Postdoctoral Fellowship: Fate of Mineral Particles on Beaches (proposal request)
Adam Yang
Hi everyone,
We are pleased to announce an international postdoctoral fellowship proposal request from the Ocean Frontier Institute. The proposed research will focus on advancing marine Carbon Dioxide Removal (CDR) through the study of the fate of mineral particles on beaches. This fellowship offers opportunities for early-career PhD holders to conduct innovative and collaborative research in cooperation with Dalhousie University and the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution. It supports the postdoctoral fellow in gaining international exposure through travel and collaboration. See details at: https://www.ofi.ca/opportunities/fellowships/international
Research Focus:
Earth’s climate is significantly influenced by human activities that increase atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO₂), leading to global warming and associated impacts such as ocean acidification. Global average temperatures in 2011–2020 were 1.1°C higher than the 1850–1900 baseline and are likely to surpass the 1.5°C threshold in the coming years. Effective mitigation requires not only significant reductions in carbon emissions but also the implementation of robust CDR strategies.
One promising CDR approach involves spreading milled mineral particles, such as olivine, along coastlines where they can dissolve in seawater, thereby enhancing the ocean’s capacity to absorb CO₂. The swash zone (the area of the beach where waves wash up) and inner surf zone are particularly important for coastal CDR, as waves and tidal currents continuously agitate the mineral particles. This physical stirring accelerates the chemical reactions that dissolve mineral particles. This project will focus on: (1) the fate of particles spread in the swash and inner surf zones, including lateral and vertical transport processes, and (2) particle weathering rates under these physical processes. Research could involve numerical simulations, laboratory experiments, and potentially field tests.
Salary and Support:
- Minimum salary of $70,000 CAD per year plus fringe benefits (up to two years, subject to approval).
- Minimal travel budget of $10,000 CAD for collaborative research visits.
How to Apply:
Interested candidates should send their CV, contact information for two referees, and a brief statement of research interests to Dr. Adam Jiankang Yang (jianka...@dal.ca) and Dr. Britt Raubenheimer (braube...@whoi.edu).
Location:
The postdoc is expected to spend a roughly similar amount of time at Dalhousie University and the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution.