Subject: Formation of calcified roots in terrestrial sediments
Terrestrial sediments are commonly used for paleoenvironmental reconstructions. However such reconstructions may be biased by the presence of calcified roots (rhizoliths). These objects, which may be rather abundant (up to 20 000 per m2), are usually not syngenetic to the embedding sediment. A better knowledge of their formation mechanism appears crucial to better use terrestrial paleoenvironmental archives.
To this aim, the “Environmental Geochemistry” group of the “Biogeochemistry and Ecology” lab (BioEMCo) from UPMC and the “Mineralogy and Cosmochemistry” lab (LMCM) of the French National History Museum (MNHN) seek applications to a postdoc position in an interdisciplinary, young and dynamic team of organic geochemists and mineralogists.
The position will be funded through a Labex Matisse (Paris) fellowship for one year, with a starting date in mid-2013.
During the funded year, natural rhizolith samples will be characterized at a multiple length scale using a combination of organic geochemistry and mineralogy techniques, involving gas and liquid chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry, Raman microspectroscopy, scanning and transmission electron microscopy and synchrotron-based X-ray absorption microspectroscopy.
The ideal candidate should thus have a solid background in organic geochemistry and/or biogeochemistry and be interested in using recently-developed analytical techniques. Applicants must have the ability to work in a team, have good communication skills and should be highly motivated and committed to pursuing such interdisciplinary research. They must also have demonstrated record of presenting and publishing research results.
The post-doctoral fellow will benefit from the widely recognized expertise of the two involved labs in their respective area. The project will also rely on collaborations with Guido Wiesenberg (University of Zurich) and Martina Gocke (University of Bayreuth).
Applications including a detailed CV and a motivation letter should be sent by email to Dr Arnaud Huguet (arnaud.huguet[a]upmc.fr) or Dr Sylvain Bernard (sbernard[a]mnhn.fr)