FULLY FUNDED MSc by RESEARCH STUDENTSHIP: Marine biological productivity estimates from triple oxygen isotope measurements

The measurement of biological production rates is essential for our understanding how marine ecosystems are sustained and how much CO2 is taken up through aquatic photosynthesis. Traditional techniques to measure marine production are laborious and subject to systematic errors. A new biogeochemical approach based on triple oxygen isotope measurements in dissolved oxygen (O2) has been developed over the last few years, which allows the derivation of gross productivity integrated over the depth of the mixed layer and the time-scale of O2 gas exchange (Luz and Barkan, 2000). This approach exploits the relative 17O/16O and 18O/16O isotope ratio differences of dissolved O2 compared to atmospheric O2 to work out the rate of biological production. Two parameters are key for this calculation: the isotopic composition of dissolved O2 in equilibrium with air and the isotopic composition of photosynthetic oxygen. Recently, a controversy has emerged in the literature over these parameters (Kaiser, 2011) and one of the goals of this project is to provide additional data to resolve this controversy through dedicated laboratory experiments. In addition, the student will analyse archived and new field samples from the Atlantic and Southern Oceans to infer biological production rates and interpret them in the context of the laboratory results and ancillary data such as phytoplankton community structure, nutrient and chlorophyll concentrations, meteorological parameters and other production estimates including satellite remote sensing. The student will be taught in state-of-the art isotope ratio mass spectrometric techniques and the analysis and synthesis of environmental data and will have the opportunity to visit partner labs within the Marie Curie Training Network INTRAMIF (http://bit.ly/LzkEfW).

• Applicants must not already hold a PhD degree. • Applicant must hold first degree in an appropriate subject and are expected to have achieved a final mark equivalent to at least a UK 2:1 (Upper Second Class Honours). • At the time of selection for this position, you must be in the first four years (full-time equivalent) of your research career. This is measured from the date when you obtained the degree that would formally entitle you to embark on a doctorate, either in the country in which the degree was obtained or in the UK. • In line with EU requirements, successful applicants must demonstrate trans-national mobility, i.e. they must move to the UK from their present country of residence. The project is not generally open to applicants who are presently in the UK. Please check section II.1 of the FP 7 PEOPLE Work Programme for details (ftp://ftp.cordis.europa.eu/pub/fp7/docs/wp/people/m_wp_200801_en.pdf).

Applications are processed as soon as they are received, so early application is encouraged. NB applicants who wish to start their studies in October 2012 should submit their application by 31 July 2012. Applications received after this date will be considered for the January 2013 entry point if the project is still available.