PhD Position in Alpine Sedimentology Research

University of Bern Institute of Geological Sciences

1 PhD Position in Alpine Sedimentology Research 100%

The institute of Geological Sciences (University of Bern, Switzerland) invites applications for a 4 years PhD position, which will include a semester-long placement at Imperial College London

We are looking for a motivated PhD student in sedimentology with a focus on shallow marine clastic deposits. The proposed research addresses how these sedimentary rocks can record environmental conditions in the past. We particularly aim at quantifying the sizes of waves and the strengths of tidal currents recorded by the 20 Ma-old sedimentary structures (wave ripples, crossbeds, grain size) in the Molasse foreland basin adjacent to the Swiss Alps.

Tasks

The tasks include logging of sedimentological sections, measuring of sedimentary structures and bedforms, reconstructions of facies relationships and applications of concepts in paleo-hydraulics to reconstruct the wave climate and tidal strengths recorded by the 20 Ma-old sediments. The PhD student will receive a strong training in field observations, facies analysis, computational sedimentology and statistics. The project is based at the University of Bern, but a semester at Imperial College London is also foreseen.

Requirements

A Ms degree in Earth Sciences and a strong background in sedimentology is required. We also expect successful candidates to have a strong interest in conducting field work, and a flair for computational sedimentology.

We offer

The Institute of Geological Sciences of the University of Bern provides a stimulating and diverse research atmosphere with the possibility to interact between a large variety of research teams. We expect the project to start in January 2026. the project is funded for a maximum of four years.

Applications should be sent by November 1st to fritz.schlunegger@unibe.ch. The application materials include a CV, a letter outlining the motivation for applying, a transcript of Ms-studies including the documentation of the Ms degree (precondition for PhD), and names of two referees