequential and controversial development in ocean resource management. Polymetallic nodules contain metals of strategic importance for modern technologies and the energy transition, yet their potential extraction raises fundamental questions about environmental risks to some of the least understood ecosystems on Earth. Thus, independent scientific research is essential to establish environmental baseline conditions and inform decisions about potential future mining activities.

The successful candidate will join a large international research team bringing together leading scientific institutions and industry partners to conduct a comprehensive environmental baseline study of polymetallic nodule fields within the Cook Islands Exclusive Economic Zone. As part of this collaborative effort, the University of Gothenburg will focus on sediment biogeochemistry and benthic processes, integrating biogeochemical measurements with biological, geological, and oceanographic observations from the wider project. This will help characterize ecosystem functioning and provide a scientific basis for assessing potential environmental risks.

This postdoc position focuses on deep-sea sediment biogeochemistry, with particular emphasis on benthic oxygen consumption, organic matter degradation, and exchanges across the sediment-water interface. The project combines in situ measurements using an autonomous benthic chamber lander with analyses of sediment and porewater samples. The aim is to characterize baseline conditions and ecosystem functioning in organic-poor abyssal sediments covered by polymetallic nodules, providing a reference against which potential future environmental changes can be evaluated.

The main focus of the position will be the preparation, testing, and deployment of an upgraded version of the Abyssal Benthic Chamber (ABC) lander of the University of Gothenburg (https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jmarsys.2020.103475) as well as analysis and interpretation of the resulting datasets, and preparation of reports and scientific publications.

Duties

The postdoc will take a leading role in the scientific preparation, testing, and operation of Gothenburg’s ABC lander. This includes establishing incubation protocols, checking sensor performance, and carrying out deployments and recoveries in collaboration with the vessel’s marine operations team. The postdoc will participate in several testing activities and offshore research campaigns both in Sweden and around the Cook Islands. Participation in research expeditions to the nodule fields off the Cook Islands will be an important component of the position. These expeditions will provide opportunities to conduct advanced deep-sea research in a largely unexplored environment.

A central responsibility will be the quantitative assessment of benthic oxygen consumption and sediment-water exchange using autonomous benthic chamber measurements. This includes evaluating sensor performance, incubation conditions, methodological uncertainties, and spatial variability in benthic fluxes. The results will be integrated with sediment properties, porewater chemistry, organic matter availability, and polymetallic nodule coverage to improve our understanding of biogeochemical processes in abyssal ecosystems. The work will include leading the preparation of manuscripts for peer-reviewed publication and contributing to reports and validated datasets.

The postdoc will work closely with the Seafloor Biogeochemistry team at GU (https://www.gu.se/en/research/seafloor-biogeochemistry) and other international researchers involved in the project. The position requires both independent work and collaboration, including participation in fieldwork, onboard sample processing where needed, chemical analyses in the lab, as well as joint interpretation of results.

Eligibility 

To be eligible for appointment as a postdoc, the applicant is required to have a doctoral degree, a doctoral degree in art, or a foreign degree that is deemed to be equivalent to a doctoral degree. This eligibility requirement must be met before the employment decision is made.

In the first instance, those who have completed their degree no more than three years prior to the end of the application period shall be considered. Those who have completed their degree more than three years prior to the end of the application period may also be considered in the first instance if special grounds exist. Special grounds relate to leave of absence due to illness, parental leave, commissions of trust within union organisations, service within the defence services or other similar circumstances, as well as clinical service or service/assignment relevant to the subject area.

The doctoral degree must be in marine sciences, biogeochemistry, oceanography, environmental chemistry, geochemistry, or a closely related discipline relevant to the position.

Assessment criteria 

The assessment will primarily consider the scientific quality and relevance of the applicant’s previous research. The candidates will be judged for their:

(1) potential for growth as a researcher and to eventually obtain their own research grant;

(2) ability to collaborate and work independently;

(3) past academic performance relative to opportunity.

The following are the requirements for the position:

• Documented research experience in sediment biogeochemistry or related fields;
• Practical experience with sediment sampling and incubations;
• Experience in quantitative analysis and interpretation of scientific datasets;
• Demonstrated ability to publish scientific manuscripts and to communicate research.
• Very good communication skills in English, both written and spoken.

The following are considered advantageous for the position:

• Experience with benthic landers or other autonomous marine instruments;
• Experience with marine instrumentation, sensor calibration, and quantitative uncertainty assessment;
• Experience with oxygen sensors and benthic flux estimation;
• Experience developing reproducible data-processing and analysis workflows using, for example, R, Python, or MATLAB.

Applicants should document these qualifications through their CV, publications, and cover letter, clearly describing their own contributions to fieldwork, experimental work, data analysis, and publications. Collaboration skills and the ability to take responsibility for the work will also be considered through interviews and references.

Employment

The employment is a fixed-term employment for 2 years, 100% of full time and placed at the Department of Marine Sciences in Gothenburg. The starting date is upon agreement, but no later than 31 March 2027.

To learn more about our employment benefits, please visit Employment benefits | University of Gothenburg

Selection process

Applications will be assessed against the requirements and assessment criteria described above. Shortlisted candidates will be invited to an interview. References may also be contacted as part of the assessment.

Further details on the selection process can be found at: https://www.gu.se/en/work-at-the-university-of-gothenburg/how-to-apply-for-a-position

Contact information for the post

If you have any questions about the position, please contact Stefano Bonaglia, stefano.bonaglia@gu.se 
If you have any questions about the recruitment process, please contact Helen Tholander, helen.tholander@gu.se 

Unions

Union representatives at the University of Gothenburg can be found here: https://www.gu.se/en/work-at-the-university-of-gothenburg/how-to-apply-for-a-position#collective-agreement-and-union-representatives

Application

To apply for a position at the University of Gothenburg, you have to create an account in our recruitment system. Submit your application via the University of Gothenburg’s recruitment portal by clicking the “Apply” button. It is your responsibility to ensure that the application is complete as per the vacancy notice, and that the University receives it by the final application deadline.

Please submit the following documents in English:

• Cover letter explaining your research experience, career motivation, interests, and potential fit to the Seafloor Biogeochemistry group (1 page). Feel free to explain any circumstances that help the panel to understand your individual trajectory.
• Curriculum Vitae, including a list of relevant courses, examples of previous research experiences, list of publications or conference presentations, and contact details of 2 referees who can comment on your ability to succeed as a researcher (3 pages).
• PDF of up to 3 scientific texts written by the candidate. This can be a PhD thesis, publications in scientific journals, technical reports, or even papers still in draft. Feel free to explain the context of these selected texts in your cover letter.
• Optional: Description and certificates of any other relevant merits that you wish to refer to and could help the panel to evaluate your growth potential.

How to apply for a position | University of Gothenburg

Information for International Applicants

Choosing a career in a foreign country is a big step. Thus, to give you a general idea of what we and Gothenburg have to offer in terms of benefits and life in general for you and your family/spouse/partner please visit:

https://www.gu.se/en/about-the-university/welcome-services 
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Applications must be received by:2027-01-04

The University works actively to achieve a working environment with equal conditions, and values the qualities that diversity brings to its operations.

Salaries are set individually at the University.

In accordance with the National Archives of Sweden’s regulations, the University must archive application documents for two years after the appointment is filled. If you request that your documents are returned, they will be returned to you once the two years have passed. Otherwise, they will be destroyed.

In connection to this recruitment, we have already decided which recruitment channels we should use. We therefore decline further contact with vendors, recruitment and staffing companies.