PhD Opportunities at National Oceanography Centre Southampton, UK

Exciting New PhD Opportunities at NOC Southampton - Turbidity Current Hazard Assessment
This is a chance to be part of one of the largest graduate schools in the UK, in a rapidly expanding research group, and to provide some crucial new information for industry - as well as develop the understanding of submarine sediment density flows.
National Oceanography Centre Southampton (NOCS) is advertising for a PhD student to investigate how turbidity currents interact with the seafloor and oil and gas pipelines. Turbidity currents pose a credible threat to offshore infrastructure but due to the difficulties in obtain direct measurements in the deep sea, understanding their character is a major scientific challenge.
Full details on the project can be found at: http://noc.ac.uk/gsnocs/project/understanding-how-turbidity-currents-interact-seafloor-oil-gas-pipelines
Applications for PhD projects should be via http://noc.ac.uk/gsnocs/how-apply.
A numerate candidate is sought from disiplines such as Civil Engineering, Geology, Geophysics, Mathematics and Physics.The project will combine novel experimental techniques (electrical resistivity tomography), sediment core analysis and geotechnical testing to assess scour potential and provide direct input to existing numerical hazard models. This will provide key information for quantification of impact stresses exerted on seafloor structures.

In addition to the individual training provided at NOCS each CDT student will undertake a 20-week high quality training package, with each student benefiting from a rich cross-consortium teaching experience (see http://www.pet.hw.ac.uk/research/nerc-cdt-oil-gas-academic-partnership.htm for further details of consortium partners), conferences and fieldtrips for the entire CDT cohort and industry placements. The project also benefits from close collaboration with Fugro GeoConsulting Limited.

The multidisciplinary approach leads to training over a wide range of methods and techniques, including soil mechanical principles required to understand and interpret geotechnical test results, geological datasets from the present-day ocean floor, sedimentological field work, and experimental modelling. This broad approach gives the doctoral candidate a solid base for a further career in either academia or industry.

Other Projects Currently Available at NOCS
http://noc.ac.uk/gsnocs/projects

PhD projects in Basin Studies and Petroleum Geosciences at the University of Manchester, UK

Available PhD projects at the University of Manchester:
http://www.seaes.manchester.ac.uk/our-research/postgraduateresearchtraining/researchtopics/basinstudiesandpetroleumgeoscience/

PhD studentship at the University of Bristol (UK)

I would like to draw your attention to a joint Bristol-CASP-Utrecht PhD studentship involving both field and laboratory work: "Palaeoenvironmental controls on the accumulation of hydrocarbon source rocks in Paratethys". See link for full details:
http://www.bris.ac.uk/geography/prospective-postgraduates/funded/documents/gw4-flecker.pdf

The project is a NERC-Industrial Case award hosted by Bristol University with CASP as the case partner.  The deadline for applications is Friday 10^th January.  Further information about how to apply and eligibility is available on the GW4+ Doctoral Training Partnership website. 

For more details please do not hesitate to contact Dr Rachel Flecker (r.flecker@bristol.ac.uk) or Dr Stephen Vincent (stephen.vincent@casp.cam.ac.uk)

Geophysical Skills Development for Environmental Scientists - A fully-funded, 7-day, NERC Training course for PhD students and Early Career Researchers

Keele University are pleased to announce a fully-funded, 7-day, residential skills development course aimed at Postgraduate Research students and Early Career Researchers who wish to learn about the theory, practice and real-world application of environmental geophysics for research and career development.
Course Dates : Saturday 1st March 2014 through to Friday 7th March 2014 (inclusive).
Course Location : Keele University, Staffordshire and Grange-over-Sands, Cumbria, U.K.
Who should attend :  Environmental, physical and natural scientists that have limited theoretical/practical experience of near-surface geophysics but wish (or intend) to use these techniques in their research or future career.
Places will be allocated preferentially to NERC-funded PhD students (at all stages), Early Career Researchers and Fellowship holders (i.e., 50% or more funded by NERC). However, a number of funded places may be available to applicants who do not meet these criteria.
For more information about the course, what it contains and how to apply for a place, please visit our website
http://www.keele.ac.uk/envirogeophysics-training/
Alternatively, contact Dr Nigel Cassidy at n.j.cassidy@keele.ac.uk if you have any queries about the course or its content. Please feel free to pass this e-mail on to any colleagues who may be interested in participating.

