British Antarctic Survey (BAS) is looking for an exceptional Assistant Marine Geologist (fixed-term position for 6 months) to join scientists of the Palaeo Environments, Ice Sheets and Climate Change (PICC) team, who work for the Thwaites Offshore Research (THOR) project, part of the UK-U.S. funded International Thwaites Glacier Collaboration (ITGC). BAS delivers and enables world-leading interdisciplinary research in the polar regions. We employ experts from many different professions to carry out our science as well as keep the lights on, feed the research and support teams and keep everyone safe!
Working at BAS is rewarding. Our skilled science, operational and support staff based in Cambridge, Antarctica and the Arctic, works together to deliver research that uses the polar regions to advance our understanding of Earth as a sustainable planet. Through our extensive logistics capability and knowhow BAS facilitates access for the British and international science community to the UK polar research operation. Numerous national and international collaborations, combined with an excellent infrastructure help sustain a world leading position for the UK in Antarctic affairs. British Antarctic Survey is a component of the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC), which is part of UK Research and Innovation.
What you'll be doing
You’ll be joining THOR project members working in our PICC team, whose main objective is to improve our understanding of the mechanisms of past change in ice sheets, oceans and global climate.
You’ll help us to deliver data that will amplify our knowledge of how the floating parts of Thwaites Glacier and neighbouring glacial outlets in the Amundsen Sea embayment interacted with ocean waters during the last few centuries and millennia, and how these interactions caused ice-sheet changes in the West Antarctic interior.
Within the role, there will be an opportunity to develop expertise in an area at the forefront of Antarctic research, i.e. current and past environmental changes affecting the West Antarctic Ice Sheet and implications for global sea-level rise, by investigating unique sample material, including marine sediment cores recovered directly from glacier fronts and sub-ice shelf sediments.
Current projects the PICC team is working on include marine and terrestrial research in the Antarctic, Arctic and Himalayas to improve our understanding of the impact of climate change on environments and ice sheets, and to forecast the consequences of these changes for infrastructure and societies.
You’ll be joining a world-leading interdisciplinary research organisation, that is committed to recruiting talented people like you, progressing your career and giving you the support, you need to thrive at BAS.
Main responsibilities
- Carry out dry & wet sieving of samples and picking of particular benthic and planktic foraminifera species under an optical microscope for geochemical (δ18O and δ13C isotopes, trace metals) and chronological (AMS 14C dating) measurements
- Carry out grain-size analysis by wet and dry sieving and using instruments for granulometric investigations on the fine fraction (Malvern laser particle analyser)
- Assist with splitting, logging and sampling of marine sediment cores at BAS and/or the U.S. Antarctic core repository at Oregon State University
What experiences can we offer you?
At BAS we believe everyone plays a vital role, is unique and valued, therefore, we embrace diversity as well as equality of opportunity and are committed to creating an inclusive and welcoming working environment where everyone’s unique perspectives are valued.
Different perspectives and collaborative working help us achieve our best work and come together to form a high performing team which makes positive changes in the business. That’s the power of every individual. Our cultural values are built on mutual respect, inclusion, commitment and excellence.
Benefits
- 30 days annual leave plus bank holidays and 2.5 privilege days
- Excellent civil service pension (with 26% or more employer contribution, depending on your band)
- 24 hours/365 days access to employee assistance programme (EAP – including support with physical, mental, social, health and financial issues)
- Flexible and family friendly working opportunities
- Cycle to work scheme
- Access to discounted shopping on a range of retail, leisure and lifestyle categories and much more.
If you are looking for an opportunity to work with world class and amazing people in one of the most unique places in the world, then British Antarctic Survey could be for you.
