Project background
Predicting the future behaviour of ice shelves is critical for understanding how Antarctica will respond to climate warming. The presence of debris on ice shelf surfaces is known to change the albedo and enhance melt, but the debris itself has been the subject of minimal investigation. The debris hosts microbial communities, including cyanobacteria with pigments that can darken surfaces sufficiently to increase local ablation rates (Jungblut et al. 2017). On some ice surfaces, this ‘bioalbedo’ influence is sufficient to significantly increase melt. This project will explore whether this phenomenon occurs on Antarctic ice shelves, and how microbial activity can change the occurrence and biogeochemical characteristics of ice shelf surface melt, and how this may impact ice shelf stability.
Project aims and methods
The project will characterise the microbial communities that inhabit debris on the surface of the Ross Ice Shelf, and investigate their impact on the surrounding environment. You will:
- use state of the art microbial techniques to analyse the community composition in labs at the Natural History Museum.
- explore the activity of the community in the Cardiff Cold Climate lab, and assess how activity influences pigmentation.
- assess the algal behaviour and productivity at Cardiff and the Bristol MicroLab.
- use imaging techniques at NHM and Cardiff to understand how interactions between microbes and minerals support this diverse yet extreme ecosystem.
- use the data collected to drive a numerical model of ice shelf processes, incorporating the impacts of sediment and biological activity into a hydrological model.
You may also have the opportunity to participate in polar fieldwork, subject to logistical and funding constraints, and conduct in situ experiments to understand the variability of the microbial activity across the shelf. The data collected will be synthesised to build a comprehensive picture of this little-explored ecosystem, to help understand how microbial functions influence wider environmental processes.
Candidate requirements
This cross-disciplinary project requires diverse skills in biogeochemistry, microbiology and earth science; few candidates will have all the skills required at the beginning of the project, so the key requirement is enthusiasm and willingness to learn.
Project partners
The project benefits from a key partner: the Natural History Museum, London. NHM will provide access to state of the art molecular facilities and full training for the candidate.
Training
You will receive exemplary laboratory training at two world-class institutions: Cardiff and NHM.
At Cardiff, you will conduct low temperature experiments to assess microbial activity and physical properties.
At NHM you will receive training on up to date molecular analyses and imaging.
Throughout the project you will have the support of a supervisory team to develop their scientific skills, and access to a range of training opportunities across the GW4 and NERC.
Entry requirements
In order to be accepted you would need to have a first-class BSc degree or a second-class degree plus an MSc or good MSci. However, for international students, you would need to have a relevant degree in the subject area and have evidence of an English Language qualification. Further information on the English Language can be found on our website.
How to apply
In order to formally apply for the PhD you will need to visit our website.
In the black box on the right of the page please select the following options:
- Doctor of Philosophy
- Full Time
- 1st October 2022
Click on ‘Apply now’.
Please ensure that you include the ‘Project Title’ you are applying for and supervisor and that you add ‘NERC DTP’ under the source of funding.
The application deadline is Monday 10 January 2022 at 23:59 GMT. Interviews will take place from 23rd February to 9th March 2022. For more information about the NERC GW4+ Doctoral Training Partnership please visit https://www.nercgw4plus.ac.uk.
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