PhD studentship at Liverpool, UK

Fully funded NERC PhD project "Bedload transport of sediment mixtures in shelf seas"
Application deadline: 16th of February 2014, position starts in October 2014.

Summary:

To fundamentally improve our knowledge on shelf seabed dynamics in mixed sediments, a fully funded PhD studentship is available, based at Bangor University (Dr Katrien Van Landeghem and Dr Jaco Baas) and the National Oceanography Centre - Liverpool (Dr. Laurent Amoudry). This studentship is part of the NERC Doctoral Training Programme "ENVISION" (www.Envision-dtp.org), aiming to developing our next generation leaders in environmental science.

 

This PhD project focuses on the complexity of shelf seabed morphological dynamics in a mixture of sand and gravel. You will be part of a truly multi-disciplinary, integrated approach of offshore data analyses, laboratory work, bedload modelling and novel ways to communicate your science through 3D graphics. You relocate to Liverpool to work with experts at the National Oceanography Centre for minimum 6 months. 

 

You should hold good numerical skills and a minimum of a UK Honours Degree at 2:1 level or equivalent in subjects such as Environmental Science, Environmental Engineering, (Marine) Geology, Physical Oceanography or Natural Sciences.

 

ENVISION DTP studentships are funded for typically 3.5 years and cover full tuition fees,  tax-free stipend (£13,726 + £1000 per annum), Research Training Support Grant (RTSG) of £2500 per annum and extra funds and support from our partners in industry.

 

For further details please do not hesitate to contact Dr. Katrien Van Landeghem via k.v.landeghem@bangor.ac.uk  or 0044(0)1248 388161

Fully funded PhD on deep-marine sedimentary architecture databasing, University of Leeds, UK

Quantitative characterisation and prediction of deep-marine sedimentary architecture and facies heterogeneity through relational databasing

Supervisors: Prof. Bill McCaffrey, Dr. Luca Colombera and Dr. Marco Patacci

This is a fully-funded 3.5 year PhD studentship for UK or EU candidates. The award will pay all tuition fees and a tax-free stipend at the UK Research Council rate (currently £13,590). Start date is flexible; suggested April-September 2014. Deadline for applications: 6th February 2014.

 

Background

The number of sedimentological studies providing data on the sedimentary architecture of deep-marine depositional systems is steadily growing, under the impulse of both industrial and academic drivers.  These studies indicate the ongoing need for improved characterization and prediction of deep-marine hydrocarbon reservoirs and the associated interest in deciphering the complex interplay of autogenic and allogenic factors in the rock record.  To address these interests there is an urgent need for a method of storing data from many studies of different deep-marine depositional systems in a way that permits different types of datasets to be standardized, such that they can be compared or merged in a reliable and well-founded manner. By drawing upon experience in the development of relational databases for both deep-water and fluvial systems (DWAKB: Baas et al. 2005, FAKTS: Colombera et al. 2012, respectively), an improved database methodology is being developed at Leeds as an instrument to permit the digitization of deep-marine sedimentary architecture (DMAKS 2). DMAKS 2 aims to classify deep-marine depositional systems and to record their fundamental architectural and facies properties, including genetic-unit geometries, and both hierarchy and spatial relationships. DMAKS 2 will in effect be a research tool with which it should be possible to inform and carry out both pure and applied sedimentary research using metadata – an approach that is in its infancy for geological studies.

