Palaeobiology Teaching Fellow - Bristol UK

The University of Bristol, School of Earth Sciences, is seeking to recruit a full time Teaching Fellow to join the world leading Bristol Palaeobiology research group. They are seeking an energetic and committed teacher with experience of delivering excellent palaeobiology/geology/zoology teaching (classroom, laboratory and field-based teaching and undergraduate and/or postgraduate project supervision) in a higher education setting, with an up-to-date knowledge of current topics and methods in palaeobiology.

The candidate will be expected to take strategic oversight of the teaching and management of the BSc/MSci Palaeobiology and Evolution and the MSc Palaeobiology degrees in the role of Programme Director. They will be required to develop and deliver lectures and laboratory sessions, lead field trips and devise and supervise student research projects. Central to these roles is support for students’ academic progress, coordination and delivery of small group tutorials, and marking of formative and summative assessments. You will also be expected to develop their teaching skills and materials and be willing to innovate and undertake training as required. 

Applicants will have an undergraduate degree and a PhD in Palaeobiology/Geology/Zoology or a related subject. Full information and job description here: https://www.jobs.ac.uk/job/BKA318/teaching-fellow

Deadline for applications: 24 June 2018, interviews will be held on 26^th July 2018.

For further information about this role please contact:

• Professor Daniela Schmidt, Head of Palaeobiology (0117) 954 5414, d.schmidt@bristol.ac.uk
• Professor Emily Rayfield, Director of Palaeobiology undergraduate programmes (0117) 3941210, e.rayfield@bristol.ac.uk
• Dr Mary Benton, Director of Education on (0117) 954 5373, Mary.Benton@bris.ac.uk

Post-Doc Geomicrobiology of Modern and Ancient Microbialites - Dijon, France

A 2-year post-doc position is available in the field of geochemistry, sedimentology and geomicrobiology. The project addresses the role of microbial processes in formation of biological sediments and their evidence (i.e., biominerals) in the fossil record. A background in geomicrobiology/geochemistry with a specialty in microbe-mineral interactions, carbonate mineralogy, stable isotopes geochemistry (preferably of C, N, S, Fe) and/or microbial ecophysiology is desired.

The project addresses the role of microbial processes in formation of biological sediments and their evidence (i.e., biominerals) in the fossil record. We seek to link microbial interactions in modern microbialite systems (lithifying microbial mats) with carbonate mineral precipitation and mineral morphology, fabric alteration during post-depositional alteration (early diagenesis) and preservation of geochemical (e.g., isotopic) signatures in deep time.

The research encompasses microbial organosedimentary ecosystems, both unlithified and lithified, in continental aquatic systems (ranging from freshwater to hypersaline lakes, lagoons and rivers) as well as in open marine ecosystems and focuses on extrinsic and intrinsic constraints of microbialite development, including water chemistry, climate, tectonics, geological context, microbial composition, metabolic activity and interactions as well as organic matrix properties. Laboratory experimentation (with intact systems and microbial isolates) will focus on the specific role of physicochemical conditions (e.g., T°, pCO2, pH, Ca2+, Mg2+, light quality) on the extent, rate, efficiency and ultimately the mechanisms of microbialite growth. Our approach includes investigation of the organic (e.g., exopolymeric substance) and inorganic composition of microbialites, notably isotopic signatures, as well as of mineral morphology, microbialite fabric, characterization of the depositional environments (from macro- to nano-scale) and microbial characteristics. The project involves fieldwork and sample analyses (e.g., using IRMS, NANO-SIMS, XRD, scanning electron, confocal laser, Raman and cathodoluminescence microscopy), laboratory experimentation as well as geochemical modeling (e.g., Geochemist Workbench; FREEQC).

Host Laboratory: Biogeosciences, Unité mixte CNRS/UB 6282
The BIOGEOSCIENCES laboratory is a Mixed Research Unit (UMR) composed of about a hundred people whose employers are the University of Burgundy, the National Center for Scientific Research (CNRS), the Ecole Pratique des Hautes Etudes (EPHE) and AgroSup Dijon.

Supervisor(s): Pieter Visscher (pieter.visscher@uconn.edu) and Emmanuelle Vennin (Emmanuelle.vennin@u-bourgogne.fr)

Application deadline: June 30th, 2018
For further information, check out the website: www.nature.com/naturejobs/science/jobs/645253-post-doc-geomicrobiology-of-modern-and-ancient-microbialites-dijon
or  contact Emmanuelle Vennin (Pr UBFC- Emmanuelle.vennin@u-bourgogne.fr) and Pieter Visscher (U. Connecticut- pieter.visscher@uconn.edu).

GSA Topical Session: New Voices in Geobiology (4-7 Nov. 2018, Indianapolis)

Dear colleagues,

We encourage you to submit an abstract for our topical session: “New Voices in Geobiology (T29)” to be held at the GSA Annual Meeting in Indianapolis, Indiana, November 4-7, 2018.

The goal of this session is to bring together new research (and new researchers) focusing on the interplay between geologic and biologic processes with a special emphasis on new field sites, novel materials/methods, and the development/refinement of proxies. We particularly encourage early career faculty, postdoctoral researchers, and graduate students to submit abstracts to this session. Overall we hope to bring together scientists specializing in geobiology, biology, (geo)microbiology, paleobiology/paleontology, inorganic and organic geochemistry, paleoecology, paleoclimatology, and sedimentology to generate new, interdisciplinary ideas and collaborations at the intersection of these fields. 

The GSA abstract website is now open for submissions and the abstract deadline is midnight August 14th, 2018. Feel free to contact us if you have any further questions. Please forward this on to colleagues or students who may be interested in this session. 

We hope to see you at GSA!

The GSA Geobiology & Geomicrobiology Division Executive Committee