PhD position for 2024 in paleoclimatology
The Organic Geochemistry Lab in the Department of Geological Sciences and the Institute of Arctic and Alpine Research (INSTAAR) at the University of Colorado Boulder is seeking a student interested in pursuing a fully funded PhD in the field of paleoclimatology. The chosen student will study terrestrial environmental changes following the K–Pg asteroid impact.
Geological Sciences
- December 1st 2023 for international students
- December 15th 2023 for domestic students
Project
The chosen student's research will be funded by a NSF FRES Program award:
Collaborative Research: Terrestrial Ecosystem Recovery after the Cretaceous/Paleogene Mass Extinction in the Denver and Williston Basins of North America
This newly funded award seeks to identify factors involved in terrestrial ecosystem recovery during the first one million years following the last mass extinction of life on Earth at the Cretaceous/Paleogene (K/Pg) boundary. Research includes field, laboratory, analytical, and outreach activities examining lipid biomarkers and their stable isotope composition for the reconstruction of past changes in wildfires, vegetation, temperature, and the hydrological cycle using samples from several K/Pg sections in North America. The project includes close collaboration with a diverse team of vertebrate paleontologists, paleobotanists, and geochemists from eight different institutions led by the Denver Museum of Science and Nature. See links below for further information:
- New NSF award for the Organic Geochemistry Lab at CU Boulder
- Denver Museum Of Nature & Science Receives Its Largest Research Grant Ever From NSF
Application
Applications from students with a robust foundation in Earth sciences, or related disciplines, and from diverse backgrounds and traditionally marginalized groups in STEM fields, are particularly encouraged to apply. Familiarity with organic and/or stable isotope geochemistry, paleo-environmental sciences, and data analysis is desired, but not essential. The Organic Geochemistry Lab is a diverse group of researchers from different backgrounds and nationalities that welcomes, embraces, and fosters diversity. Our state of-the-art analytical facility is equipped with instrumentation in gas and liquid chromatography coupled to low- and high-resolution mass spectrometry. CU Boulder is a dynamic community of scholars and learners with a proud tradition of academic excellence situated on one of the most spectacular college campuses in the country. See links below for further information:
- Organic Geochemistry Lab at CU Boulder
- Department of Geological Sciences - Prospective Students
- Department of Geological Sciences - Admissions
- Institute of Arctic and Alpine Research (INSTAAR)
Contact
Prospective candidates interested in applying are encouraged to contact Dr. Julio Sepúlveda (jsepulveda@colorado.edu) with a brief statement of interest and a CV/resume as a single PDF file. Please note the different deadlines for applications in the Department of Geological Sciences: December 1st 2023 for international students and December 15th 2023 for domestic students.
Banner image at top: A team of paleontologists explore the fossil-rich Corral Bluffs near Colorado Springs, Colorado. Photo: Rick Wicker (DMNS)