Project description

The candidate will contribute to the development of the DMAKS2 database, driving database population with literature- and field-derived architectural data.  Original fieldwork, which may involve the digital acquisition of 3D virtual outcrop models by means of photogrammetrical techniques, will be carried out on ancient deep-marine successions in Europe to obtain data suitable for database population. The candidate could also choose to complement field data with a study involving interpretation of larger-scale sedimentary architecture from seismic datasets. Notably, the candidate will need to identify published case studies of deep-marine sedimentary architecture from which data would be derived for database input, so that metastudies generating new information from the integration of new and published data could be attempted. The multi-scale architectural characterisation enabled by the DMAKS2 design will permit the candidate to tailor the type of field and seismic data collection to suit his/her specific interests and the research questions he/she may want to address. Importantly, to make best use of the database as a research tool, the candidate will need to work on database optimisation, which will be tested through research-focused queries with which the particular research questions or hypotheses will be addressed.

Example research themes that could be addressed within the scope of this project include:  

• the compilation of quantitative facies models describing the sedimentology of slope to basin-floor settings of classified deep-marine depositional systems, based on the synthesis of several suitable database case studies;
• investigation of the importance of controlling variables in determining processes and associated sedimentological/architectural features by performing comparative studies of many different systems;
• determination of the scale-dependent or scale-independent nature of architectural features in deep-marine clastic systems;
• application of database output to improve the realism and prediction capability of stochastic and deterministic subsurface forecasting tools. 

Qualifications

Candidate should have a degree in Earth Sciences with minimum BSc 2.1 or equivalent. The project would suit a student with strong numerical and computing skills. Experience in geostatistics would be a significant advantage.

Research Environment

The student will be a member of the industry-funded Turbidites Research Group (TRG) JIP project.  She/he would thus be integrated into a dynamic and active research group, with ongoing research into deep marine clastics via field studies, physical and numerical modelling and seismic studies. An internship with a major oil company would be possible during the duration of the PhD.

References

Baas et al. 2005, The deep-water architecture knowledge base: towards an objective comparison of deep-marine sedimentary systems Petrol. Geosci. 11, 309-320.

Colombera et al. 2012, A relational database for the digitization of fluvial architecture: Concepts and example applications Petrol. Geosci. 18, 129-140.

Further details:

http://www.see.leeds.ac.uk/admissions-and-study/research-degrees/essi/2014/deep-marine-databasing/

 

PhD position at the University of Leeds, UK

A fully-funded PhD position is available on "Quantitative characterisation and prediction of deep-marine sedimentary architecture and facies heterogeneity through relational databasing" with the Turbidites Research Group at the University of Leeds. Deadline is October 31st.

Further details can be found here:

http://www.see.leeds.ac.uk/admissions-and-study/research-degrees/essi/2014/quantitative-characterisation-and-prediction-of-deep-marine-sedimentary-architecture-and-facies-heterogeneity-through-relational-databasing/

Job opportunities at the University of Aberdeen, UK

As part of an ongoing process of growth and expansion, the Department of Geology and Petroleum Geology at the University of Aberdeen is looking to appoint 3 new staff and lecturer/senior lecturer level.

These positions are in any discipline associated with petroleum geoscience and sedimentology/stratigraphy are core areas within the department.


Further details can be found here: http://tinyurl.com/lnloxvc

5 year Postdoctoral Research Fellowship at Curtin University, Australia

As part of a newly established partnership between the Department of Applied Geology at Curtin University and Chevron Energy Technology Group Pty Ltd., the University is seeking to appoint a Postdoctoral Research Fellow who will contribute to the development of a high impact petroleum geology research group, as well as assisting with the delivery of petroleum geology related courses, particularly at Masters level. As well as a PhD in geology or a related discipline, you should have experience of working with subsurface datasets and their use in addressing regional tectonic, structural, stratigraphic and/or sedimentological issues of relevance to hydrocarbon exploration and/or production (conventional and unconventional) and/or to carbon sequestration and storage.

The post is a five year fixed term position and salary will be in the range $86,299 - 102,479 plus 17% superannuation. Applications should be made via http://futurestaff.curtin.edu.au/job_vacancies/ where details will appear shortly. Applications close at 5 pm on Friday 11 October 2013, Perth time (GMT/UTC + 08:00 hour).  Informal enquires can be addressed directly to Chris Elders  (c.elders@rhul.ac.uk)

PULAI ALGINIT KONFERENCIA

1. HÍRLEVÉL

2013. november 16-án kerül megrendezésre az a konferencia, ami a pulai alginitbánya világhírű őslénytani és földtani eredményeit kívánja bemutatnia nagyközönség számára is érthetőés élvezhetőmódon.

