Postdoctoral fellow to study CO2 drawdown via enhanced silicate weathering in coastal systems

The University of Antwerp is a young, dynamic, and forward-thinking university located in the vibrant port city of Antwerp (Belgium). We offer innovative education to more than 20 000 students, conduct pioneering scientific research and play a key service-providing role in society. We are an innovative and internationally oriented employer with over 6000 employees from 100 different countries. Through top scientific research, we are helping to build tomorrow's world and set a course for a sustainable future – a future that you can help to shape.

The Centre of Excellence in Global Change Ecology within the Faculty of Sciences is looking for a full-time (100%)

Postdoctoral fellow to study CO₂ drawdown via enhanced silicate weathering in coastal systems (2 years)

To meet the climate targets of the Paris agreement, active removal of CO₂ from the atmosphere is needed. Enhanced silicate weathering (ESW) is a promising technology for such CO₂ drawdown and aims to speed up the natural process of silicate rock weathering. Application in coastal areas has the advantage that it counteracts ocean acidification, does not interfere with terrestrial land use, and can be directly integrated into existing coastal management programs with existing technology.

The selected candidate will join the Marine Microbiology and Biogeochemistry research group of Prof. Filip Meysman. This team is at the international forefront of research into CO₂ drawdown in marine systems via enhanced silicate weathering, combining state-of-the-art methods in geochemistry and microbiology. See www.coastalesw.com for more information about our research.

Job description

At UAntwerpen we operate an internationally unique mesocosm facility, which enables to study the biogeochemistry of enhanced silicate weathering in coastal environments under controlled conditions. We have a job opening for a postdoctoral fellow (2 years) to study the geochemistry of olivine weathering. The goal is to characterize the marine sediment geochemistry in mesocosms with and without olivine addition, in order to determine the dissolution rate of olivine minerals, investigate pore saturation effects and assess the CO₂ sequestration rate through both experimental methods and geochemical modelling. The postdoc project is embedded within a larger research project, which runs in collaboration with the university of Ghent (Dept. Geology) and the Flemish Institute for the Sea (VLIZ).

• You are highly motivated to conduct research within an international and interdisciplinary team of researchers, and thus build a professional network and academic career;
• You will perform fundamental research within the domain of silicate weathering;
• You have experience and skills to conduct experiments rigorously and independently (flux measurements, pore water sampling, geochemical analysis of the solute and solid phases in marine sediments) and interpret the resulting data through reactive transport modelling;
• You will publish your research results in high-level scientific journals and you love to present your results at national and international venues;
• You will support junior lab members (MSc, PhD), provide training in biogeochemistry and take part in the supervision of these research projects.

Profile and qualifications

 We are looking for a flexible and creative person, who is highly motivated to tackle new and complex biological questions.

• You hold a doctorate degree (PhD) in Biogeochemistry, Geochemistry, Geology or a related discipline in the Natural Sciences, and have a strong interest in cross-disciplinary research;
• You have a productive scientific track record including first-author publications in international journals;
• Candidates who have experience in marine sediment geochemistry and weathering studies are particularly encouraged to apply. Expertise in reactive transport modelling (e.g. diagenetic modelling, PHREEQC) is a clear bonus;
• You are creative, possess excellent organisational skills and have a cooperative attitude;
• You are an excellent team-player, and enthusiastic to learn new technologies and work in an interdisciplinary team;
• Strong communication skills in English are essential, including the ability to present to both academic and non-academic audiences.

We offer

• a dynamic, vibrant and stimulating work environment at UAntwerpen;
• a full-time contract as a postdoctoral researcher for two years (with potential prolongation depending on availability of funds);
• a gross monthly salary is calculated according to the pay scale for a principal research fellow in the Contract Research Staff category (Dutch: Bijzonder Academisch Personeel, BAP).
• a working environment within green space of Campus Drie Eiken (UAntwerpen). Find out more about working at the University of Antwerp here.

Want to apply?

• You can apply for this vacancy through the University of Antwerp’s online job application platform up to and including 15 July 2021 (by midnight Brussels time). Click on 'apply', complete the online application form and don’t forget to include the following document(s) in English: (1) a motivation letter, (2) your up-to-date academic CV.
• We will perform a pre-selection on CV and we will invite selected candidates for an interview. The selection committee will review the applications as soon as possible after the application deadline. These interviews will take place in July 2021. The planned start date is 15 September 2021 or as soon as possible thereafter.
• If you have questions about the online application form, please check the frequently asked questions or email jobs@uantwerpen.be. If you have questions about the job itself, please contact Prof. dr. ir. Filip Meysman, filip.meysman@uantwerpen.be.

The University of Antwerp received the European Commission’s HR Excellence in Research Award for its HR policy. We are a sustainable, family-friendly organisation which invests in its employees’ growth. We encourage diversity and attach great importance to an inclusive working environment and equal opportunities, regardless of gender identity, disability, race, ethnicity, religion or belief, sexual orientation or age. We encourage people from diverse backgrounds and with diverse characteristics to apply.

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