Isogeochem Folks,

Please forgive this repost of a job advertisement -- the original was posted to the list a couple weeks ago by my institute's HR department and this version contains more information. Please forward and post. 

Thanks
Troy

Organic Geochemistry Post-Doc at New Zealand's National Isotope Centre (NIC)

NIC is seeking a post-doctoral fellow. NIC’s research and commercial activities are supported by a sophisticated technical infrastructure, including accelerator mass spectrometry, stable isotope mass spectrometers, chemical laboratories, and a new Agilent 5975 GC-MS system. This position is for a two year fixed period. The role will be involved in two exciting projects within NIC’s Terrestrial Isotope Biogeochemistry Laboratory.

The first project involves using biomarker compounds and nitrogen isotopes to investigate population and fertility changes leading to the pre-historic societal collapse on Easter Island.

The second project investigates the changes in biomarker compounds associated with loss of organic matter from intensively farmed pasture soils as well as soil organic matter recovery following erosion.

The ideal candidate will be an ambitious and bright postdoctoral research fellow with the following:
• A PhD in the field of organic geochemistry.
• A track record of publications in the field of organic geochemistry.
• Excellent organisational skills.
• The ability to work and collaborate within multidisciplinary research teams
• The ability to supervise technicians and students to complete laboratory tasks.
• Practical knowledge and experience in organic geochemistry as it relates to the analysis of soils or soil-derived sediments.
• Willingness to travel to collaborating overseas laboratories to learn analysis techniques. 

The initial closing date is 8 Nov, and applications will be evaluated until the position is filled.

For more information and to apply, go to https://vacancies.gns.cri.nz

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More info on the two projects is below and additional links can be found on my personal webpage http://www.gns.cri.nz/who/staff/2234.html
 
For the Easter Island Marsden Project:
·       Undertake faecal steroid analysis on Easter Island sediments, including learning the technique in year 1 at the Stroud Water Research Institute near Philidelphia, USA, and implementing the technique at NIC. See also http://www.stroudcenter.org/about/aufdenkampe.htm
·       Analysis of d15N in Easter Island sediments to understand changes in the contemporary C cycle of New Zealand
 
For the Global Change Through Time Programme:
·       Apply and develop techniques such as thermochemolysis and CuO oxidation for the analysis of lignin biomarkers to test hypotheses for the gain or loss of soil organic matter in re-sampled soil profiles after ~20 years.
·       Identify key biomarker compounds present in New Zealand soils, and work on the development of an international database of biomarker compounds.
·       Develop compound-specific isotope analysis techniques.
·       Collaboration opportunities exist with the following labs 


W. Troy Baisden, PhD
Senior Scientist 
Environmental Isotope Section
National Isotope Centre
GNS Science

Ph +64 4 570 4653
Fax +64 4 570 4657

Postal Address:
30 Gracefield Road,
PO Box 31-312,
Lower Hutt,
New Zealand


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