Master's Student Fieldwork Opportunity
Spitsbergen in Permian Sedimentary Bedrocks
Norwegian Polar Institute
Application deadline: 3 January 2011
For applications and further information, please contact:
Dierk Blomeier
Email: blomeier [at] npolar.no
Phone: +47 7775 0652
The Norwegian Polar Institute (NPI) encourages national and
international collaboration with other educational institutes or
universities in the field of bedrock geology in Norwegian polar areas.
In this context, a collaborative fieldwork opportunity is offered for
students at the Master's (MSc) level.
The fieldwork, which will take place in Svalbard (Spitsbergen) during
summer 2011, is conducted in the frame of an international research
project entitled "Facies, geochemical signature and environmental
variability of the Permian strata and the Permian-Triassic boundary on
Svalbard." Scientific interest will be focused on the sedimentary strata
of the Permian Kapp Starostin Formation and the transitional succession
into the Triassic, which are exposed in a number of key localities in
Svalbard.
Depending on the analytical apparatus at the home institute, the MSc
student is expected to accomplish a thesis by applying a combination of
techniques in the fields of sedimentology, stratigraphy, palaeontology,
and/or geochemistry. A reasonable combination of these methods should be
chosen in order to investigate the palaeogeographic, palaeoceanographic,
palaeoclimatic, and/or palaeoecologic development during this time span.
Results are expected to be presented at appropriate conferences and
meetings and will be published in international journals.
Basic costs for the fieldwork in 2011 will be covered by NPI. This
includes transportation within Spitsbergen, accommodation in
Longyearbyen, food, and provision of equipment during the field
campaign. The student will need to cover additional travel expenses,
analyses, and materials; details will be determined as part of the
collaborative agreement.
The student will be partially supervised by NPI geologists and
collaborative partners, while a formal supervisor is required at the
student's home university or institute for the duration of the thesis
starting with the field season in Spitsbergen in summer 2011. During the
duration of the thesis, it is expected that the student will stay at NPI
(in Tromso, Norway) for a time period of approximately 3 months
depending on research topics and applied methods.
Geologic fieldwork on Spitsbergen will be organized and conducted by NPI
for several weeks during July/August 2011. During this period, a number
of lithostratigraphic sections, which form the basis of the MSc thesis,
will be established in different key locations in southern Spitsbergen.
Potential candidates should be particularly interested and should
possess good previous knowledge in sedimentology, stratigraphy,
palaeontology, and/or geochemistry. Candidates must be fluent in
English; knowledge of Norwegian is advantageous. The ability to work
effectively in a team is also an essential requirement. In respect to
fieldwork in Svalbard, candidates should be physically capable and
medically fit to work under arctic conditions.
Prospective students, in accordance with a supervisor of their home
university or institute, should express their interest immediately.
Preparatory discussions and the utilization of funding will take place
as soon as possible.
Application deadline: 3 January 2011.
For applications and further information, please contact:
Dierk Blomeier
Email: blomeier [at] npolar.no
Phone: +47 7775 0652