There is broad consensus that changes in ocean circulation play a pivotal role in shaping Earth's climate, and notably in past abrupt climate variability. The shift from the last interglacial period to full glacial conditions that occurred with the transition from Marine Isotope Stage (MIS) 5a to 4, around 75 kyr ago, saw a major build-up of continental ice sheets and a significant decrease in atmospheric CO2 concentrations. These orbitally paced changes were reflected by substantial changes in the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation and set the stage for the initiation of recurrent abrupt high-amplitude shifts in climate, the millennial scale Dansgaard-Oeschger (D-O) oscillations of the last ice age. The first two in the series of abrupt D-O swings (events 19 and 20) occurred during the MIS 5a to 4 transition, suggesting the crossing of a threshold from the relative stability of the last interglacial period to the highly variable state of the glacial climate. This project seeks to address the changes in ocean circulation and their interaction with concurrent changes in the global carbon cycle during the development of full glacial conditions at this time.

You will work within an international research team investigating past changes in ocean circulation and the global carbon cycle. You will be required to assist in, and undertake sample preparation and analyses of marine sediment samples plus you will have some responsibility for general laboratory maintenance schedules.

You should be willing to be trained in marine sedimentological, micro-palaeontological and geochemical techniques and should be proficient in the use of computers, especially database input and retrieval.

You should have a scientific education to A Level standard or equivalent. Good communication skills and experience of working within a laboratory setting are essential as is being comfortable working in a multi-disciplinary team environment. A BSc or equivalent in physical or natural sciences is desirable.

This post is fixed-term for 18 months.