A konferencia szervezői:
Magyar Természettudományi Múzeum Bakonyi Természettudományi Múzeuma;
Bakonyi Természettudományi Múzeum Baráti Köre;
Magyar Tudományos Akadémia Veszprémi Területi Bizottsága;
Magyar Tudományos Akadémia Paleontológiai Tudományos Bizottsága;
Békefi Antal Városi Könyvtár, Művelődési Ház és Stúdió KB.

A konferencia tematikája:
Eddig 8 kutató jelezte szándékát, hogy bemutassa kutatásainak legfrissebb eredményeit:
Dr. Hably Lilla: Pula pliocén flórája és vegetációja.
Dr. Kordos László: Gerinces ősmaradványok a pulai alginitbányából.
Dr. Csillag Gábor: A kráter-tó kialakulása és földtani felépítése.
Dr. Kutasi Csaba: Pliocén korú szárazföldi rovarok a kráter-tó üledékéből.
Dr. Tóth Sándor: Pliocén korú vízi és vízhez kötött rovarok a kráter-tó üledékéből.
Dr. Szántó Tamás: Vizsgálati módszer a gerinces ősmaradvány-kutatásban.
Knoll József: A pulai alginit-bányászat története és az alginitfelhasználási területei.
Katona Lajos: Tapasztalatok az alginitből elkerült ősmaradványok perparálását és konzerválását tekintve.

A konferencia napján egy szakkiállítás is látható lesz a múzeum geológiai
gyűjteményében, ahol a MTM Bakonyi Természettudományi Múzeuma és a Magyar
Geofizikai és Földtani Intézet gyűjteményében szereplőanyagokon túl
magángyűjteményekben található ősmaradványok is láthatóak lesznek.

A rendezvény tervezett menete: 9:30-10 óráig regisztráció; 10-12 óráig: tudományos ismeretterjesztő előadások; 12-14 óráig állófogadás a múzeum közművelődési termében,
tárlatvezetés az előadók közreműködésével; 14-16 óráig tudományos szakmai előadások. A konferencia napján a regisztrált résztvevők ingyenesen láthatják a MTM Bakonyi Természettudományi Múzeum időszaki, és állandó kiállításait. A konferencián hallott előadásokról megfelelőanyagi támogatás mellett kiadvány is készül.

A regisztrációs díj és a konferencián való részvétel feltételei:
A konferencia részvételi díja október 15-ig 2500 Ft, a konferencia napján 3000 Ft,ami tartalmazza azebédet (svédasztalos), és a kiadványt. Lehetőség szerint, aki nem kér ebédet, annak a részvételi díja 1500 Ft. Kollégiumi szállásra van lehetőség, de ezt mindenkinek magának kell intézni!

A konferencián a VEAB tagok és a BTM Baráti Köre tagjai ingyenesen
látogathatják az előadásokat.

A regisztrációs lap innen tölthető le, illetve a btmz@bakonymuseum.koznet.hu e-mail címen igényelhető!

FONTOS!!! A részvételi díj befizetése átutalással, vagy a helyszínen személyesen történhet. A részvételi díj támogatás formájában történik, így az BTM Baráti Köre egyesület nem tud számlát kiállítani, csak adóigazolást. A konferencia részvételi díját a további kutatásokra fordítjuk.

Előzetes regisztráció:
Az előzetes regisztráció az ebéd és konferenciakötet darabszámában, illetve a konferencia termének (befogadás mértéke) lefoglalásában nyújt segítséget.

Reméljük, hogy sokak érdeklődését felkeltettük:

Katona Lajos Tamás
MTM Bakonyi Természettudományi
Múzeuma geológus főmuzeológusa
a BTM Baráti Kör titkára