NERC Research Experience Placements – Ice cores summer student

Please quote ref no: BAS 50/13
Closing date for applications: 03 May 2013

Main Description

The British Antarctic Survey (BAS), part of the Natural Environment Research Council, aims to undertake a world-class programme of scientific research, and to sustain for the UK an active and influential regional presence and a leadership role in Antarctic affairs.

NERC is running the Research Experience Placements scheme (REP) for a third year. The NERC scheme will be restrictive in terms of student eligibility as it is aimed to address the shortage of individuals with quantitative skills coming into environmental science. NERC wishes to use this scheme to encourage more of these individuals to consider a career in environmental research.

To be eligible the student must:
• Be undertaking the placement in a different department to their undergraduate degree
• Be in the middle of their first degree studies (or integrated Masters)
• Be expected to obtain a first or upper second class UK honours degree
• Be eligible for subsequent NERC PhD funding (UK, EU or right to remain in the UK)

It is unclear whether the pattern of rapid isotopic changes observed in Peninsula shallow ice cores can be uniquely attributed to greenhouse gas driven warming. The student will directly address this question by comparing long coupled climate model isotopic output with new ice core measurements. The student will extract Antarctic Peninsula time series from existing 500 year preindustrial climate simulations, and undertake equivalent high resolution isotopic and chemistry measurements from existing ice cores for comparison with the simulation results.
The project will provide the student with a taste of both numerical modelling and laboratory experience in the exciting field of ice core research.

Qualifications: C in maths A’level (or equivalent)

Duration: 8 weeks fixed term appointment

Salary: £250.00 per week

Applications should consist of CV and cover letter. Please ensure you meet all of the required criteria before submitting your application. In addition, we will require an academic reference prior to interview.

Closing date for receipt of application forms: 3rd May 2013
Interviews are scheduled to be confirmed.

Formal Description

NERC Research Experience Placements – Ice cores summer student
Ref No.: BAS 50/13
Closing Date: 03 May 2013

1.	Job Title:	NERC Research Experience Placements – Ice cores summer student
	Reference No:	BAS 50/13
	Department:	Chemistry and Past Climate
	Line Manager:
	Contract Type:	8 weeks FTA

2.	Location: Cambridge

Purpose:
It is unclear whether the pattern of rapid isotopic changes observed in Peninsula shallow ice cores can be uniquely attributed to greenhouse gas driven warming. The student will directly address this question by comparing long coupled climate model isotopic output with new ice core measurements. The student will extract Antarctic Peninsula time series from existing 500 year preindustrial climate simulations, and undertake equivalent high resolution isotopic and chemistry measurements from existing ice cores for comparison with the simulation results. The project will provide the student with a taste of both numerical modelling and laboratory experience in the exciting field of ice core research.

Duties:
1) Extract time series data from coupled climate models to place the recent changes in the Antarctic Peninsula on a longer-term context

2) Assist in the preparation of ice samples in the -20°C cold laboratory and the clean laboratory

3) Assist in the measurement of high resolution chemistry and isotope analysis of Antarctic ice cores

4) Present your results in a final report

Skills Specification

NERC Research Experience Placements – Ice cores summer student
Ref No.: BAS 50/13
Closing Date: 03 May 2013

Characteristics

Essential Requirements
Importance rating in parenthesis

Desirable Requirements
Importance rating in parenthesis

Communication skillsa) oral skillsb) written skills

* Fluent in written and spoken English language

Computer / IT skills

* Excellent computer skills and experience in either R, Matlab, IDL, or Python

Interpersonal skills

* Ability to work as part of a team

Numerical ability

* Good numerical skills of a standard expected of a science graduate

Qualifications

* C in maths A’level (or equivalent)

* Expected to obtain a first or upper second class UK honours degree

(2)

Resource Management ability

* Ability to manage own time effectively

Skills / Experience

* Be studying for a degree in a quantitative discipline (e.g. mathematics, statistics, computing, engineering, chemistry, physics)

* Experience with climate model data sets or experience handling large amounts of data. And/or laboratory experience.

(3)