Ph.D. position in
Modelling Cretaceous Paleocenography and sediment deposition
The Department of Geography and Geology (DGG) at the Faculty of Science, University of
Copenhagen hereby offers a fully funded Ph.D. position.
We seek a highly motivated candidate to work on numerical modelling of the Cretaceous
palaeoceanography, with the aim of seeking a better understanding green house climate relation to
fluid dynamic flow and sediment transport/deposition in the benthic boundary layer. This work is
related to the observed sedimentology of the Chalk Sea and could result in a new generation of
model predictions of sediment properties at locally and regional scale. The project will be carried
out within the framework of the newly established joint DGG and Maersk Oil Research Centre
which will host five PhD students and two assistant professors in addition to the permanent staff at
DGG and Maersk Oil. Project participants have backgrounds in sedimentology, geophysics,
stratigraphy, numerical modelling, geochemistry, paleontology/paleoecology and engineering. The
ultimate aim of the research centre is to improve the qualitative and quantitative understanding of
chalk depositional systems.
Qualifications
The successful candidate should be creative, innovative and ideally should have experience in
numerical modelling in geoscience with a broad geological understanding. Relevant backgrounds
include geophysics, geology, physical geography, fluid dynamic, environmental sciences, marine
sciences. We expect that the candidate will publish in international peer-reviewed journals, write a
Ph. D. thesis within the project duration of three years and assist in teaching within the Department.
The scholarship is open for two alternative Ph.D. arrangements:
A regular 3-year program; here the candidate must hold a M.Sc. degree,
A special 4-year program; here the candidate must hold a B.Sc. degree and have completed one year
of the M.Sc. program (equivalent to 60 ECTS).
Terms of employment
In the regular 3-year program, the successful Ph.D. candidate will be offered a full-time Ph.D.
position for a period of three years, contingent on a satisfactory performance, with the specific
intent that it results in a Ph.D. degree and scientific publications. In the 4-year program, the
successful Ph.D. candidate will be paid in accordance with the Danish State Education Grant and
Loan Scheme Authority Order for the first two years until awarded a M. Sc. and as a full-time Ph.D.
for the remaining two years.
The salary depends on seniority, as agreed between the Ministry of Finance and the Danish
Confederation of Professional Associations, and is within the range of 23,000-30,000 DKK/month
(approximately 3,100-4,000 Euro/month) in the 3-year program and 10,000-12,000 DKK/month for
the first two years of the 4-year program.
Further information can be obtained from Associate Professor Christian Bjerrum, (e-mail:
cjb@geo.ku.dk). General information on the Department of Geography and Geology can be found
at http://www.geo.ku.dk. and the PhD school at http://www.science.ku.dk/phd/.
How to apply
Applications, including (i) a motivation for the application (0.5 A4 page), (ii) a statement of
research interests in relation to research aim above, (iii) curriculum vitae including list of
publications, (iv) a copy of MSc diploma and grade transcripts or equivalent, (v) a short abstract of
the M.Sc. thesis or equivalent, and (vi) the names, e-mails, telephones and addresses of 2-4 referees,
must be submitted as a single pdf file uploaded at http://employment.ku.dk/. Please write “Ph.d. –
Chalk modeling”.
The deadline for application is August 01, 2012.
The University wishes our staff to reflect the diversity of society and welcomes applications from
all qualified candidates regardless of personal background.