Position Announcement
Postdoctoral Research Assistant
Geography Department
Royal Holloway, University of London
For further information, please go to:
http://www.rhul.ac.uk/
or to:
http://www.gg.rhul.ac.uk/news/assistantship.html
Position Available: Tuesday, 1 June 2004
PROJECT DETAILS
The project is entitled "Reconstruction of Isotope Stage 17-5
Interglacial Environments of Eastern Beringia." It is being funded by a
grant from the Leverhulme Trust to Dr. Scott Elias. The project begins 1
June 2004 and ends 31 May 2007.
The principal objectives of the project are to address the following
issues:
1) Determination of whether a mid-Pleistocene interglacial period known
as Marine Isotope Stage 11 is a valid analogue for the present
interglacial in Alaska and the Yukon Territory. Terrestrial sites that
contain organic deposits from MIS 11 are very rare, especially in the
high latitudes, where the scouring of ice during subsequent glaciations
removed middle Pleistocene sediments.
2) The project aims to determine the rates and patterns of regional
climatic change during rapid warming events, and how species responded
to this warming. The best way to address these questions is through the
detailed study of a variety of fossils that occur in organic deposits.
The study sites contain buried forest beds that will document the
history of climate change, as it affected both plant and insect species.
3) To ascertain the character of regional species migrations in response
to such climate changes, given that these changes may have triggered
migrations between the Asian and American sectors of Beringia.
This project will examine:
Fossil Beetle Assemblages: To be done by the PDRA at Royal Holloway,
University of London, under the supervision of Dr. Elias
Site Stratigraphy: To be done by Dr. Duane Froese, University of Alberta
Ancient DNA: To be done by the PDRA, under the supervision of Dr. Alan
Cooper, University of Oxford
Paleobotany: To be done by Dr. Grant Zazula, Simon Fraser University
and Dr. Nancy Bigelow, University of Alaska
ELIGIBILITY
Candidates should have recently completed a PhD in Quaternary Science,
or will have completed their PhD by June 2004. Some knowledge of
Quaternary entomology would be useful, although Dr. Elias plans to train
the successful candidate in this discipline. The position will provide
basic salary, London allowance, national insurance, and superannuation,
for a total compensation package of $45,288 USD in year 1, $47,577 USD
in year 2, and $49,908 USD in year 3.
APPLICATION DETAILS
When applying, please include the following:
(1) Curriculum Vitae
(2) Letter of application
Please send the above documents to:
Dr. Scott Elias
Geography Department
Royal Holloway, University of London
Egham, Surrey TW20 0EX
Position Available: Tuesday, 1 June 2004
For further information, please go to:
http://www.rhul.ac.uk/