Postdoctoral Position in Sedimentary Nanomagnetism
with a microbial emphasis
The
Institute for Rock Magnetism (IRM), a NSF-funded national facility, has an
immediate opening for a three-year postdoctoral fellow (for a recent Ph.D.) or
research associate (for Ph.D. plus some experience). This person will join a NSF-funded biogeoscience research
program (under the overall direction of myself) for fundamental research in
nanophase (1-100nm) iron oxide and oxyhydroxide minerals. A major component of this research will
involve nanophase material synthesized in the laboratory of co-principal
investigator Professor R. Lee Penn (chemistry). A recent publication from the IRM (by Y. Guyodo et al., Geophysical
Research Letters, May 1, 2003*)
describes our initial results which required the use of x-ray diffraction,
high-resolution TEM and low-temperature magnetometry. In the next phase we will attempt controlled iron reduction
by inorganic and microbial means, the latter under the direction of
co-principal investigator and environmental microbiologist Professor Tim LaPara
(civil and geo-engineering). The
results will help determine the past environmental parameters (temperature,
rainfall) from magnetically-enhanced topsoils.
We
are seeking a person to start as soon as possible to work with Dr. Guyodo
before his planned departure in January of 2004. Such a “bridging period” will be extremely
helpful for the new colleague. A
strong background in at least two of the following six specialties will be most
useful for this interdisciplinary research: low-temperature magnetism, Mössbauer effect, nanophase
materials, high-resolution TEM, iron mineralogy using XAFS/XANES, and
iron-reducing microbes. Advice and
supervision will be provided by all three principal investigators. The IRM website (http://www.geo.umn.edu/orgs/irm/irm.html)
and the personal websites of these scientists (www.chem.umn.edu/groups/penn
, www.ce.umn.edu/people/faculty/lapara/,) may
be consulted for further details of their broader research interests.
We
would love to have someone join us who is a creative young scientist, displays
initiative, has a strong record of independent research, and has a personality
conducive to working with multiple professors and graduate students, sharing
multi-user equipment. At the
Department of Geology and Geophysics website (http://www.geo.umn.edu) there is a general
advertisement for postdoctoral fellows and research associates to join one of
the various research groups. After
reviewing the ad, the applicant should send me electronically (banerjee@umn.edu
) her/his resume, names of three referees and a research statement with details
showing why she/he would be most suitable for such interdisciplinary
biogeosciences research. Applicants should have a Ph. D. degree in Physics,
Geophysics, Geochemistry or a related field.. It is necessary that the
applicant reference the website advertisement when e-mailing me. This position will remain open until
filled.
The
University of Minnesota is an Equal Opportunity Educator and Employer.
Subir K. Banerjee, Ph.D.,
Sc.D.
IT Distinguished Professor of
Geology and Geophysics
Director, Institute for Rock
Magnetism
University of Minnesota -
Twin Cities